Personally I found that Life of Pi is best understood if read twice for the simple fact that after knowing the two stories the reader's perception of everything changes. Life of Pi started off as a very descriptive novel, it got to a point where it was becoming not only boring but annoying, but after finishing the book I've realized what Martel was trying to convey using this method. What I mean is that people always crave "the truth" they think they want to know the biter truth but in reality the bitter truth sucks, its harsh, vial and disgusts you. So when Martel is being so descriptive he is trying to show the reader what the "truth" they so eagerly seek really is, he does this in an attempt to prove that the fictional story might be far fetched and unrealistic, but we would still prefer it. This is reinforced in the end of the novel, after Pi has finished telling the Japanese the alternate story and asks them which they prefer, they both reply "The Story with the animals" (Martel 352). But Pi's journey on Pacific once he gets a routine is actually fun to read, and his relationship with a tiger is unique and something I've never read before. The thing I liked most about this book is the ending, where Pi leaves the reader to choose what story he or she prefer and by doing so you pick a side in my eyes, if you choose to believe in the story in my eyes that makes you someone who most likely believes in god where on the contrary if you want to recognize the truth you are an atheist. I say this because Pi makes it clear he does not like Agnosticism he thinks Agnostics miss the "better story" the bigger picture in a sense, due to the fact the try to rationalize everything. But religious people and atheists both take a leap of faith and in the eyes of Pi and by extension the author that is the right thing to do. Overall i would Life of Pi is a good read especially for teenagers who might not be lost on the Pacific but still many are lost in life trying to figure out who and what they are myself included, i would recommend this book to my peers and anybody else looking for some direction.