Although the book had received great reviews, I was skeptical as the story began ... this seemed potentially a flight of fancy I would not enjoy. Fortunately, I was happily surprised by the intricacy of the plot and affinity I developed for the main character.

I have a feeling the editor of this novel was stumped. What, and where, and why to cut? Sure, it's too long, but then length seems to be part of the point. You'll need to be as beaten down as I was to submit to the fantastical floating island chapters, and unless you let time sap your critical faculties the ending revelations will seem almost silly. Too bad. Parts are awfully funny and charming. I agree it's our age's "Jonathan Livingston Seagull."

While I did enjoy the story-line, I found it rather tiresome after awhile. I admit I didn't actually finish the book, once I figured out what was going on. But it was a clever fantasy.

OK, it is true that this book starts slowly. Give yourself one hour to get fully hooked. I once tried to listen to this book before and put it down too quickly.The storytelling is charming, enchanting and endearing. It plays with the interface between fiction and reality and powerfully shows the strength of the human spirit. There is a HUGE twist at the very end that will cause you to immediately want to listen to the whole book again. This book is truly a masterpeice. It is, without a doubt, one of the finest books I have ever listened to. Enjoy.

A beautifully written story that keeps you absorbed and interested from the beginning and then draws you in as you travel with Pi to reach an incredible conclusion. The reader was excellent and brought Yann Martel's wonderful words to life. It is very hard to put down once you start and when you finish, you'll want to read it all over again.

I struggled to get into the story at first, but once I got into it, I loved it. I finished it about a month ago and I still think about Pi, Richard Harris, and their story. At first I wish I had stopped reading about twenty pages before the end, but the more I have thought about it the more I have come to appreciate the ending . It is just one of those books that leaves an impression. It didn't change my perception of God or my beliefs, but it did make me think.

At first I didn't think I would like it. On a life boat with a tiger? Is it for kids? But, soon I found that it's a great book. Just finished it and was touched. You will be happy to have and listen to this book.

The writting is sappy and superficial, particularly when the author talks of god and philosophy. The quality of dialogue is no better than those of the afternoon TV soaps. But, the imaginative story line saves this otherwise ordinary style. Don't expect Chekov's understated beauty, or Rushdie's exuberance. The audio rendering my Mr. Woodman is very very bad. Besides destroying Indian names in his pronounciation, he reads like a child. Why could they not have hired an Indian to read it?

This is a story that I didn't want to listen to, but can't imagine not having listened to it.
A story of survival and life.
I don't think of myself as a softy, but I am with this book.

READ IT!

An absolutely fabulous read. I could not stop listening. It is very beautifully written, and really brings the words to life - highly recommended.