Life of pie part two

One thing that I really noticed and liked is the author's use of description throughout the book. He has a way of describing something so ordinary to us in a way that gives it a new light and can make you really visualize it. Well, at least it had that effect on me. For example, I really liked the part where he was describing nature as  being a show. He says, "The stage is vast, the lighting is dramatic, the extras are innumerable, and the budget for special effects is absolutely unlimited." I personally would have never thought about nature in this way. It's very abstract yet it makes perfect sense! I like that a lot of Martel's descriptions are brand new and something I would have never thought of instead of a monotonous book repeating the boring facts and details that I'm already overly familiar with. Yes, I'm familiar with nature, but he was able to make me think about it in a new way and I like that a lot. 

Another example of his detail that I really liked was when he was comparing the ocean beneath him to a busy city such as Tokyo. He called the fish cars and described the collisions, different shaped and colored vehicles, and the different "lanes" on the streets. Again, I never would have viewed the ocean as a giant highway or city but his description makes sense. In fact, that's exactly how the ocean functions so this description fits perfectly. His vivid detail and imagery put a solid picture in my mind.


One thing that stood out to me about the character Pi was his ability to notice and appreciate the little things in life, even in his time of struggle while trying to survive on the boat. Yes, he has his moments where he breaks down and realizes his situation doesn't look good, but he doesn't dwell on them. He makes himself notice the smaller things in life that most of us take for granted. He appreciates the fish, the ocean, the contrasting colors between the tiger and the boat, even his scarce food supply that he has. One example of this is in his description of the zebra on the boat. He talks about the artistic and perfect design and how the stripes on him seemed to glow brilliantly. He even talks about the way the zebras head looks and how lovely the animal is in general. I think zebras are cool, sure. But I've never spent that much time dwelling on the way they look and how it makes me feel. This definitely isn't a bad trait that Pi has, though. It's probably one of his best in my opinion. If I had the choice to be trapped in an elevator with a habitual pessimist or Pi, I would choose Pi because at least he can look on the bright side of things. Slowing down and taking the time to appreciate the world around you (even if its just ocean) is a good quality that not many people have and I like seeing this trait in Pi. 


Earlier I mentioned the use of detail that I liked. There were some parts that grossed me out though. Examples: Pi peeing on the tarp, suggesting vomiting on the tarp, cutting/gutting the various animals (fish, turtles, etc.), the bloody zebra, the bloody hyena, the bloody orangutan. And I can only imagine what the bottom of that life boat looked like what with all the guts, feces, and water all over it. Eww. I especially gagged at the part where Pi describes the hyena and what it won't eat. Not much apparently. According to Pi a hyena will drink pee invested water, eat its kin, and even eat vehicles! YUM! Another part where I got a little weak stomached was when he was talking about drinking the turtles blood. I know that vampires/sucking blood and all that are really "in" right now but I don't do blood. I can't. The thought/smell/sight grosses me out. So reading about how he drank a pop bottle full of it really made me sick! It's hard to say because I'm not exactly stranded in the middle of the ocean currently, but if it came down to it, I would probably still have to pass on the turtle blood.