Review: Life of Pi

Life of Pi

Author: Yann Martel

Publication Date: August 29th, 2006

Publisher: Seal Books

Genre: YA/Contemporary/Adventure

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Synopsis:

Growing up in Pondicherry, India, Piscine Molitor Patel - known as Pi - has a rich life. Bookish by nature, young Pi acquires a broad knowledge of not only the great religious texts but of all literature, and has a great curiosity about how the world works. His family runs the local zoo, and he spends many of his days among goats, hippos, swans, and bears, developing his own theories about the nature of animals and how human nature conforms to it. Pi’s family life is quite happy, even though his brother picks on him and his parents aren’t quite sure how to accept his decision to simultaneously embrace and practise three religions - Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. But despite the lush and nurturing variety of Pi’s world, there are broad political changes afoot in India, and when Pi is sixteen, his parents decide that the family needs to escape to a better life. Choosing to move to Canada, they close the zoo, pack their belongings, and board a Japanese cargo ship called the Tsimtsum. Travelling with them are many of their animals, bound for zoos in North America. However, they have only just begun their journey when the ship sinks, taking the dreams of the Patel family down with it. Only Pi survives, cast adrift in a lifeboat with the unlikeliest oftravelling companions: a zebra, an orang-utan, a hyena, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

My Thoughts: I wanted to read this book for a long time! But like most books I have on my massive TBR list, it waited and waited while I read tons of other great books as fast as I could. Then came the movie, so I had no more excuses. I had to read it so that I could watch the movie because that's a golden rule of mine. Books before movies - always.

It makes sense to me that opinions on this book would be all over the map. There is quite a large dose of religion all throughout the book and obviously that is not for everyone. But speaking as someone who isn't even remotely religious, I loved it. There is no harm in taking in other peoples beliefs, attempting to understand them and watching the world from a completely different point of view every now and then. In fact, I think it's pretty good for you. And that's exactly what this book did. It gave us such a unique, one in million view into life and all things within. I encourage that you go into this book with an open mind otherwise you may find it not to your liking or hard to envision the ideas behind the story.

And when I say unique views and opinions I really mean it because Pi happens to partake in three completely different religions. He is a Christian, as well Hindu and Islam. You may say that it isn't even possible to follow all three and even many people in the book said as much to him. But Pi does not feel the need to accept any one else's virtues. He creates his own and follows them boldly without influence from anyone else. So while I said this book is seriously enjoyable for even the non-religious of us, if you do happen to follow just about any religion I think you are going to love this book. As long as like I said before, you keep an open mind. Pi shows us the real meaning behind faith, and love and trust in a divine power. You may think your faith has been tested, but wait until you read the story Pi has to tell and how he perseveres and steadily believes in the higher power.

While it does revolve a lot around religion, it also a  story about survival, determination, the will to live and most of all courage. Pi spends 227 days lost at sea. I can't even begin to imagine such a feat. But I suppose that is what this book does for us. Follow his bravery, his strength and strong independence. Not only did he manage to keep himself alive, but a Bengal Tiger as well, imagine that! Or, just go read this book because Yann Martel has already done it for you. And he has done an incredible job.

This story is beautiful, mesmerizing, heart-felt, and emotional. I really don't think you will find another book like this one. I am so glad that I have finally read it. I fell so deeply in love with Pi and his story, which is ours to believe or not. You will see what I mean when you read the book for yourself. But let me just say that I believe, 100% I believe :).

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: September 18th, 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: YA/Paranormal

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Synopsis:

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

My Thoughts: Here I am! Finally writing a review for The Raven Boys. I have been awaiting this book so impatiently and the day I finally got it in my hands was no doubt one of the best days ever. I have been hopelessly in love with Maggie's books ever since I started the Wolves of Mercy Falls series last year. So starting a brand new series by her is incredibly exciting  and wonderful to me.

If there was one word I could use to describe Stiefvater's work I think it would have to be captivating. Her books just always suck me right in. Her books are like a whirlpool of fantasy and adventure. There's no way you can get through it without getting pulled down into the depths. And yes, this story falls right into that description as well. I started this book with pretty darn high expectations, and you be assured I was not even slightly disappointed.

Yet again I've met these characters that I just love. I feel so personally attached to them. I don't know exactly how she does it, but somehow I always feel like the characters are my closest friends. I struggle with them, hope for them, laugh/cry with them, and just straight out love them.  Blue is this adorably quirky girl, who's also really smart and his a sense of self and confidence in her own decisions that I envy so much. The four Raven boys, these boys that Blue has never wanted anything to do with, they go against everything she supports and believes in. But here she finds herself on an incredible paranormal adventure with them, and she even becomes quite attached to them. There's only one major problem. One of them, Gansey, is going to die before the end of the year. Blue seen him on the corpse road. Which can only mean one of two things, she was able to see him because he is her true love, or because she herself will be the one to kill him. Considering the fact that Blue has always been told if she kisses her true love he will die, I guess it could very well be both.

It was a super suspenseful, exciting, paranormal adventure. I love being surprised by books and even more I love being creeped out by books. I experienced both of these things and more. If you are into the paranormal  at all, I'm sure you will love this book. It's full of information and oozes with the paranormal. As I was getting closer to the end of this book I kept thinking, no I'm not ready, the end can't be that close because I am not ready to let go! But as usual, it's over way too soon and we're forced to let go. Let's just say I will be sitting here biting my nails and counting down the days to the sequel. Thanks again Maggie for captivating me. I can't wait to walk beside Blue and The Raven Boys again!!

Review: Cannibal Island by Cornell DeVille

Cannibal Island

Author: Cornell DeVille

Publication Date: March 16th, 2012

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Genre: YA/Adventure/Steampunk/Mystery

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Synopsis:

Young Adult steampunk adventure involving the search for the mysterious and legendary Golden Disk. This is the first installment in The Golden Disk time-travel series. It is an especially good choice for teen boys who crave adventure, danger, and mystery.

My Thoughts: This is the second book I've read by Cornell. The first one I read was "Lost in the Bayou" Which I really enjoyed and you can find the review here. I was really looking forward to reading more of his work and started off this book rather excited.

Unfortunately, my excitement slowly dwindled. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book, but it's not really a great one either. It landed in  the "I could take it or leave it" area. My reasons for feeling that way are my lack of attachment to the characters. I didn't feel any real connection or attraction to the characters involved. I didn't really either like or dislike them I just felt rather indifferent about them. It was definitely adventurous, but maybe just not the kind for me. I found it  a little slow paced. At times I felt like there was too much detail where it wasn't really needed. I also found myself putting the pieces of mysteries together long before the main character, and watching him come slowly to the conclusion I had already made was kind of a boring process.

It wasn't all bad though. It had it moments where I was turning pages anxious to see what happened next. And I do like reading some YA that takes a break from making sure there is a major romance role going on. As much as I'm a sucker for romance, it's good to take a break from it now and then and just focus on a story line without that factor. I also like that it's YA that doesn't seemed aimed at the female population like most of it seems to be. I beleive I said that about his last book as well. I see in the synopsis that it's a perfect read for a teenage boy, maybe that's why it didn't quite reel me in. But I don't think you have to be a boy to enjoy it either.

Would I continue to read the series? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Maybe  like the synopsis says, to younger boys. I'm sure they'd love the sea faring adventure full of steampunk inventions, treasure, and cannibals. But for me it was to much steampunk and nautical detail, not enough adventure and cannibalism.