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Life of Pi by Yann Martel |  Life of Pi by Yann Martel is the kind of book you can't talk about without revealing the whole plot or what the book is all about.
All I can say is that Life of Pi is a fascinating story. It is a classical survivor story (a teenage boy stuck on a lifeboat) but it has many intricacies and surprises.
I enjoyed it very much!
Now that I think about it, it is an interesting book to study with a Terminale (last year of Hig School), literature speciality. Because it is not too long, it is not too difficult (well maybe the vocabulary would be a bit challenging) and above all, it is very interesting to discuss the book with others! Because it raises many questions and doubts – above all towards the end. I am sure the students would enjoy it !
Life of Pi has received the Man Booker Prize 2002.
************* SPOILER ********
For those who've read the book and want to talk about it, I have to say that at first, like everybody I guess, I thought the story was true, as the author makes us believe. When I came towards the end, I really started to think that it was an extraordinary story. But I still didn't question the reality of it. Yes, I am a bit naive !!!! The end left me puzzled. I started to doubt. After a quick search on the internet, my doubts were confirmed: it is indeed a work of fiction.
Wow. And shit. I wanted to believe it. But the trick is good.
For more reading:
http://www.powells.com/fromtheauthor/martel.html
How the author got inspired.
http://www.book-club.co.nz/books/13lifeofpi.htm
A good review.
Extracts from the review:
“Martel's talent combines both suspense and beauty, horror and philosophy, gritty reality and quirky allegory. It is imaginative, it is strange, it is profound. It surprises you and makes you wonder. Above all, its haunting questions linger with you. I highly recommend it. Martel is a master of creating a fiction."
Liz Fraser
"Should fiction be believable?"
Good question.
I've still not made my mind up about the questions the book raises concerning fiction and reality. I would be glad to share them with you in comments.
My rating: 5/5 |
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