The title had a familiar ring to it, and there was a random deep yearning to lay my hands on a book. Any book. Little did I expect this unassuming adventure story of “One boy, one boat, one tiger…” to leave such a profound impact.
Perhaps it was the mish-mesh of animal biology, religion and worst-case-scenario type adventure. Or the brilliantly crafted english that brought each action to vivid life. Either way, I was lured into Pi’s world from the very start. Walking to work or cosying on the sofa, squishing in the MRT or sitting through a bumpy bus ride, “Life of Pi” was constantly in my hands.
I started the book on the night of my purchase, unaware of the “August 2009 worldwide readalong” sticker till I ripped off the plastic cover. And I finished the last few chapters in the office two weeks later, in a state of semi-disbelief and amazement. Disbelief in the story twist, and amazement at the story twist. So rare it is to stumble upon a book that rewards with a compelling read, and evokes open-ended questions even long after you have put the book down.
I came with fascination, and left with something possibly impossible to translate into words. Isn’t that the magic of storybooks – everyone reads the same words, but takes away a different literary experience?
A book really comes alive only once it has met a reader. A book in that sense otherwise is 50% – the other 50% is what the reader brings to it – their imagination’.
- Yann Martel, author of “Life of Pi”
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