I loved this book until about 100 pgs from the end. Ugh. It just seemed to go on and on. Granted, I read the book for story and plot; I was not too focused on picking out the rich symbolism or allegorical evidence. That being said, I'm sure I missed some gems, but I felt that the ending of the book tainted all the wonderful-ness of the story. The author seemed to just "quit." It's like he had no credible way to end an incredible story, so he rains on our (the readers') parade by offering us a realistic alternative. I also didn't like how the book did not circle back to the beginning i.e. the struggling author meeting Pi and re-telling his story. I think bringing the narrative back around to the modern scenario outlined at the beginning of the book would have been a better way to cap off the rich story. 
 I loved the way the author was able to make life stranded at sea captivating. Day after day, Pi and Richard Parker do the same things, but I still found myself hooked. Because I'm kind of--alright, alright, I'm definitely--obsessed with my cat, I found it hard to picture Richard Parker in a dangerous light. I just kept thinking, "Oh, a kitty! He's so cute and soft!" It was wise of the author to constantly remind us of Richard Parker's power and prowess. Overall, a great read well worth the time. I'm excited to see how they adapt it to a movie!