The Life of Pi

Life of Pi follows the story of Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as Pi—a deeply religious boy who grows up with his zoo-keeping family in India. The first part of the book is anecdotal in nature—it discusses Pi’s devotion to Hinduism, his conversion to Islam and Christianity, his defense of zoos and his fascination with animals, the origin of his name and so forth. It ends with political unrest in India, which influences Pi’s parents’ decision to emigrate to Canada with their zoo animals. The first half of the novel is a preparatory half—without it, the plot would not stay afloat in part two. Part two is Pi’s ocean survival story; the ship bearing his family to Canada sinks and Pi must survive in a life-boat with only a male Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for company.