Just finished Life of Pi. Unfortunately, this book was kind of a let down. It was claimed "A story to make you believe in God" but I am not convinced. It's possible that I read it with an overly critical eye (I can do that when it comes to religion), but for me it was just another story of a teenage boy surviving in the wild. It also reeked of The Old Man and the Sea, which I read in high school and HATED. The middle got tedious...there are only so many ways you can describe fishing and butchering fish.
A few quotes I enjoyed:
"I speak in all modesty as I say this, but I discovered at that moment that I have a fierce will to live. It's not something evident in my experience. Some of us give up on life with only a resigned sigh. Others fight a little, then lose hope. Still others--and I am one of those--never give up. We fight and fight and fight. We fight no matter the cost of battle, the losses we take, the improbability of success. We fight to the very end. It's not a question of courage. It's something constitution, and inability to let go. It may be nothing more than life-hungry stupidity."
p. 148
"The worst pair of opposites are boredom and terror."
p. 217
"What a terrible thing it is to botch a farewell...It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse."
p. 285
So, overall, disappointing, but it held my attention for the most part. The beginning section was my favorite. I think I am beginning to become very interested in India. According to the man at the bookstore the other day, Midnight's Children also deals with India so I may be reading that one soon. Immediately next up: The Magician's Nephew (first of the Narnia books, #33). That one I have as a book on tape, so I'll be listening to it as I run. In print form, maybe Charlotte's Web. I need something light and uplifting.
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