Bought this at Strand Bookstore because so many people had recommended to me. Hardback published by Harcourt in 2001. I really liked it, although I felt the beginning was a bit slow - beautiful, descriptive and necessary, but the "story" doesn't start until Part 2 when Pi and the animals try to survive in the lifeboat. I won't give away the ending - but it completely caught me by surprise and made me appreciate Martel's storytelling even more.