[...] I reviewed Life of Pi I mentioned that at the end of the book the narrator asks the reader to pick which version of the [...]

Well, what about the shipwreck? Or his relationship with the tiger? Or the “spoiler”? For me me these were big, life changing things to the little Pi. So it’s not like “nothing” happened to him. But maybe I’m getting to hung up on semantics here.

There was not much in this book in terms of action, dramatic suspense or unexpected plot twists – I’ll give you that. I can see how it could get boring if you had different expectations. I enjoyed it nevertheless.

I picked up the book expecting Pi to have some sort of life, wherein something happens in it. It didn’t.

Well, the spoiler didn’t bother me that much, but it does make it hard for one to buy into the whole “this is a true story” thing. Then again if you consider the “second story” then it doesn’t really matter.

In those terms you could look at it as a metaphorical sort of thing. I’m not sure what it would be though…

I read it when it went out in Europe, some years ago. I loved it. I can be as picky on books as Luke is picky on films, if not more. But that book is just totally amazing. Great ideas, great story telling, great characters. And please note that it is a book written by a French speaking guy directly in English. The only thing I didn’t like as much as the rest is actually the “spoiler” Luke mentions…

@Mack – What did you expect to happen though? I pretty much expected it to be all about kid on a boat with a tiger doing nothing.

And I would say that the spoiler I mentioned above counts as “something” that happened. And so does the second, much more gritty story story he told to the Japanese men.

Yes, it was well written, yes, the arguements were good, but it just. Didn’t. Go. Anywhere

I got through a good third of the book and NOTHING HAPPENED

Threw it across the room, had a coffee, picked up Robert Sheckleys Mindswap instead. Which was much better.

@Luke: Yeah, that’s the one. It happens to be my favorite book, and I’ve read it six times…

I don’t read that many books, but I’ve definitely gotten that realization from re-watching TV shows

@Matt` – that happened to me too with several books. It’s usually worth re-reading them later on for that “holly crap, I had no idea this is what it was about!” realization.

@freelancer what is “The Guide”? Oh wait… Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy perhaps? I don’t own that one either. I read it long, long time ago – borrowed it from a friend.

Never read it, never even heard of it. But after this review I’m actually consider buying it. I never buy books. I don’t even have a copy of The Guide!