While there is nothing in particular that I can call awesome in Martel's writing style, the voice and diction of the story is such that the reader does feel comfortable inside the storyworld. There were some very well put sentences, and the structure of the story builds on the adventure even as the situation remains within the conflict of boy versus sea and tiger.
One thing that surpises me is the emphasis that was put on Pi's dedication to religious knowledge, and yet how that has not come into play except for a quick prayer to one of his gods for either blessings or thanks. Pi seems to be quite a level-headed character who is very observant and has all the more realistic instincts for survival rather than relying upon his faith in higher powers. It makes me curious as to why Martel had chosen to dedicate so much space to Pi's quest for religion when he is relying upon his more empiracal knowledge of animals and natural occurrences in his ordeal.
But even as the story appears to drag a bit from the 100-plus-pages of this time adrift on the sea, the writing is well enough executed to hold interest, and the pacing is picked up by minor changes in the situation once we have gotten used to the tiger aboard the boat. Even the reader, it would seem, is more focused on the interaction of the three (boy, tiger and sea) than seeking a resolution via sighting land.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology