16. The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel - Interesting story about an Indian boy shipwrecked in a lifeboat with a tiger. Religion, zoology, and humor combine to tell a captivating story. excerpt: "The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity -- it's envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a possessive love that grabs at what it can."
Tags: books