Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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94 of 96 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't compare to "Life of Pi", December 15, 2003
It is unfortunate that most people who read this book will have read "The Life of Pi" first, and will therefore be expecting another similar novel by Yann Martel. As other reviewers have shown, this proves to be a huge error in judgement. While Pi is a novel that has an easily accessible surface story, and many underlying themes that most can associate with, "Self" is a novel that requires more from the reader. You can literally float along with Pi on his journey and understand what he is going though, but the journey in Self is utterly different. While the main plots (sexuality, gender, society and fulfilling given roles) are clear at first, the real meaning is not as apparent. The switching of genders by the main character, the lesbian and gay scenes and the rape all beg questions of the reader. What is sexuality and what defines it? Is it socially based, culturally based or based within the person? The changes in the character should force the reader the reexamine preconceived notions of what it is they are reading about. "The Life of Pi" is more of a personal/spiritual journey, one that most people can relate with, and don't get me wrong, I love the book. But "Self" is a book that questions the journey of a person through society and through questions of what "makes" a person who they are; the judgements and outcomes, and therefore the inner change (generally mirrored by the outer change of the character) are merely the beginning of the story itself. If you read "Life of Pi" and are expecting another novel of a similar genre, don't read "Self". But if you want to read another brilliant novel by Yann Martel, and go into expecting it to be different (just reading the back of the book should evoke this, with the questions it offers the reader before the story even begins), then read Self and look deeper into it than the surface story. If you do this, Self can become an even greater novel than Pi. Happy Reading!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely well written, December 11, 2004
I received this book as a gift, and before reading it, I checked-out the reviews online. Honestly, I didn't have high expectations of the book..
But then I read it... here is some of the best quotations I have read...
"Love is a form of childhood in the way we become capable again of being wholly enthralled, able to believe so much so easily so intensely"
"--- the sort of friendship where a separation of time and space is merely a pause in an ongoing conversation"
I can quote so many others well written phrases by the Author. The book is an extremely well written, well organized exploration of the human mind.. it touches every feeling you ever thought you had in you.. it shows you the thin line between what actually happens and what takes place in our own imagination.
I would recommend this book... and next on my list to read would be other books by Yann Martel....
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I thought the point of writing was to explore . . ., June 22, 2004
By A Customer
I like the other reviewers read 'Pi' first. I only have one question: why would anyone expect an amazing writer like Martel to turn out 'Pi' flavoured cookie cutter novels? I, for one, find it quite a refreshing turn that Martel has the depth and creativity to find such different topics to write about with such command.There is no doubt that sex (and quite explicit for that matter) plays an important part in Martel's foray into understanding the dichotomy of humanity. However, he is not covering any unknown territory. If you can read the sexual content as part of the larger context of identity crisis, you will find that Martel is absolutely compelling, even illuminating about human nature. Why should a reader cheer Pi more than the protagonist of 'Self'?
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