“I have many questions about this book. It was certainly thought provoking, but all the thoughts it provoked in me were disturbing and negative. I interpreted the first third of the book as the description of Pi's maladjusted childhood and his search for yet inability to find a home within a religion. Then of the two alternative lifeboat stories, I thought the second was the better story; it was very much more plausible, interesting, shorter and much better written. But I was told I was meant to find the first story better. I just don't understand why anyone could think so.
I read in an interview with Martel that his summary of the book was "Life is a story. You can choose your story. And a story with God in it is the better story."
"Life is a story". What does this mean? Surely not that life is a work of fiction. Maybe that life is a lie, as in "He told a whopper of a story."
"You can choose your story." What does this mean? Not that you choose your own destiny. Maybe it's an encouragement of wishful thinking. Or perhaps its about choosing a religion. But poor Pi can't make up his mind about a religion. Anyway, I think, in most cases, a religion choose you, does it not?
"A story with God in it is the better story." OK, but in this case the story without God is the better story.
Why does Martel associate a story with so much violence and gore with an attempt to "make you believe in God"? Is it to set people up by evoking a strong emotional reaction. If so why evoke disgust?
And why do so many people find this a good story?”
posted 2 weeks ago