Highlights in the novel:

On Christianity from the eyes of a boy who was brought up Hindu…
NB: I don’t mean to be irreverent to any religion here, but it’s just a refreshing way to show how some people might have their misgivings about Christianity when they don’t understand it well enough.

The first thing that drew me in 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 the 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.”

Piscine (French for swimming pool), apparently sounds like ‘pissing’ if not pronounced properly. As a result, Pi had suffered greatly from teasing… At his new school, he ingenuously comes up with a way to introduce himself. Before each new teacher could attempt to pronounce his name, he would write on the board:

My name is Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as Pi Patel where π = 3.14

And in this clever way, he had a new nickname!

On psychology of the circus trainer and his animals:

It is interesting to note that the lion that is the most amenable to the circus trainer’s tricks is the one with the lowest social standing in the pride, the omega animal. It has the most to gain from a close relationship with the super-alpha trainer. It is not only a matter of extra treats. A close relationship will also mean protection from the other members of the pride. It is this compliant animal, to the public no different from the others in size and apparent ferocity, that will be the star of the show, while the trainer leaves the beta and gamma lions, more cantankerous subordinates, sitting on their colorful barrels on the edge of the ring.

The same is true of other circus animals and is also seen in zoos. Socially inferior animals are the ones that make the most strenuous, resourceful efforts to get to know their keepers. They prove to be the ones most faithful to them, most in need of their company, least likely to challenge them or be difficult. The phenomenon has been observed with big cats, bison, deer, wild sheep, monkeys and many other animals.

NB: Readers, look out for Chpter 23, P65, when all three Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious leaders in Pi’s town meet him and his father at the beach by coincidence together…

NB: Also look out for the really cute exchange between Pi’s parents when Pi asks to buy both a prayer rug (for Muslim prayers) AND to be baptised. (Some of us might find the way his parents talk familiar… heh)

And that’s all now! Enjoy the book! It’s a GREAAAT read!!!