I've heard the saying, "truth is stranger than fiction." From what I've read, this could apply to your book. So far this has been a very beliveable book. What was your purpose in spending so much time makeing a fictional story sound so beliveable? How does this add to the overall effect of the story?
Wow, I was going to say something quite similar to what Mr. Schwint wrote. But I shall attempt to expound upon it... In wondering where the idea to create this realistic fiction came from and why he used someone from India and not a different country. He definitely had me tricked with that authors note in the beginning which made everything seem more 'non-fiction', and I would ask if this was his intention.
Why did he chose the different religions that are in the book? There are also colors that go along with these. Is there any other hidden meanings for the colors that you have chosen?
What is the significance of the animals that you have chosen to be with Pi on his journey?
What ending is the truth? I would like to believe the first but the second one may also be the actual truth.
Why is the lions name Richard Parker? Is there any meaning to the other animal names?
I would like to know why he made the book so life like? Why he made it seem like a true life story? How he made it into such a good life story that isn't real? Why he gave the lion such a formal human name instead of a simple name like most people do?
From what I understand, there is going to be a movie made about your novel "Life of Pi". I was wondering if you plan on helping with the production of this movie or if you plan on seeing it at all? Do you think it will portray your novel as outstanding or make it "suck"?
I think the most interesting part I have found thus far is your naming of the main character "Pi". To me it seems like throughout the book he comes full circle in his relationship with religion, animals, and life in general. So did you intend for Pi to be a sort of metaphor for him coming around full circle in the novel by using Pi as a sort of mathmatical reference or metaphor to a circle, did you choose it for another reason or was it just simply a name you chose?
I would like to ask if Pi and Yann are one in the same through the religious part of this book. Does Yann practice all three of these religions. I think if you grew up in so many different parts of the world that practiced such different religions, each religion would rub off on you a little bit.
Did you attempt to make this book seem real? How do you come up with the ideas that you are going to write about? What made you wanna start writing novels?
Mr. Martel. In your novel, you attempt to blur the lines of fiction and reality, as you have stated in other posts and articles. I feel you do an excellent job of this throughout the novel, until one reaches the final chapters. Here, you have a string of coincidences that push that blurred line a little over the edge... I was wondering, did you do this more to "entertain" the readers? Or is this to see how far you can stretch that blur until it breaks?
Even though this novel is fiction did some of the events really happen? There is so much detail in the events it seems like he actually experienced it. That’s what I would ask Yann Martel
Once all of you have finished this book, I'll pose a question that will really throw you all for a loop! It's a theory of mine--one that I need to ask Yann about.
why did you take from the brazillian novel and risk being called a copy cat. why not come up with your own completely differnt scinerio, or were their really no scenarios left to explore for a survival novel that have not been used by someone somewhere?
On page 67 line 2 can you explain what you meant by Christians having many gods. I am a practicing Christian and it says in our creed that "We believe in one God..."
This book literally has me hooked! It always has something going on which makes it a great read. I was wondering how the choice was made to select the animals that survived? Was there a lot of thought put in to that or just by chance of what to choose?
Is Pi the only one in his family that lives because he is the only one that practices religion? Is this Gods way of telling Pi to just trust him and everything will work out no matter how hard it is and how long it takes?
I have noticed in your book that Pi likes to talk about the animals as if they were people themselves and sometimes even has conversations with them. Obviously the animals cannot communicate with Pi through the use of words yet sometimes it seems as though Richard Parker is almost obedient to Pi's thoughts. Do you think that in some reguard animals and humans can somehow sence what the other is thinking especially when put into a drastic situation such as Pi's? Also how did you come to the conclusion on how Pi and Richard Parker might react to each other in a life boat?
What a better world we live in than did Charles Dickens, who traveled the world reading from his books. People would pay money to hear him, like they pay money to see and learn from Yann Martel (they buy his books to learn from him). We're fortunate to email/blog with people from around the world. I'm thrilled, at least, because I get better perspectives on things throughout my days. Never bored here at BVHS.
Sometimes, our world is too fast, though, I'm sure you'd agree. Were people happier when there was less speed and less pressure? I wonder if this pace is good for us all...
pd 1 What is the Author's favorite part of the novel? and why that part? Why did he choose Pi, an Indian boy,who grew up in a very different life style. Not everyone can relate to this character, so how did he know the book would have success if he chose to go with this story?
Mr. Martel- How long did it take you to write the book? Is there a reason why we learn so much about religion and science in part 1? How did you come up with this whole idea of the book?, did it just pop in your head or is their a reason? It's very interesting and enjoyable, im just wondering how you came up with the whole theme or plot.
Yann - Does anything in this book come from any personal experience? From reading some of your responses to Mr. Christensen it seems like everything has been more thought out in Life of Pi than it seems at first glance. Where did you gather your inspiration from for the book, besides of course the man you met in the coffee shop?
What was your inspiration? Why Pi? Why India or a Zoo? What made you make Pi so devout and so religious? Most would not put a religious major with a zoology major. We come to fall in love with Pi, did you also come to love this character, or was he no different then the rest of your characters?
I would also like to know why you talked so much about religion in the first part of the book? What is the significance of knowing this much about religion before Pi gets on the boat with Richard Parker?
I would ask him, why the religion plays such a big aspect in the entire book? Why is Pi completely devoted to all 3 religions? Why does Pi believe in one a little bit more than another?
Yann - Does anything in this book come from any personal experience? From reading some of your responses to Mr. Christensen it seems like everything has been more thought out in Life of Pi than it seems at first glance. Where did you gather your inspiration from for the book, besides of course the man you met in the coffee shop.
FRANCIS, THE MAN AT THE COFFEE SHOP, WITH GREAT LENGTHS OF WHITE HAIR INTRODUCES MARTEL TO PATEL'S STORY. REALLY MEET FRANCIS OR A MAN LIKE HIM?
I would ask Yann Martel is what made him start the book with us knowing that Pi lives through the whole experience. Why didnt he start with life on the boat and telling his background then in the end have us find out that he lived. I just want to know why he started his book the way he did.
pd. 7 I would ask Yann Martel if he had to do a healthy sum of research on the animals before writing about them or if he already knew all the animal information.
He did a lot of research, Lori. A lot of traveling and personal exploration, too. Four years worth, I think. The Canadian Endowment for the Arts enabled him with funding, I think. (He's joked that he's paid back the government many times over with the amount of income tax he's paid while selling so many novels!)
47 comments:
I would ask Yann Martel to tell me more about Life of Pi before I started reading it.
I've heard the saying, "truth is stranger than fiction." From what I've read, this could apply to your book. So far this has been a very beliveable book. What was your purpose in spending so much time makeing a fictional story sound so beliveable? How does this add to the overall effect of the story?
Wow, I was going to say something quite similar to what Mr. Schwint wrote. But I shall attempt to expound upon it... In wondering where the idea to create this realistic fiction came from and why he used someone from India and not a different country. He definitely had me tricked with that authors note in the beginning which made everything seem more 'non-fiction', and I would ask if this was his intention.
I love that this novel has blurred the boundaries between/among truth and perception, reality and surreality.
Why did he chose the different religions that are in the book? There are also colors that go along with these. Is there any other hidden meanings for the colors that you have chosen?
What is the significance of the animals that you have chosen to be with Pi on his journey?
What ending is the truth? I would like to believe the first but the second one may also be the actual truth.
Why is the lions name Richard Parker? Is there any meaning to the other animal names?
I would like to know why he made the book so life like? Why he made it seem like a true life story? How he made it into such a good life story that isn't real? Why he gave the lion such a formal human name instead of a simple name like most people do?
I would love to ask him what was he thinking when he came up with this book.
I could never write something so life like and not make it sound fake so i would like to know what gave you this idea for life of pie
Did you always love writing and want to be a writer or did you have different aspirations as a kid?
Was there an actual person that inspired the character pi? Or is pi a symbol for all of humanity or religions?
From what I understand, there is going to be a movie made about your novel "Life of Pi". I was wondering if you plan on helping with the production of this movie or if you plan on seeing it at all? Do you think it will portray your novel as outstanding or make it "suck"?
I think the most interesting part I have found thus far is your naming of the main character "Pi". To me it seems like throughout the book he comes full circle in his relationship with religion, animals, and life in general. So did you intend for Pi to be a sort of metaphor for him coming around full circle in the novel by using Pi as a sort of mathmatical reference or metaphor to a circle, did you choose it for another reason or was it just simply a name you chose?
I would like to ask if Pi and Yann are one in the same through the religious part of this book. Does Yann practice all three of these religions. I think if you grew up in so many different parts of the world that practiced such different religions, each religion would rub off on you a little bit.
Did you attempt to make this book seem real? How do you come up with the ideas that you are going to write about? What made you wanna start writing novels?
what event or person in your life inspired you to become a writer?
Mr. Martel. In your novel, you attempt to blur the lines of fiction and reality, as you have stated in other posts and articles. I feel you do an excellent job of this throughout the novel, until one reaches the final chapters. Here, you have a string of coincidences that push that blurred line a little over the edge... I was wondering, did you do this more to "entertain" the readers? Or is this to see how far you can stretch that blur until it breaks?
Even though this novel is fiction did some of the events really happen? There is so much detail in the events it seems like he actually experienced it. That’s what I would ask Yann Martel
What is the reason for Pi making a vegetarian feast? Does he not eat meat because he was raised around animals.
Why did you choose a tiger to be on the boat with Pi? Why not have a bear, a loin, or some of the other ferocious animals in the zoo.
Why did you have him end in Mexico, the ship was on its way to America.
I'm wondering what age group were you intending to entertain with this book?
Once all of you have finished this book, I'll pose a question that will really throw you all for a loop! It's a theory of mine--one that I need to ask Yann about.
why did you take from the brazillian novel and risk being called a copy cat. why not come up with your own completely differnt scinerio, or were their really no scenarios left to explore for a survival novel that have not been used by someone somewhere?
On page 67 line 2 can you explain what you meant by Christians having many gods. I am a practicing Christian and it says in our creed that "We believe in one God..."
Wonderful questions, Andy and Denise! Careful, aware thinking.
This book literally has me hooked! It always has something going on which makes it a great read. I was wondering how the choice was made to select the animals that survived? Was there a lot of thought put in to that or just by chance of what to choose?
Is Pi the only one in his family that lives because he is the only one that practices religion? Is this Gods way of telling Pi to just trust him and everything will work out no matter how hard it is and how long it takes?
with all the sucesses you have had with your book do you have any groupies?
I have noticed in your book that Pi likes to talk about the animals as if they were people themselves and sometimes even has conversations with them. Obviously the animals cannot communicate with Pi through the use of words yet sometimes it seems as though Richard Parker is almost obedient to Pi's thoughts. Do you think that in some reguard animals and humans can somehow sence what the other is thinking especially when put into a drastic situation such as Pi's? Also how did you come to the conclusion on how Pi and Richard Parker might react to each other in a life boat?
Pi does not work as a chef. He just cooks really well for the author of this book.
What a better world we live in than did Charles Dickens, who traveled the world reading from his books. People would pay money to hear him, like they pay money to see and learn from Yann Martel (they buy his books to learn from him). We're fortunate to email/blog with people from around the world. I'm thrilled, at least, because I get better perspectives on things throughout my days. Never bored here at BVHS.
Sometimes, our world is too fast, though, I'm sure you'd agree. Were people happier when there was less speed and less pressure? I wonder if this pace is good for us all...
pd 1
What is the Author's favorite part of the novel? and why that part?
Why did he choose Pi, an Indian boy,who grew up in a very different life style. Not everyone can relate to this character, so how did he know the book would have success if he chose to go with this story?
Period 1
Mr. Martel- How long did it take you to write the book? Is there a reason why we learn so much about religion and science in part 1? How did you come up with this whole idea of the book?, did it just pop in your head or is their a reason? It's very interesting and enjoyable, im just wondering how you came up with the whole theme or plot.
Period 1
Yann - Does anything in this book come from any personal experience? From reading some of your responses to Mr. Christensen it seems like everything has been more thought out in Life of Pi than it seems at first glance. Where did you gather your inspiration from for the book, besides of course the man you met in the coffee shop?
What was your inspiration? Why Pi? Why India or a Zoo? What made you make Pi so devout and so religious? Most would not put a religious major with a zoology major. We come to fall in love with Pi, did you also come to love this character, or was he no different then the rest of your characters?
I would also like to know why you talked so much about religion in the first part of the book? What is the significance of knowing this much about religion before Pi gets on the boat with Richard Parker?
How did you start to write the book, or find the idea behind the book? The story seems so real but yet its fiction.
Mr. Martel, I have a very simple question for you. What exactly inspired you to write this novel?
I would ask him, why the religion plays such a big aspect in the entire book? Why is Pi completely devoted to all 3 religions? Why does Pi believe in one a little bit more than another?
How did you come up with the character Pi? the name, the personality, the religions, the intelligence.
ADAM D.'S WORDS:
Yann - Does anything in this book come from any personal experience? From reading some of your responses to Mr. Christensen it seems like everything has been more thought out in Life of Pi than it seems at first glance. Where did you gather your inspiration from for the book, besides of course the man you met in the coffee shop.
FRANCIS, THE MAN AT THE COFFEE SHOP, WITH GREAT LENGTHS OF WHITE HAIR INTRODUCES MARTEL TO PATEL'S STORY. REALLY MEET FRANCIS OR A MAN LIKE HIM?
pd.5
How did you come up with idea for the novel? Did it come from personal experience or what? Also why the three religions?
Period 5
I would like to know what the inspiration for the book was. Why a tiger? Why Pi and not his brother? Why the youngest one?
I would ask Yann Martel is what made him start the book with us knowing that Pi lives through the whole experience. Why didnt he start with life on the boat and telling his background then in the end have us find out that he lived. I just want to know why he started his book the way he did.
said by erin sudbeck
pd. 7
I would ask Yann Martel if he had to do a healthy sum of research on the animals before writing about them or if he already knew all the animal information.
He did a lot of research, Lori. A lot of traveling and personal exploration, too. Four years worth, I think. The Canadian Endowment for the Arts enabled him with funding, I think. (He's joked that he's paid back the government many times over with the amount of income tax he's paid while selling so many novels!)
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