"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

overall, this is a pretty good book, even if it was a very slow read in the first half.

What kept me going until I finished the book (and fortunately, this came early in page 5):
"Then the elderly man said, "I have a story that will make you believe in God."
I stopped waving my hand. But I was suspicious. Was this a Jehovah's Witness knocking at my door? "Does your story take place 2000 years ago in a remote corner of the Roman Empire?" I asked.
"No."
Was he some sort of Muslim evangelist? "Does it take place in seventh-century Arabia?"
"No, no. It starts right here in Pondicherry just a few years back, and it ends, I am delighted to tell you, in the very country you come from."
"And it will make me believe in God?"
"Yes."
"That's a tall order."
"Not so tall that you can't reach."

And it is true, this story does make you believe in God. Furthermore, it seems that Pi Patel and I share something in common: the belief that "all religions are true."

"Listen, darling, if you're going to be religious, you must be either a Hindu, a Christian or a Muslim. You heard what they said on the esplanade"
"I don't see why I can't be all three. Mamaji has 2 passports. He's Indian and French. Why can't I be a Hindu, a Christian and a Muslim?"
"That's different. France and India are nations on earth."
"How many nations are there in the sky?"
She thought for a second. "One. That's the point. One nation, one passport."
"One nation in the sky?"
"Yes. Or none. There's that option too, you know. These are terribly old-fashioned things you've taken to."
"If there's only one nation in the sky, shouldn't all passports be valid for it?"
[one chapter later...] "Bapu Ghandi said, "All religions are true.""

And last but not least, a good book (in my books) needs to make me laugh out loud. Or at least snort in a pitiful attempt to suppress it so as to not look like a retard.

My favorite laugh-out-loud part of the book:
"I took the hatchet in both my hands and vigorously beat the fish on the head with the hammerhead. The dorado did a most extraordinary thing as it died: it began to flash all kinds of colours in rapid succession. Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickered and shimmered neon-like on its surface as it struggled. I felt I was beating a rainbow to death."

Mr. Pi Patel, I salute you.
And Mr. Yann Martel, thank you for bringing this miraculous story to the masses.