PatLife Of Pi
February 26th 2008 11:34
This book is adequate. It enjoyed the benefit of a whirlwind of publicity on the back's of top-ten lists across the globe. I can see why it would be a popular read amongst stay-at-home mothers who enjoy a tall tale with inoffensive and good-natured themes. Stay-at-home mothers are the backbone of the publishing market (I'm an expert on all things publishing).
A couple of points: (in particular, I will incompletely explain things in terms of the books 'adequate' nature)
Firstly, the author plays around with the concept of the young protagonist enjoying the spiritual fruits of several different religions. I didn't like this part of the book but luckily it was seemingly an aberration because it was never mentioned again after the first few chapters. This was an adequate compromise between myself and the author.
Secondly, the story of some loser tiger letting some lousy kid survive on a boat for so long doesn't wash with me. Tigers are the graceful murderers of the animal kingdom. They are cold-hearted killers without a hint of remorse; nature has granted them a licence to kill and they do not hesitate to use it. Not only that, they partner that murderous mindset with a chillingly relaxed and composed demeanor. In short, tigers are about a million times better than most humans, and in particular, a smelly kid sitting pathetically in a boat. I refuse to accept that a tiger simply wouldn't have gorged itself on the hapless child before taking a nap amongst his grisly remains. This was perhaps a less than adequate feature of the book.
Thirdly, a fellow intellectual suggested to me after I had finished this book and was sitting around casually with a glass of fine wine discussing the merits of this particular adequate book, that the entire story was so unbelievable that his interpretation was that it was the fabricated story of horrible child in question. The events of the book were just an invention to cover up his role in the deaths of everyone aboard the boat, which tragically sank during a storm. This explanation of events is slightly more adequate than the 'tiger is a friendly and malleable creature' explanation as discussed above, but still, I don't like it and I completely reject it, even though I concede that this is slightly more adequate than my second point, and perhaps plays some part in the book receiving an overall award of 'adequate'.
That is all. This turned out as more of a review of my favourite carnivore rather than a book by Yann Martel, but I think that's not too bad. Everyone loves animals and who wouldn't enjoy reading reviews about the pros and cons of particular species which inhabit this wonderful world of ours... the planet Earth.
I should probably give a spoiler warning for the above few paragraphs and I hereby do so: spoiler warning.
ps. I am currently reading that silly Dave Eggers book which I mentioned in some other post and that infuriating man has worked himself into my brain and he's made me change the way I write so that I sound less like him. He's always going on about trivial things and making self-deprecating jokes and using silly gimmicks, so I've cut out all (well, most) of that kind of garbage. Things will stay that will until I resolve my personal differences with Mr Eggers. I might write him a letter. That smug jerk.
A couple of points: (in particular, I will incompletely explain things in terms of the books 'adequate' nature)
Firstly, the author plays around with the concept of the young protagonist enjoying the spiritual fruits of several different religions. I didn't like this part of the book but luckily it was seemingly an aberration because it was never mentioned again after the first few chapters. This was an adequate compromise between myself and the author.
Secondly, the story of some loser tiger letting some lousy kid survive on a boat for so long doesn't wash with me. Tigers are the graceful murderers of the animal kingdom. They are cold-hearted killers without a hint of remorse; nature has granted them a licence to kill and they do not hesitate to use it. Not only that, they partner that murderous mindset with a chillingly relaxed and composed demeanor. In short, tigers are about a million times better than most humans, and in particular, a smelly kid sitting pathetically in a boat. I refuse to accept that a tiger simply wouldn't have gorged itself on the hapless child before taking a nap amongst his grisly remains. This was perhaps a less than adequate feature of the book.
Thirdly, a fellow intellectual suggested to me after I had finished this book and was sitting around casually with a glass of fine wine discussing the merits of this particular adequate book, that the entire story was so unbelievable that his interpretation was that it was the fabricated story of horrible child in question. The events of the book were just an invention to cover up his role in the deaths of everyone aboard the boat, which tragically sank during a storm. This explanation of events is slightly more adequate than the 'tiger is a friendly and malleable creature' explanation as discussed above, but still, I don't like it and I completely reject it, even though I concede that this is slightly more adequate than my second point, and perhaps plays some part in the book receiving an overall award of 'adequate'.
That is all. This turned out as more of a review of my favourite carnivore rather than a book by Yann Martel, but I think that's not too bad. Everyone loves animals and who wouldn't enjoy reading reviews about the pros and cons of particular species which inhabit this wonderful world of ours... the planet Earth.
I should probably give a spoiler warning for the above few paragraphs and I hereby do so: spoiler warning.
ps. I am currently reading that silly Dave Eggers book which I mentioned in some other post and that infuriating man has worked himself into my brain and he's made me change the way I write so that I sound less like him. He's always going on about trivial things and making self-deprecating jokes and using silly gimmicks, so I've cut out all (well, most) of that kind of garbage. Things will stay that will until I resolve my personal differences with Mr Eggers. I might write him a letter. That smug jerk.
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Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
I liked the Life of Pi, but then again I am very much a stay at home mum.
I remember seeing an episode of Tony Squires' The Fat, where they got some footy player to read this book and then review it and the guy struggled to get past the fact that it was about some animals in a boat. It was mildly amusing. And adequate.
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
To be honest, I don't even remember much about the book because I read it quite some time ago and I wrote this without checking to see if my recollection was anywhere near correct. If I was put on the spot during an episode of 'The Fat', then I reckon I'd also perform hilariously poorly.
Comment by Anonymous
aimee
ps haven't read life of pi but i do like tigers so great review!!
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Yeah, my material has basically all been used by that other guy so, yeah, I guess that's it. Why bother, I guess.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
The beginning sections, though, were murderous, and that kid definitely ate someone.
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Anonymous