Yann Martel, Harper & Obama

[August1991]

Yann Martel, the writer, has sent a different book to Stephen Harper every two weeks over the past year or so. Harper's office has sent several form letters in response.

Barack Obama responded differently.

Martel also – perhaps pointedly, given Harper's almost total silence in response to the letters and books he has received – revealed that, last week, he was sent a letter from the White House in which Barack Obama thanked him for Life of Pi, which he had just finished reading with his daughter. The US president described the novel as "a lovely book – an elegant proof of God, and the power of storytelling".

"What amazes me is the gratuity of it. As you would know, there is a large measure of calculation in what public figures do," Martel told the Canadian prime minister. "But here, what does he gain? I'm not a US citizen. In no way can I be of help to President Obama. Clearly he did it for personal reasons, as a reader and as a father. And in two lines, what an insightful analysis of Life of Pi. Bless him, bless him ... The President of the United States wrote to me — to me! For sure I'm going to have the note framed. If there was a way of tattooing it on my back, I would."

The Guardian

You can see a copy of Obama's handwritten letter here.

[Moonbox]

Actually it was one of the best books I've ever read. It was such a surreal and weird book and it's not something I would normally read, but it was the most open minded piece of writing I've ever touched.

The way the book touched on all the different religions and broke them down was enlightening. Every world leader SHOULD read it. I'm not a huge Obama fan but if he actually read that and came to those conclusions (rather than have them written for him) then I'm impressed.

I'm not surprised Harper hasn't read it. It's a little too 'spiritual' for his tastes and the way it compares Hinduism, Islam and Christianity (and concludes they are all basically the same thing) would probably make his Bible-thumping party go crazy.

Edited March 9, 2010 by Moonbox

[cybercoma]

Martel's latest creation hits bookstores April 6. I had the privilege of being able to read an advanced copy of it and imho it surpasses Life of Pi. It's a truly brilliant allegorical journey into the very heart of human experience that is sure to evoke a passionate response in anyone that reads it.

[Moonbox]

Well I look forward to it