Ok, so I feel like I should admit, the first time I began this book, I didn't get through much of it. Maybe the first 30 or 40 pages at most. However, after trying it again and absolutely loving it, I now know the reason why I couldn't do it the first time. But I'll save that for later.
While it is a novel, completely fiction, the book draws you in because of Martel's ability to make even the most ridiculous scenario seem completely reasonable. The majority of the book takes place on a life boat floating aimlessly in the Pacific Ocean. It involves a tiger and a boy sharing the close quarters of the boat, struggling to survive what turns out to be a very long, hard flea from death. And while it may seem that the premise would either, A. run out of steam because, really, how much can somebody say about a 30 foot life boat and a journey through an expansive, never changing ocean?, or B. look so corny because without the right person behind the pen, the scenario would lost forever before it even got started, Martel made it a point to avoid either option. He draws you in, makes you feel like the reader is the one on the boat, the one struggling to find food, survive storms, deal with reality, avoid sharks, and, most importantly, not get mauled by a hungry, miserable Bengal tiger.
Not only is the book a fun read, but it is a novel that brings a lot of true lessons with it. Almost philosophical, Martel has a genuine eye to teach through his writing. Without having to contribute to a textbook, preach through speeches and gawdy self help books, he has created a book that will open your eyes to new life perspectives.
The reason I couldn't make it far the first round was because of the only flaw I found with the book. For some reason, Martel added flashbacks that he incorporated every few chapters in the beginning of the book. He didn't even really stay consistent with them, but seemed to try to use them as a way of keeping the reader's attention during what he must have considered the slow portion of the story. However, the flashbacks reveal too much (although, nothing more than the summary on the back tells you), and take away from the initial flow. After a few of them, I began skipping over those half page chapters. Martel eventually stopped with it once the book really got going.
This book went from a hard-to-maintain interest novel to one of my favorites. Martel's storytelling is wonderful, a great combination of humor as well as full fledged fear and emotion. His story draws the reader to really consider how they would feel having to face death directly in the face from several different directions at once. But it also reveals a human spirit to survive against all odds. Though fiction, Martel really brought his game to the table.
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
gracieabrams
origamiaround
kianamaiart
pixelskylines
snowghoul