Life of Pi

Writer: Yann Martel
Genre: Fiction/Philosophy

Pi Patel (Piscine Molitor Patel) is the son of a zookeeper in Pondicherry. His family consists of his elder brother - Ravi, mother, father and many animals who are a part of his zoo. Pi's childhood is a normal one where he gets introduced to multiple faiths and becomes a practicing Hindu, Muslim and Christian - all at once. His parents curious about his religious affluences never discourage him though.

Eventually, owing to the political situation in the country the family decides to move to Canada. They sell most of their animals and embark on a journey to Canada in a Japanese cargo ship along with the remaining animals. Midway, the ship sinks and only 5 survive in a lifeboat. The survivors include - Pi, a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.
The journey of the survivors is the crux of the book and an interesting part. The food chain ensures that the hyena eventually kills the zebra and the orangutan before being himself eaten by Richard Parker. With only a tiger for company, Pi decides to survive the horrendous journey.

The conversation in Pi's head as he travels with a tiger is the best. Although scary, he understands that the tiger is his only company and acts accordingly by feeding him the bigger share of his fishing expeditions. Together they spend an indeterminate time in the Pacific and before landing ashore in Mexico they have traversed thru a carnivore island and have met another ship wrecked man.

The synopsis is definitely interesting and the book is interesting too.

The Great Gatsby

Writer: Scott Fitzergald
Genre: Classic

The narrator, Nick Carraway lives adjacent to the main protagonist of the book - Mr. Gatsby. He is intrigued by the lavish parties thrown by Gatsby and gets to attend one of them. He notices that the host always stays away from the parties, just occasionally mingling with his guests.

Daisy and Tom Buchanan who live across the bay are related to Nick. Daisy is Nick’s cousin and Tom and Nick have been in the same society in college. Daisy introduces Nick to Jordan Baker, a sportswoman and wants Nick to date him. It’s Jordan who describes the problems in Tom and Daisy's marriage because Tom is involved with another woman. The other woman, Myrtle Wilson is introduced to Nick by Tom in New York.

Meanwhile during one of his encounters with Gatsby, Nick learns that Gatsby hosts grand parties with the hope of meeting Daisy. It enfolds that Daisy and Gatsby were lovers and had separated when the penniless Gatsby was sent overseas by the army. When he returns back, he finds out that Daisy had married Tom and decides to win her back. He uses Nick to get reintroduced to Daisy and tries to impress her with his wealth. Daisy, although happy to meet Gatsby is not the same to him. In the meantime Tom discovers the growing friendship between Daisy and Gatsby.

In one of the encounters, Gatsby, Nick, Tom, Daisy and Jordan decide to go to the city to escape the heat and it is here that Tom and Gatsby have a confrontation over Daisy. However Daisy's noncommittal response to Gatsby’s demand that she leave Tom since she doesn’t love him has Gatsby surprised. They decide to head back home after some heated exchanges between Tom and Gatsby. Daisy and Gatsby drive back home together and on the way Tom's mistress, Myrtle, is killed. On hearing the news, Tom is horrified and poisons Wilson's mind (Myrtle's husband) that it was Gatsby who killed Myrtle. The news works as expected and in the end Wilson kills Gatsby before shooting himself. Gatsby had already told Nick that it was Daisy who was driving the car when Myrtle was killed but he was ready to take the blame.

For Gatsby's funeral nobody turns up, as against his parties, and its only Nick, Gatsby's father and some servants. Nick has had too much and leaves the locality breaking of his relationship with Jordan and choosing to ignore the Buchanans.

Considered to be a great classic, I got bored of it and wouldn't personally recommend it to anyone.

Art of War

Writer: Sun Tzu
Genre: Management


Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military general was also a well-known strategist. His writings about the philosophy of managing and winning battles have been compiled into a book which is today revered by people around the world.  

It’s difficult to analyze the book for the original consists of notes regarding the various strategies used in warfare with the surety of winning it. But the adaption of the book in so many management techniques easily tells us the importance of the book in modern times.

Its definitely a good and quick read.