Glittery covers aside, I couldn't for the life of me, put down the book once I started reading it. The book revolves around Pi, short for Piscine Molitor Patel, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary life story to tell. Yann Martel wrote that the life story of Pi was based on a true story. Till this day I haven't bothered to check whether it is in fact a true story or just another part of the book that Martel's written for effect. I just take it for granted that whatever the fact it, Pi has enriched my reading life. Ahem! Needless to say, I was hooked even from Page 1. Imagine a boy, Pi Patel, lost at sea on a safety boat trapped with a Bengal tiger, an orangutan, a zebra and a hyena, along with the occasional sea turtles and (yikes!) sharks. Martel's description of how Pi and his companions survived the bumpy ride is so vivid it's like being in a 3-D movie with the characters coming out of the screen to grab you.

The Life of Pi also somewhat analyses the aspect of religion in one's life. How can you be a Moslem, and at the same time be a Hindu and a Christian too? Is one religion better than another? How can you explain which religion to choose to a young boy who has found faith in all the religions? Is it okay to adopt all of them? I'm somewhat pleased with Martel's tale as he has not put any emphasis on any one religion. He has put the decision on the reader. "Choose whichever religion you want, Mister/Miss. I'm only here to tell the tale!", I can hear him saying to me.

The many characters that spice up the book can go from a sensible, serious person in Pi's father to downright evil as in the French cook of the Japanese ship. Erm, I can't remember exactly cuz I don't have the book with me at the moment, eheh.

To sum it all up, The Life of Pi is a marvelous book and the lesson that I learnt is that sometimes it PAYS to judge a book by its cover!

This Review Was Written By Sleepy Head

Title: Man And Boy Author: Tony Parsons Price: RM 34.90 (Popular Bookstores) Related Links: Google On Tony Parsons, Similar Reviews, Tony Parsons, Profile.

If we were talking again about what motivated me towards the purchase of this book, I'd have to say the cover of the book did it - with two pairs of shoes placed at a diagonal corner; one adult high-cut boots, and the other a pair small dirty sneakers - which so aptly characterizes the title of the book man and boy.

This is the first of a series of books he'll write about relationships with the people around him. Man And Boy (1991) was a brought us the sequel, Man And Wife, and One for My Baby. He writes in easy, simple, witty, words, with none of the pretentiousness or dry English humor that most British writers exhibit - but yet packs enough to draw you into the story. Harry Silver, the protagonist is this husband / father who screws up somewhat royally - putting an end to his career and his marriage. He then tries to fix things, making do with green spaghetti for his son's lunch, trying to mend his relationship w his wife, falling in love with a waitress, and getting himself back on the payroll.

Yeah. I just told you how the story ended. LoL. Nice easy read, somewhat gripping at times. Perfect book to read while on the commute. Or the communal commode, I guess :D

Look out for this book on March 7th, Book Swap Meet III.