Life of Pi – by Yann Martel
This is one of those books, like The da Vinci code, that the whole world seems to be talking about, and you start to wonder what you can possibly add to the cacophony. However, I was told that I should read this book and, having read it, I would be very glad that I had. I did and I was. [2008 update: it has, in fact, inveigled its way onto my 'best books ever read' list by now.]
So, what happens? Well, like The da Vinci Code, I am severely limited in what I can say for fear of revealing more than is reasonable. The book introduces Pi Patel, an Indian boy and the son of a zookeeper, who subscribes to at least three of the world's major religions. In the first part of the book, we meet Pi and his family and learn about his character and the circumstances of his life. In the second, we are shown how those circumstances are destroyed and that character put to the test. Then we are asked to decide between two alternative ways of looking at the events in the novel. It might be an idea to stop reading now if you want to remain entirely innocent of the events in it.
Basically, I think there are three ways of interpreting the book, although I have been told that my third option is a cop-out. Either the story is literally true, or it is a metaphor. There are reasons given in the text to doubt the literal truth of either of the two possible stories – things that make either impossible to add up to a nice, round number. The third alternative is to say that, since we can't ever be sure which is true, we might as well settle for a kind of Schroedinger's Cat approach – the box is sealed, so the cat inside is both alive and dead until there is more information available.
The book is beautifully and sensuously written – in that the sights, smells and flavours roll off the page. It has a lovely, accomplished style and a unique voice. It is very difficult to put down, and I read it in about two days. I didn't end up with a unique insight into the meaning of life, nor did I fall on my knees and start to pray. But I did come away feeling that which story I would far rather believe, and that my world-view was enhanced by the fact it was verging on the impossible. Hint: I like the wild and fantastic, and also the idea that human nature is redeemable; make of that what you will.
Just out of interest, here is a fascinating link: Les Piscines Auteil-Molitor