This is a fascinating book. There is so much fact in it that I kept checking that it was actually fiction.

Within the book is a treatise on the benefits of zoos and how, if they are created and maintained properly they are the best possible environment for the animals involved.

There is a discussion on comparative religions – Muslim, Hindu and Christianity. The main character gets involved and practices all three. He describes how they all benefit him in different ways.

Then there is the main part of the book – how to survive in a lifeboat at sea for seven months – especially if you are sharing the boat with a Bengal tiger. So there’s a short treatise on how to train a tiger – how to let him know you are the alpha male and therefore he is not to dominate (aka eat) you.

Much of the book is matter of fact, and it is all beautifully written.

I HIGHLY recommend it.

You have to start out reading this book with no expectations. It is completely unrealistic of course in the beginning, but when that is behind you, it is a surprisingly good story of survival and the close bond between man and creatures. And the end leaves you thinking for quite some time.

This book is genius.

The beginning is a bit dry--about the first 80 pages were hard for me to get through (I wanted the TIGER! Bring on the TIGER!) but once the story got moving it was a beautiful, fascinating book. One of the best endings of all time, IMO. And you can go back and read the beginning once you've finished the book, and have a much better appreciation for it.

I highly recommend this book; it well deserved the Booker Prize.

I did not finish the book, I think the writing is excellent and the story compelling but for all animal lovers,reading the details of zoo animals being eaten alivel and Zebra's flesh being torn off as the Zebra lay in misery still alive. If I had know the book had this vivid discriptions of animals being butchered and tortured I would not have ordered it. Maybe after the Zebra incident the book's detail on animal torture ends I don't know becasue I couldn't risk having to read more about these beautiful animals being slaughtered. If you are the kind of person who gets squimish when animals are brutally sacrificed for the sake of the story don't read this. I only wish someone had told me that.

Absolutely amazing. The best book I read in 2004 hands down. About a boy ,Pi Patel, who unfortunately finds himself stuck on a float with some interesting zoo animals, and his survival among these beasts. It left me thinking long after I was finished reading. It is so much more than meets the eye. This is one of my keepers. Rated 5/5

This book was simply amazing. Lots of people said I should read it, and while I was halfway through I was still thinking, "There's got to be something I'm missing here."
There was.
Just keep reading...you won't be disappointed!

A very unusual story. I am still unsure whether I like it or not. Deep in some places and in others graphic description of desperate survival measures such as cannibalism. Well written and humorous at times, but if you like action packed novels, you will find it too slow. Pi Patel is an interesting and highly intelligent character.

Personally, I felt the book started very slow, but was, overall a tremendous find. I read it for book club and it yielded a fantastic discussion. Highly recommended.

Wow. I just finished this book and I can already tell it's one that I'll never forget. Yes, it can be slow reading at times due to its introspective nature. However, I think it's a powerful and enriching story.

I LOVE this book! It's really a great book for all ages--good for children since it's a fun adventure and great for adults since you can really delve into the deeper meaning of the story. Life of Pi is one of my favorites. I recommended it to so many friends.

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The first few pages found me almost giving up on this book as it just wasn't making sense and seemed so off the wall, but at the advice of someone who had read it, I stuck with it and it didn't take long before it sucked me in. It's an outrageously unlikely story told as a memoir, and it's told in such a convincing fashion with such convincing explanations with regard to animal behavior that I found myself checking the back cover to see if it was based on a true story. It gets even more ridiculously impossible as it goes on but never stops being convincing and entertaining. And despite the fact that the book has only one human character throughout most of it, I found it to be hugely entertaining, fascinating, well-written and a book I would recommend to anyone.

I absolutely loved this book. Such a compelling read, and the messages it contains on life, survival, spirituality, belief, nature, and human nature I found beautiful. The "twist" at the end really got me. Now I want to re-read the book. I think knowing the ending I would get more out of it the second time. It makes you think. I closed the book and sat and just thought about it for a long time. I had to come to my own conclusion about the "island," and I think I did! Now I'm waiting for my husband to read it so we can discuss it. Great, great read!

I loved this story of Pi and his tiger.This is one book I will keep and I will recommend it to my friends for a good read.There is one gory scene on the boat. But the rest is fantastic.Great story if you love animals.

This book was an adventure. I couldn't put it down. It did take awhile to get into but once I did I was thinking about it constantly. A very good read.

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down!

I know most critics and readers sing the praises of this book, the ending ruined the story for me. I despise stories that become preachy and try to teach a one-sided moral lesson. Though the majority of the book is entetaining. I wish I hadn't read the last 50 pages.

whoa- I won't forget this one. I grew tired of the book a couple of times as I was ready for the water adventure to begin and there are some grotesque parts but overall an easy read and I'm glad I kept reading, the ending keeps you thinking for a long time. A lot of symbolism in this book.

Interesting discussion of major world religions.

Enjoyed this book. Fun. Easy. I think even people who don't like reading might like this one. I would read it again (and I don't re-read books).

It took me a while to get into this book. The first part of the book seemed just to babble on and on. Towards the middle it starting picking up and had a strong finish with a twist at the end. Not a book I would recommend to everyone, but if you have read Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and The Sea"; you would probably like this.

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