Truckers - read in 2004

Truckers by Terry Pratchett (Random House-Corgi)
This book was heralded as Terry Pratchett's first YA novel, but I'm going to label it here as MG--middle grade--because our concept of YA has changed a lot since I read it. Truckers is about tiny space aliens who live under the floorboard of a department store, sort of like a twist on The Borrowers and similar stories. I no longer have this book, it seems, but I can tell you that this wasn't the first Pratchett book I read, and that in comparison to his adult works, this one felt very vibrant and clear, and I enjoyed it a lot. I don't hear many people mention this one, so it might be a great gift for someone who enjoys Pratchett, or someone who likes humor.

The Life of Pi (2004 read)

Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Mariner Books)
Life of Pi is one of those books that's really, really difficult to describe without spoiling the whole thing. It's also one of those books that can be read across several genres and age groups. For me, it doesn't fit any single category.

Piscine Molitor Patel is castaway and has an otherworldy, fantastic experience. Or maybe he doesn't. The author gives us two stories, one that is almost, almost believable, and one that is far too believable. In the end, we're forced to attend to questions of how far our faith in a story will extend, on multiple levels. I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I did, I was plugging for the hero to make it. And admittedly, I was unsettled the whole way through. The story has a lot of deliberate ambiguous pairings. Which of two versions is correct? I'm not sure we are to know; instead, I think we're to question. In questioning, this book has stayed with me for a long time.