Life of Pi

Life of Pi (Yann Martel, 2001)  

How I stumbled upon it: In a used bookstore in Nashville.

What it's about: Pi, the son of an Indian zookeeper, while making an international move a boat to Canada, is shipwrecked and stranded on a lifeboat with a massive Bengal tiger.  The book definitely crosses into the realm of fantasy, with the tiger + Pi having to learn to live together in order to survive as they await rescue.

What I thought: It took a bit to get into the plot, especially since the first quarter is a lengthy debate on how Pi can prescribe to three different religions, but once the plot picked up, I was on the edge of my seat.  It’s such a charming, well-written story that will make you root for Pi even as he despairs (and hope that Richard Parker, the tiger, also makes it off the raft!).

You can get it here.