Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi
Yann Martel

Front cover

Date read: 3 - 10 April 2019
Length: 319 pages
Published: 2002


Piscine Molitor Patel, more commonly known as Pi, lives in India with his family, who run a zoo. When they decide to sell the zoo and animals, and move to Canada, everything changes. Their ship sinks, leaving Pi on board a lifeboat with a Bengel tiger, an orangutan, a hyena, and a zebra with a broken leg. There's not only the question of will he make it to land, but will he survive the boat?


Life of Pi is a bit different to the books I normally read, in that it is not science fiction or high fantasy. I do read a lot of different kinds of books, but maybe this was a nice break in the subject matter I have been reading recently. I found it very easy to read and absorbing.

A lot of the time I was reading this I couldn't help but think of Robinson Crusoe, even though it's totally different. I definitely preferred this story and even the writing in general, but my mind would often think back to Robinson Crusoe!

I really like Pi. I admire his survival instincts and just his character in general. He is alone on this boat, besides a few animals, but it hasn't driven him mad. When you are reading you can tell he's thinking rationally, and often puts a lot of thought into things before implementing them. It makes you forget how young he is.

I found the story of how the name of Richard Parker came to be amusing. In all the monotony of life stranded at sea, the little stories such as this one made the book far from boring.


I want to watch the film now, to see how it compares. I'm sure it won't be as good, but worth a watch if it's anything like the book.

Yann Martel

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Consider Phlebas (Culture #1) by Iain M. Banks

Consider Phlebas
Culture #1
Iain M. Banks

Front cover

Date read: 22 March - 2 April 2019
Length: 471 pages
Published: 1987


Horza, a changer on the Idiran side of the war, is sent to the Planet of the Dead to retrieve a fugitive Mind. But the Culture are also after it, and they have no problems fighting for what they want. With his band of pirates, can they succeed in the mission?


There are quite a lot of characters in this book, but my favourite are probably Horza and Yalson together. I like their chemistry and just the whole story between them. They just belong together!

This is my first book by Banks and I was not disappointed! My grandparents and even my dad have read pretty much all of his science fiction (and some of his other fiction), but this was my first. That being said, I wasn't expecting that ending and it made me kind of sad!

I liked all the weird names. Unusual, but not so convoluted that you can't get a pronunciation in your head. It made for a more interesting read that just your usual Tom, Dick, and Harry.

I will definitely be reading more!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

My Fabulous Divorce by Clare Dowling

My Fabulous Divorce
Clare Dowling

Front cover

Date read: 10 - 21 March 2019
Length: 468 pages
Published: 2006


Jackie Ball has a problem. She's in a relationship with a great guy, things are going well, and he proposes! Sound great, right? Wrong! She's already married. She has been separated from her ex-husband for 18 months, but no-one filed for divorce. Will her ex-husband stand on the way of her new marriage?

Sometimes happiness

is hard to find

I like the characters, they are all good in their own way, but my favourite is probably Lech. He's funny and charming and kind of romantic. I also quite like Jackie's sister, Michelle. She doesn't really care what people think and is a bit of a free spirit.

One thing I didn't like was the ending! Although I'm not really sure what ending I would have preferred. Hmm. I won't spoil anything here, but let's just say there was two possible endings, and it's not really one you would expect.

My Fabulous Divorce is a very easy and light read, perfect for chilling or a holiday book. The writing makes it very easy to get sucked in and at times I had to tell myself to stop reading!

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Cruel Crown (Red Queen #0.1-0.2) by Victoria Aveyard

Cruel Crown
Red Queen #0.1-0.2
Victoria Aveyard

Front cover

Date read: 6 - 9 March 2019
Length: 142 pages
Published: 2016


Cruel Crown contains the two novellas Queen Song and Steel Scars. In Queen Song we meet Coriane, Cal's mother. We learn her story and and her tragic ending. In Steel Scars we follow Farley and her life in the Scarlet Guard, and we get to learn about the first time she met Shade.


I think this is a good accompaniment to the series and I enjoyed both stories, however I thing a lot of Queen Song was already known, or could be guessed by reading the books in the series.

I especially enjoyed reading some more about Shade before he "died". I really like him as a character and it was good to learn some more about him in the earlier days of his involvement in the Scarlet Guard.

It was obvious Elara was trying to worm her way to the top from the very beginning. She knew exactly what she was up to and would do anything to get where she wanted to be. I never really liked her anyway.



This is good to read if you liked the series.




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The Wee Librocubicularist

And Another Thing... (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #6) by Eoin Colfer

And Another Thing...
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #6
Eoin Colfer

Front cover

Date read: 25 February - 5 March 2019
Length: 340 pages
Published: 2009


Arthur and Co. find themselves on another spaceship, this time belonging to the insulting green alien; Wowbagger. They need to escape the Vogons (again) if they want to live, although Wowbagger wants to die. They strike a deal; Wowbagger helps them live, they help him die.


So, I wasn't sure how this was going to be, considering it's by a different author. But I actually really enjoyed it, and I feel that Eoin Colfer tried to incorporate some of Adams' style in his writing. It was easy to forget it wasn't written by the man himself!

How many times can the Vogons destroy Earth? Not enough apparently! On one hand it seems a bit of a cheap way out, on the other hand it could be kind of appropriate, in that it starts and ends the same, almost.

I'm glad Random calmed down a bit! I was beginning to tire of her charades as the stroppy teenager. She's actually turning into a nice human, which I suppose can be said for most teenagers!

Well, that's it. I have read them all. I'm a bit sad the series is over, I think there could have been more stories had Adams not passed. I will recommend this series to anyone I think would be interested.




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The Wee Librocubicularist