Kylie

I read this a few years ago and quite enjoyed it. I agree with some of the comments that you might enjoy it more/less depending on where you're at in life. I enjoyed the style of writing and found Holden Caulfield both irritating and endearing at times. It's a book I'll look forward to reading again one day, and hopefully enjoying it even more the second time 'round. I also agree with the comments about reading at school. Those books they make you read are never much fun because you have to analyse them to death instead of just enjoying them for what they are. I've since re-read a couple of those books and found them much more enjoyable!

Have you read the book? It's one of my very favourites - I think it's absolutely brilliant!

I'm so excited today I did a search on ebay earlier for Anthony Burgess (author of the brilliant A Clockwork Orange) in the remote hope that I would find one of his more obscure works that I've been dying to get my hands on, and there it was! The book has been out of print for I-don't-know-how-long and I've never seen it in secondhand bookshops or heard much discussion of it anywhere. I've had it on my wishlist for a while but I didn't really have any hopes of being able to track it down! I am so terribly excited! The book is called 1985 and it was originally published in 1978 as a tribute to George Orwell's 1984. From my understanding, it's published in two parts: the first is a collection of essays and interviews discussing aspects of 1984; and the second part is a novella set in 1985. It should make for some very interesting reading. I am just so thrilled at finding this book! And it wasn't too expensive either! This is one happy little book-lover!

He can see a pig through an upstairs window when he's downstairs? It must either be a very large pig or it can fly! Either way, sounds scary

Hi Leanne and welcome! I'm sure you'll have a great time here.

Well, I recently closed down my Shelfari account...let's see how this one goes! I'm on there as Kyliel. I imported my books from LT but some didn't take, which means I'll be needing to go through the entire list Oh well, I like playing with these sites!

Controversial books certainly make for more interesting discussions, don't they?

Hi Lilac and welcome!

I saw an interview with Matthew Reilly recently where he said that he self-published his first book and went to great lengths to make the cover look 'official' by adding a US and Canadian price on the back He seems like a genuinely nice, normal person and I think he's done remarkably well for someone so young. I'd like to check out his work one day but I kind of get put off by the 'blockbuster' tags that his books receive (usually by himself!). Ice Station is one I'm always seeing around the place - I'll look forward to reading your review.

I was browsing through book-related podcasts in iTunes and what should I stumble across but an interview with Yann Martel about Life of Pi! It was produced by the Guardian Unlimited Book Club and the podcast and related articles can be found at this website, if anyone's interested. (The link is directly to the book club podcasts, but the entire site looks very interesting - there are interviews with other authors such as Philip Pullman).

I also got busted for reading with a torch under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping I don't have any very early memories of reading, but I have a lovely photo of my Mum and I sitting on a lounge and Mum is reading a book to me (not sure what it was). I look very engrossed and Mum looks thoroughly bored (although she assures me she wasn't!) I remember borrowing Roald Dahl's poetry from the library and Mum would stand in the hallway and read it aloud so both my brother and I could hear. She did a wonderful job! When we used to go on holidays, Mum would surprise my brother and I with new books when we got to our destination. I usually got a few Baby-Sitter's Club books but I remember getting a huge book of jokes once. My Nanna had some Dr Seuss books that I would routinely pull out of her cupboard and read every time I went to her place. When she passed away I received most of those books, which I now treasure. Oh, and getting the book club catalogue at school and poring over it, then placing an order and receiving a nice little bundle of books a few weeks later.

Home alone tonight and not feeling up to cooking so think I'll order some satay chicken and dim sims from my favourite Chinese takeaway

I've just started this today. Up to chapter 2 and already immersing myself in Austen's beautiful prose.

Please excuse the double posting. I thought these points would be important enought to warrant their own post. I hope I don't prattle too much here There were a couple of issues that were brought up in the first part of the book that got me thinking a bit. One was Pi's thoughts on the freedom of animals. He thinks keeping animals in zoos is a type of freedom for them, whereas others think it's cruel. I can see where Pi is coming from but I don't think I necessarily agree. The other interesting part was Pi's thoughts on people who harbour religious doubts (agnostics and the like): I don't agree with this at all (not just in terms of religion, but everyday life). I've always been someone who is unable to side with one philosophy or opinion over another because I can't see things in such a black-and-white way. I always look at both (or all) points of view and when I think I'm close to making a decision I start to lean the other way. It's often frustrating for me, but at the time I think I'm just being open-minded (not 'immobile', as Pi would say). I don't think the human race could advance unless people were continually examining their motives and beliefs and adjusting their views accordingly. If everyone was so sure of themselves and their beliefs all the time surely we, as a race, would become stagnant and thus immobile? I think it's doubt that keeps us moving forward (and sometime backward - but it at least keeps us moving!) I was wondering what everyone else thought about these two issues? Probably someone else can it put it more succinctly than I can

Life of Pi Yann Martel Rating: 7/10 Published: 2002 Number of pages: 319 Summary (taken from blurb): After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger and Pi - a 16-year-old Indian boy. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary pieces of literary fiction of recent years. Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a transformative novel, a dazzling work of imagination that will delight and astound readers in equal measure. It is a triumph of storytelling and a tale that will, as one character puts it, make you believe in God. Can a reader reasonably ask for anything more? Comments: I thought Life of Pi was a pretty entertaining read, but there was nothing that really knocked my socks off or that will stand in my memory for a long time (other than a few slightly gruesome scenes). There was quite a bit of background story leading up to the lifeboat section, which got a little tiresome, but mostly I found Pi's comments on animals and religion to be quite interesting, even if I didn't completely agree with what he was saying. Like others have said before me, the whole island part was most puzzling - it seemed very out of place! I know the ending has come as a disappointment to some people but luckily I knew beforehand how it would end so I wasn't disappointed. Perhaps I enjoyed it more than some people because I didn't try to read too much into it and find symbolism everywhere. I took it at face value and enjoyed it as a good story, well told. Started: 8 January 2008 Finished: 17 January 2008

1. Who was your favourite character and why? Didn't really have one (hardly a wide selection to choose from!). Pi didn't make much of any impression on me. I quite liked Richard Parker. 2. Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? I enjoyed seeing Pi helping (and then trying to get rid of) Richard Parker after the boat sank - it was quite funny when you then found out who Richard Parker was! 3. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? Yes, first book read by this author. I would perhaps read more of his work, but it would probably depend on the story. 4. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? (Spoiler refers to end of book) 5. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? Yes, I'm glad I read it.

Wow, if our resident Nabokov expert gives such high praise, it must be a good book! I think I'll be adding that one to my wish list, thanks, although I really should read some more Nabokov before I start reading his successors!

Excellent news Gyre! It always feels like such an accomplishment to finish such a mammoth book, doesn't it? Let us know your thoughts when you're done!

Welcome to the forum March! I look forward to discussing books with you!

Ooh yeah, the footage taken at the birthday party is very freaky isn't it? I like when Joaquin and the kids are sitting on the lounge with hands on knees and alfoil hats on heads It's a bit of a strange movie - can't make up my mind whether I love it or just think it's OK.

Hi Megan and welcome!

Top 3 Books Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird (re-read) Bram Stoker: Dracula Worst Book (A Tie) Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist Anna Sewell: Black Beauty Best New Author Vladimir Nabokov

The Book Club Bible sounds great Kell - I might have to check that one out. I'll look forward to reading your review of The Water Babies. I read that book many years ago and seem to recall it was pretty good. I've actually added it to my 'priority reads' for 2008 because I've been wanting to read it again for a while now.

I wish I'd had better taste in books when I was your age, Tiger; then maybe I wouldn't have such a large TBR pile/wish list right now! While I relatively enjoyed the movie version of Jurassic Park, I think it put me off reading the book a bit. But with all the rave reviews I've read here, I think I'll have to add it to my wish list.

I've joined as well