Yet another book borrowed from my sisters…
I’ll have to tell you guys…Yann Martel (the author) is something else. I’ve had dreams of becoming a writer most of my life, but if a writer has to have so much subject depth, and exhibit such admirable skill in getting into the skin of the character, and sooo much research…my future looks rather bleak.
What confounded bamboozled and floored my family and I was his more than accurate description of Chennai with all its customs and idiosyncrasies…and he’s not even Indian! Whoa!
The protagonist of the book is a lovable boy of 15 who’s faith in God is inspiring. He’s a Hindu, Christian Muslim boy (“Swami Jesus, when are you going for Hajj to Mecca?”) at who’s expense Martel has some fun at the beginning. What we don’t realize is that Martel is actually setting the stage and preparing Pi (the boy’s name) for what can be accurately described as Gargantuan times ahead.
No review on this book can be complete without making a mention of some of the animals who’re an integral part of Pi’s story. There’s Richard Parker, a 300 pound magnificent Bengal tiger, there’s a female Orangutan with a cute name that I can’t seem to recall, a ferocious hyena with an ugly mug, a pathetic zebra and there’s Man.
If looked at from a philosophical point of view, the book is worth more than its weight in gold…what I took away from the book was a sense of understanding of the way the universe works, how all our circumstances are a prologue to the real story that is to come, how we endure hard times to know the value of the good times that are sure to come around, how we can take the most from good times to prepare for the lean times ahead and on and on. `I’m sure most of you know about what you need to succeed…the ASK principles…`
A – Attitude
S – Skill
K – Knowledge
…in that order…
That’s what this book taught me…how powerful the application of the ASK principle can be.
Astounding! Hats off to Yann Martel!