Life of Pi by Yann Martel

What more is there to say about the novel ‘Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel. The book was a surprise winner of the prestigious Man Booker prize in 2003, which engendered much publicity and great sales for the previously obscure author. This history is notable, of course, but my memory of reading this novel is much more personal.

I wanted to fling the paperback across the room after reading the deconstructed ‘alternate’ ending. This emotional reaction, I must admit, was entirely due to Mr. Martel’s skill in crafting a story that sucked me in despite its fantastical nature.

The author set the stage carefully, beginning in a fictional preface to the novel. The narrator, a young writer who seems to be in quite a similar situation to the author himself, has been struggling to write a novel. He is living frugally in India, trying to construct a story set elsewhere. He becomes discouraged with his efforts. In a stroke of desperate depression that will ring a bell with any would-be writer, the narrator mails his unpublished manuscript to a fictional address in oblivion - without a return address.

And from this act of destruction come the seeds of hope - the narrator has opened himself up to the world, to new experience, and inspiration comes in the guise of Pi Patel and his incredible story of survival.

Martel uses a variety of techniques to render the unbelievable scenario he creates into a more acceptable form. Its absurd designation of names, for example, contributes to the gentle sense of humour that pervades the novel. Pi Patel is named after the French word for pool, piscine, by his father’s misplaced tribute to a famous swimmer. And the Bengal Tiger that is to be the antagonist to Pi’s protagonist is labeled with unlikely name of Richard Parker.

I was mildly bemused by the narrator’s claim in the novel’s introductory preface that this story of Pi Patel would convince the reader of the existence of god. This theme of religion continues in the first part of the story as we get to know Pi and his curious openness to the three main faiths of the world: Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.

The theme of god and religion returns with a vengeance at the end of the novel. By then, the reader has vicariously lived through the tale of Pi Patel and Richard Parker’s tale of survival, the two of them lost at sea on a small lifeboat, a boy and a 500 pound tiger with nothing else to eat. The story grows increasingly fantastical with each passing chapter. Until the end arrives. The two main characters have survived their journey - they’re back on land, back in the world of reality.

Martel then rips the veil of incredulity away from the tale, revealing the underlying, horrifying truth.

The reader is given a choice. Accept the truth and what it reveals about the nature of man, of the quest for survival, about how our world and civilization came to be, of our uneasy relationship with nature and our fellow humans. Or the reader can take the plunge back into a world of faith - of believing a sugar-coated fairy tale that assaults common sense. Because it is perhaps easier to believe in something greater than oneself.

I prefer a belief in my own perceptions.