Yann Martel-Life of Pi-author interview

[revolution94ful]

this book is a knockoff of "max and the cats".

[BibleStudyAtheist]

The difference between pi's story and the story of religion is that it does make a difference to me whether my beliefs about god and the universe are valid.

[ogloosh]

@BibleStudyAtheist

The point he's trying to make is that you can't know anyway, and until you die the truth of the matter is irrelevant.

If you need to guess(as we do, really) you might as well keep an open mind and hope for something greater.

[laloca787894]

@BibleStudyAtheist

it does? martel's first quetion in 'reading group guide' asks how it may have affected the readers religious beliefs. i would like to analyse it through the eyes of atheists and agnostics because i find harder because i already have a 'religion'. so if i may ask, how?

[bleakreserve]

Interesting concept. Couldn't take the leap of faith though, argument had some critical flaws. It's kind of ironic that he referenced the world trade center as an argument for believing in god. I'm sure all those people didn't have to jump out of the windows and plummet to their death had it not been for terrorists who are waging a war against the west in the name of their religion. Yeah, I guess having a normal day at the office wouldn't make for an exciting story *sarcasm.

[shili12000]

i stopped this book halfway and flung it away.

[aquamarine1515]

@shili12000 You should be eaten by Richard Parker. But congratulations on the successful rhyme; y'should turn it into a poem about Twilight or something.

[rougejaw]

Me and my mom read this book we both loved it. My went on to say it was one of her favorite books of all time.

[BehindTheSea29]

Such a good book!

[BAY868]

regarding my last sentence, i should have said, don't get hung up on small details in a book about God.

also, he could have fabricated the second story simply to challenge the thought process of the interviewers, who to me were symbolic of all people who choose not to expand their boundaries of thought, and refuse miracles as a part of their lives. his whole point of the book is there are two ways to look at life: dry factuality, or magic. life is all how you interpret it, as is the book.

[archaist]

Yann Martel, I did interpret the book as you said, that the story with the animals was allegorical and referred to the story without animals. Because, if Pi had these two stories in mind, he would need a motivation to invent one. His motivation to invent the story with animals is perfectly simple... he wants to convince himself that his story was less horrible and more interesting. It would make no sense for his character to fabricate the story without animals.

[archaist]

I believe this way of reading the book is better than the interpretation you apparently intended. And I choose to believe that it is the true interpretation because it is the better one.

[BAY868]

that's not what he meant, he left it open. His whole point is that it is open, he wants you to make the decision as to which actually happened, and to contemplate why you chose what you chose. the reason he would fabricate the human story is simply because that was the whole point of the book and he had to put it in. its what ties everything together to leave you guessing, and to leave it unfinished with room for philosophical discussion. don't think too literally in a book about God

[mark1138]

Thanks for the upload!

[chrisgelb]

A Royal Bengal Tiger....great choice!

[MugLug40]

IT'S FICTION.

[kayjay56]

Is he saying that people will say that the "true story" is the one with the people on the lifeboat, or is HE saying that "in fact," the true story is the one with human survivors?

[xOTHisLove]

They'll say it's the BETTER story.

[KristofferAppel]

An amazing book. Very nice to hear the author's idea of the "two stories". A thought it was a really scary and horrible ending because you don't know if Pi was in the lifeboat with the animals or in fact with humans - which would make it all even more tragic. Truly a masterpiece!

[MilicaVV]

yeah , but still ...

if in fact his mother was on the boat

with him ... why was he saying throughout

the whole part when the orange-utan was

with him , stuff like ...

"I've lost my whole family" , "I wish mother

was with me" , etc.

[tomatoflower78]

totally recommend this book.......have to read it again.......interesting twist

[krwcarolina]

this is one of my favourite books ever

[happyearthmama]

great interview about the value of believing

[leeshore]

Does anyone know the source of this interview? Interviewer/program? Pllelealaseee

[Mrl0101]

amaaaaaaaazing book!

[tajhani]

This book was so unbelievable (lie!!) After I figured I was reading the mother of all FICTIONS, I was completed bored and nonchalant! He has what people call an overactive imagination, along with religious issues.

[GamerForLifePSthree]

Boring book wanted to kill myself sorry everyone but its true

[perucha8291]

That book was amazing! Just finished reading it yesterday. Yann's a masterrr! haha

[24thingstodo]

I love this book!

[woodensaw]

(that's how a semi-colon SHOULD be used)

[woodensaw]

Yeah, Canadian Canon for sure. But how well does it stand up to Moby Dick, or Old Man in the Ocean of Apathy Re-born, or Oryx and Crake. It's interesting how Yann discusses how people want to tell the story; is it the boy and the

[Arsondogg]

I happen to believe the first story.  Very good book.

[studmuffffffin]

I thought yann was a girl's name, lol.

[woodensaw]

You are a moron.

[studmuffffffin]

Yeah.

[lionstrong101]

amazing book...just finished reading it

[writerly]

I agree with you completely. I instantly hooked by it. Pressure is on poor Yann to top himself now. Tough job!

[Syncopatedrythm]

That book is so f'n brilliant.