This enchanting book is poignant in its storytelling ability and the compelling lessons in truth, religion, and love. Pi is an extraordinary sixteen year old boy who survived a sinking ship while on his way to Canada to start a new life with his family. He was saved by a lifeboat and in it he finds that his fellow survivors consist of a vicious hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan, and a 450 lbs Bengal tiger.
Based in India, the story unfolds into a fascinating depiction of survival and Pi’s journey through Christianity, his native Hinduism, and Muslim. The author, Yann Martel injects each chapter with riveting insights into Pi’s psyche as he progresses in his journey to weave his knowledge of wild animals and religion into his survival. To dismiss this book as a discussion of religion is selling it short. To label it as a story about love is short-sighted. To combine love, religion, and storytelling in a conundrum of truths is a masterpiece which enlighten and humor the reader.
Drifting in the Pacific ocean, Pi contemplated his truths and destiny by creating stories of association and relishing in his hope of seeing his family again. The obscure relationship between the ferocious Bengal tiger and Pi ultimately originated in a desperate need for survival and co-dependency of love. At times gruesome and violent, the perceptive Pi does not provide simple solutions to his predicament even at moments of delusion and despair. Pi survives 227 days at sea and eventually arrives in Mexico. The stories he told the two Japanese investigators about his adventure at sea illustrates his mastery at storytelling.
It is a captivating adventure made more compelling by the philosophical and religious conundrums of eastern India.