latest read - life of pi

I was pushed to really give this a go since it came out as a motion picture and received rave reviews including nomination as best movie in the 2013 Oscars.

I deliberately missed the movie because I really wanted to read the book first. I mean, I'll be able to catch up with the movie some other time. But the book, well, that will take more time and effort. Besides, I didn't want the movie to influence my thoughts about the story without giving the book a go first. Many times the film adaptation of books do not put the writing to justice so that's why I really wanted to read the book first.

My first experience with Yann Martel as a writer was reading the book "Beatrice and Virgil" which left me dumbfounded as to why Yann is hailed as such a great writer. That book was on disappointment and really put a dent on my perception of Yann.

So when I started reading this book, I had a preconceived idea on what to expect but me being me, I have a tendency to keep on open mind regardless.

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Well, having completed this book, I now totally understand the hype and buzz and compliments received and given to Yann. This book is nowhere compared to "Beatrice and Virgil". It is in a totally different league. The story line and the story-telling is magnificent. It makes you addicted to the book and you just cannot let go until you reach the conclusion.

I must admit the ending of the adventure is pretty abrupt but to be honest, it didn't disturb me as much I thought it would. I think sometimes even in reality, an ordeal that we face can sometimes just end as quickly as it started. So I took that philosophy.

Now, let's get to the movie...

latest read - beatrice and virgil

What is the big hype about Yann Martel anyway?

Life of Pi – his first book – received such a big buzz that, although I was not taken in by the buzz, thought maybe I should try out his latest book.

USA Today quoted “Just might be a masterpiece” on the sleeve.
HUH?!
Seriously??!
What a load of garbage.
There’s nothing close to a masterpiece with this book.
Are we talking about the same book?
Sheesh!

The book is a feeble attempt to be cryptic in storytelling the horrors of Holocaust in a new way which to my opinion, really failed, miserably.
The story centres on Henry – a writer – and an old taxidermist who is in the midst of writing a play. The main characters in the play are a donkey – Beatrice – and a howler monkey – Virgil.
It is from this play that Yann is trying to impart some feeling of fear, sadness, violence and bloodshed related to the Holocaust.
Some of the scenes shared between Henry and the taxidermist are nice and sweet and do invoke some thoughts but many of them are just plain pointless.
The climax of book is like 12 pages away from the end of a 197-pages book where the taxidermist as it turns out is one psycho, murderous nut and ended up burning himself and his shop post stabbing Henry.
What the heck?!
Pointless, pointless, pointless.


I think many of the award-winning writers who obtained acclaim from an earlier book find that they have an upper hand in selling and publicizing future books (i.e. typically non-series books) without even trying hard to write a good book. That one sparkling moment in time sets them up for life.