I FUCKING HATE the book. It was especially popular among the expat set a few years back, with every wide-eyed Canadian I met proclaiming: "Have you read 'Life of Pi'? It's amaaaaaaaaazing!"

So I read it and thought it was the most overblown piece of precious pretentiousness I've ever laid my unfortunate eyes on.

If the film is anything like the book, I'll gladly pass, as purty as it may be.

It's like "The 5 people you meet in heaven"; horrible book with an interesting concept that just made me pissed after reading it that so much potential was wasted.
Am I glad I at least read it? No, not really, but the hype behind it and my curiosity would eventually have lead me to read it anyways.

Blame Martel. He's a pretty vapid writer.