Erin Malone Life of Pi

Over the summer the only English books I read were Life of Pi by Yann Martel and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin because I was occupied with my Spanish studies in Argentina. Abroad, I read Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie and a variety of short stories in Spanish. Due to the simplicity of the Spanish books, I could truly appreciate the English books and their complexity. Even though Pride and Prejudice is a known classic, I had neither read it nor seen the movie. Ancient to many, but new to me, the classic surprised me and was a remarkable read. My favorite novel that I read, Life of Pi, also astonished me because I was surprised that it is in many ways about religion. It unraveled some of my doubts about religion by craftily tricking me into think religious thoughts while not consciously knowing it.
I prefer reading books that appear to be a simple story but lying in that story is a convoluted path of deeper meaning and confusion that must be studied to be understood. I think that if five people read Life of Pi, everyone would interpret the novel in a different way. Life of Pi is an intriguing story that kept me enthralled from close to the beginning to end. While reading the novel, I felt like a skier that started down a hill slowly, but lost control and created a momentum that could not be stopped until I reached the end of the slope. Much like after an adrenaline rush a skier experiences, I was frustrated when the book was over because I desired more.
Life of Pi primarily focuses on a journey through the ocean with a Bengal tiger and an Indian boy named Pi Patel. Prior to the sea adventure, the book compares three religions (Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam) that are different, but similar in more ways than one may think. While I found some of the religious comparisons surprising, this was the part that I disregarded as “dull.” I was determined to read this section quickly before I fell asleep. In truth the boat scenes encompass the majority of the book and are indeed more attention-grabbing, but the beginning ended up being more essential to the books impact on me than I originally anticipated. In the end of the novel Pi reaches land and is saved. The tiger is also free and runs off into the wilderness. Soon after Pi’s return to civilization he is interviewed about what he has experienced since his ship sank. The interview not only gives explanation to the book, but also unlocked a door to my mind about religion. The interviewers do not believe Pi’s stories about a zebra, hyena, and tiger. To them it seems evident that these events could never take place. They enjoy his second story that involves people and seems more believable. The way the author shows the stupidity of the interviewers, pointed out my own hardheadedness. I recognize that the novel is fiction, but it may be full of truth about the nature of human beings.
The novel did not convert me into some devout Christian, but it opened my eyes to ideas I had not given much thought to before my encounter with this zesty novel. I still do not practice a faith, but now I have a new curiosity. I am anticipating taking World Religions this semester because even though I am not looking for faith, I am now more open to the possibility of it.

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