I have recently finished reading Life of Pi, a book I was given for Christmas. It's one that I've been meaning to read for a long time, as I've heard good things about it, but never got to it until now. Yann Martel is a fabulous writer, and it's a great book.
I especially enjoyed chapter 78, in which he describes the skies. "There are many skies", he starts, and goes on to beautifully describe all the different skies at sea. And it's explained in such a way that I know exactly what he's talking about. I've seen that sky. I know the kind he means. After this he talks in the same way of the different seas, and winds, and moons. He talks of being in a circle, and of opposites. Of boredom and terror. It's profound in a simple beautiful way. I have the urge to quote here the entire chapter. I smile as I read it.
There's another chapter that I also like, a little while later. It's about lightning. And while it too is beautifully written, I don't know exactly what he means. I've never seen a 'great celestial tree' standing in the ocean. But it's something I can imagine by the vivid description. Again the words cause me to smile.
I like books, or any writing for that matter, where the words make me smile. Where they are arranged in such a way that is unexpected and pleasing.
I especially enjoyed chapter 78, in which he describes the skies. "There are many skies", he starts, and goes on to beautifully describe all the different skies at sea. And it's explained in such a way that I know exactly what he's talking about. I've seen that sky. I know the kind he means. After this he talks in the same way of the different seas, and winds, and moons. He talks of being in a circle, and of opposites. Of boredom and terror. It's profound in a simple beautiful way. I have the urge to quote here the entire chapter. I smile as I read it.
There's another chapter that I also like, a little while later. It's about lightning. And while it too is beautifully written, I don't know exactly what he means. I've never seen a 'great celestial tree' standing in the ocean. But it's something I can imagine by the vivid description. Again the words cause me to smile.
I like books, or any writing for that matter, where the words make me smile. Where they are arranged in such a way that is unexpected and pleasing.
posted by Anonymous at 8:52 pm
1 Comments:
Jill, I really think you should give 'Self' (also by Yann Martel) a try. You may find you don't finish it because of the content, but the writing is so phenomenal. I know you'd appreciate it, even if you only read part of it. I heard part of an interview with Yann Martel on CBC a couple years ago and he talked about how he had some sort of conversion experience between the writings of 'Self' and 'Life of Pie'. It's fascinating to read the two books knowing this.
I think it's safe to say he's the best writer I've ever read.
Another book I'd recommend for the beautiful writing is 'The Lost Garden' by Helen Humphries (who's from Kingston!)
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