"... a terrific book. It's fresh, original, smart, devious, and crammed with absorbing lore."

[a brief introduction to the characters and novel]
The Life of Pi is a novel unlike any other. The characters mainly consist of Pi and his family who own a zoo in the small town of Pondicherry, India. His mother is a very understanding woman who loves to read. Pi’s father is a man of business and has no interest in religion. As well, he seems to worry much more than he should. Ravi is a typical older brother who teases Pi. There are many figures in this story that have a great impact on Pi’s life. Such mentors are his religious leaders, a family friend who inspired Pi’s full name, and a teacher. Pi is forced to spend much of his time with several animals during his journey through the Pacific, and though they are animals, they each have very unique traits. In addition, two very impatient and cynical Japanese men are introduced during the end of the story. Each and every character contributes, not only to the novel, but to Pi's personality as well.

The life of a simple, religious Indian boy is changed forever as Piscine Molitor Patel and his family venture across the infinite Pacific in hopes of a better life in Canada. However, they receive the exact opposite after the cargo ship they are on sinks, leaving Pi and his lifeboat journeying through the unforgiving ocean. In spite of this, he isn’t completely alone. Shipwrecked and seasick, Pi’s companions include a zebra with an injured leg, an unsightly hyena, a motherly orang-utan, and a fully-grown Royal Bengal Tiger. This isn't the ideal group of mammals to be stranded on a lifeboat with. The expedition seems as endless as the ocean as Pi uses his cleverness and resources, which range from knowledge of animals to marine life, to survive. On his trip, he encounters numerous hardships and discomforts, a carnivorous island and a French cannibal. The ocean brings Pi many journeys; some of which are not physical journeys but insightful odysseys of the mind. As a result of a trying experience, Pi comes to many realizations about his religion and life that stay with him for the rest of his life. That is, if he survives this calamity…

o01. "It's Pissing Patel!

The Life of Pi begins with Pi Patel, the main character and narrator of this novel, revealing previous experiences of his earlier life. Pi tells of his education, and the fascinating origins of his full name as well as his self-acclaimed nickname. The young Indian boy reminisces about the zoo his family owns and life in his brother's shadow. Pi also takes us back to the times of hardship when he first moved to Canada, and his colourful childhood in Pondicherry, India. While doing so, we are provided with a number of deep insights that range from life, to zoo animals. Such insights would give a person no choice but to question previous perspectives on certain topics. Pi's father has something significant to show the young Pi, however, his father's behaviour about this was not comforting. What could this solemn surprise possibly be? And why was Mr. Patel so worried about revealing it to Pi?

o02. "You're the next goat"

As we venture deeper into The Life of Pi, Pi’s father’s secret is finally revealed. Pi and his older brother, Ravi, are brought into their family’s zoo, which they have visited on numerous occasions. However, even with all the times they have experienced each of these animals, they have never in their entire lives seen anything close to what they were to witness. The two boys are brought to the enclosure that contains a fierce, orange-and-black creature; the patriarch of the zoo’s tigers. In order to prevent Pi and Ravi from poking their noses around the zoo and teach them a lesson, Pi’s father must demonstrate the consequences of being overly curious. A poor innocent goat is unwillingly placed in the same impound as the starving tiger, and meets his unfortunate death when the tiger eats him alive. We then get a feel of Pi’s spiritual side when he reveals his religious views to us. He meets a kind-hearted Catholic priest and a wise Muslim baker who change his views on religion for the rest of his life. Pi’s fresh and clever opinions on religion prove to be so interesting that any non-religious person would still be hooked on this novel. Will Pi learn from this traumatizing lesson? And where will his religious ways lead him?

o03. "We'll sail like Columbus!"

One ill-fated walk around the Goubert Salai seaside esplanade brings the religious figures of all three of young Pi’s beloved beliefs together, and unfortunately, Pi is stuck in the middle of a heated conversation. His spiritual mentors, unaware of Pi’s naïve, yet self-assured choice to practice three dissimilar faiths, begin to argue about which religion is the best choice out of the trio. To add on to this unlucky encounter, life at home becomes awkward when Pi discusses his predicament with his parents. Luckily for Pi, his parents support him completely even though they may not agree with him fully. Times are getting rough in Pondicherry, India. Due to certain political issues, it is definitely not a good time to own a business such as a zoo. Pi’s father makes a difficult choice, and decides that it would be best for the Patels to move to the foreign, frigid and distant land of Canada. Pi does not know what to expect; what could this unfamiliar place possibly have to offer Pi? And what new adventures will he be faced with?

o04. "You think you're Noah or something?"

Pi’s journey to Canada takes an unexpected twist when the cargo ship he’s on begins to sink. Unaware what to do in such a perilous situation, Pi is thrown onto a lifeboat. As Pi, a leaping zebra and the boat reach the ocean’s surface, Pi notices a beloved friend in the ocean, struggling to save his own life. Pi’s heart is filled with joy as he tries to save and encourage his friend, Richard Parker. That is, until Pi regains his sense of reality and takes in the fact that Richard Parker is a full-grown, and extremely dangerous tiger. Of course, by then it’s too late and the tiger boards the boat. Pi manoeuvres a way to sit off the side of the boat on an oar in order to prevent a brutal fatality. However, in time he realizes that the tiger has, for whatever reason, fled from the boat and in its place is a stowaway hyena and an orang-utan. Pi’s aspirations of being rescued, and being reunited with his family are crushed after two strenuous nights pass. Finally, hunger strikes the hyena, leaving the helpless, butchered zebra barely alive. Pi is fortunate to not have been eaten by the hyena, or by the sharks that surround the boat, but how long can this luck last? Will Pi be rescued in time, if at all? And what curious fate has Richard Parker met?

o05. 'His paws were like volumes of Encyclopaedia Britannica'

The Pacific Ocean seems to go on forever as Pi manages to survive on the lifeboat for a third day. At this point, Pi is beginning to lose faith as he comes to the tragic realization that he and his family will never reunite. In an attempt to protect the defenceless orang-utan from the bloodthirsty hyena, Pi leaves the safety of the edge of the boat and steps in to help. It is at this point that Pi makes a discovery that will completely altar the rest of the journey, and adds on to the danger that the sea and hyena already bring. Just inches below Pi’s feet, separated by merely a bench seat, Pi finds an unwanted and unexpected acquaintance. Richard Parker was on board the entire time. A rancorous tiger was in close enough proximity to kill Pi this entire time. This discovery gives Pi quite a scare, but once he regains a grip on things, Pi searches the boat for emergency equipment; he hasn’t had anything to eat or drink for three entire days. When Richard Parker finally makes a move and attacks the hyena, it motivates Pi to make a crude raft and create an almost impassable gap between Richard Parker and himself. While on his seemingly insecure raft, Pi devises ways of getting rid of the tiger. How will Pi be able to survive with such a deadly creature on board? Will he manage to get rid of Richard Parker? And how will his raft hold up considering the rough conditions at sea?

o06. 'The sea is a city'

"Prusten!" That was the first noise Pi heard upon awakening from an unsatisfying sleep. It was Richard Parker. This noise isn’t a noise commonly heard by tigers, because that specific noise expresses friendliness and harmless intentions. “Prusten” is the very noise that inspires Pi and gives him the idea that may in fact end up saving his life; He would train Richard Parker. After reading the survival manual, Pi’s time on the boat becomes more liveable and he knows what is safe to do and what isn’t. Pi builds a canopy on his raft, and inflates solar stills that provide salt-free ocean water. However, his good luck takes a disheartening turn when Pi’s long hours of fishing make no avail. How is Pi supposed to train a tiger without treats? Just when all his hope had just about run out, his answer hit him across the face. Literally. Flying fish come out of the ocean and shower over the lifeboat, hitting Pi and Richard Parker. Some of them even land on the lifeboat, providing Pi and Richard with a large quantity of fish. These fish prove to be very functional, and Pi uses them as bait, food, and treats for Richard. With some improvements on Pi’s behalf and the tiger’s natural habits, the lifeboat is beginning to look more and more like a zoo enclosure. Pi has now lasted a whole week on the lifeboat with a man-eating predator, but he will now be able to last forever. How long can he last with such a dangerous creature on board?

o07. "Winds and currents decided where I went"

Pi manages to keep himself busy on his lifeboat, and has even gotten into the habit of a daily routine. Though leisure time, which consists of praying or sleeping, is minimal, this routine keeps Pi satisfied. After countless days of being shipwrecked, Pi’s health is quickly getting worse. To make matters worse, the scorching sun and salty seawater are wearing away Pi’s clothing and skin. Painful sores and boils develop on his unprotected body. However, not all hope is lost for Pi because he has become a much better fisherman. Fish and marine life are abundant and despite Pi’s vegetarian ways, he does not hesitate to kill the fish if it means putting food in his belly. Richard Parker still appears to be a problem, but Pi, being the son of a zoo owner, manages to impose territory on the ship and now has a tiny portion of the boat. Malnourishment gets the better of Pi, leaving him drained, constipated and famished. Food supplies are virtually gone; will Pi be able to survive on fish alone?

o08. "I was elated to be on speaking terms with a tiger"

Pi's wit and knowledge of zoo animals allows him to train Richard Parker, which means that Pi can now be on the boat rather than on his makeshift raft. He can be in close proximity to this dangerous feline without having to worry about being assaulted. And that is precisely what Pi is forced to do when a raging storm stirs the seas and tosses the lifeboat about. This storm fills the boat with saltwater, damages much-needed supplies (such as food and the raft) and carries them off the boat, into the endless ocean. Time passes by, bringing various events. Pi’s hopes are quickly lifted and then crushed just as fast when an oil ship comes right at the little lifeboat, but floats right past it. An array of debris glides by and Pi places a note in a bottle with high hopes that it will be found. A severe lack of food is draining the life right out of the two seasick mammals as they unwillingly venture the vast Pacific. Their health begins to become so poor that their vision begins to falter to the point where Pi only has a small window of vision to see through. He is almost completely blind when out of nowhere a voice calls out to him. Thinking that he is so close to death that he is going insane, he assumes the voice is Richard Parker. However, the voice’s thick French accent allows Pi to realize that it cannot be the tiger, and that there is another shipwrecked being there. What an incredible and unlikely discovery! Who is this Frenchman, and will he be able to help Pi survive?

o09. 'Green is a lovely colour'

Pi's unexpected guest turns out to have evil intentions, and proves this as he tries to murder Pi. Still being a vigorous creature, even in the face of death, Richard Parker gathers all the strength he has and makes a meal out of the murderous Frenchman. All hope is regained when Pi's journey takes a marvellous turn. On the horizon is a green island that Pi can only faintly see. Though it's seemingly too good to be true, Pi ventures towards the green mass and, much to his delight, finds that the island is in fact real. The island appears to be paradise to Pi; it's infested with meerkats and is abundant in fresh water, fish and algae. However, the island holds a sinister secret, and becomes deadly by night. Immediately upon uncovering this enigma, Pi gathers all the materials he can and departs the evil island. Who knew such land masses existed? Though he is stocked up on supplies, how long will they last him?

o10. "Do your uncle's bonsai [trees] eat meat?"

Pi's perilous journey comes to an end as their lifeboat lands on a beach in Mexico. Immediately upon arrival, without warning or even so much as a glance at Pi, Richard Parker takes off, leaving Pi all by himself. Pi is broken hearted as he realizes he will never see this companion that he spent such a significant part of his life with ever again. Heroic locals find the perishing boy lying on a beach hours later, and immediately take him to get medical attention. Considering the extraordinary events he experienced, Pi's tale seems tall to two Japanese men who work for the Ministry of Transportation. The men question him about the sinking of the cargo ship, and his journey but they are sceptical about Pi's story and are not able to decipher a reason for the ship's sinking. In order to satisfy these doubting men, Pi provides a more realistic story, which they believe right away. Out of Pi's miraculous survival comes a realization about God that brings tears to Pi's eyes. Piscine Molitor Patel has been saved.