I first read this book in 2003, and we discussed it at Book Club that year. It was also on my list of the Best Books of 2003. I re-read it this month to refresh the story in my mind before the movie is released later this month.
I loved it even more this time - what a story! What a vision! First of all, anyone who majors in religious studies and zoology at university has my admiration, especially when the zoology thesis was " a functional analysis of the thyroid gland of the three-toed sloth". Growing up in a zoo in India, Pi had a great understanding of animals, an invaluable aid when sharing a twenty foot lifeboat with a 350 lb. Bengal tiger for 227 days!
My favorite passage is his interpretation of the Christian Story, so I quote it completely:
And what a story. The first thing that drew me was disbelief. What? Humanity sins but it's God's Son who pays the price? I tried to imagine Father saying to me,"Piscine, a lion slipped into the llama pen today and killed two llamas. Yesterday another one killed a black buck. Last week two of them ate the camel. The week before it was painted storks and grey herons. And who's to say for sure who snacked on our golden agouti? The situation has become intolerable. Something must be done. I have decided that the only way the lions can atone for their sins is if I feed you to them".
"Yes, father, that would be the right and logical thing to do. Give me a moment to wash up."
"Hallelujah, my son"
Hallelujah, Father."
What a downright weird story. What peculiar psychology.
I love it!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment