It's nice to take a break and read some fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this easy read; it took no more than 5 hours to run though it.
The first 75 pages or so were focused on character development. One of the main ideas here was relevant here--the main character, Pi, practiced the Hindu, Islam, and Christian faiths. From this angle, I thought the first 75 pages were interesting (but nothing ground-breaking).
I found the rest of the plot of the book to be very compelling, especially given the "author's note" at the beginning of the book which suggested the story was based on true events.
I found the book to be uncluttered--there were just enough characters, just enough events, and just enough thoughts. There was a balance between all of those that worked well for me.
The book also evoked some sense of timelessness and lack of chronology. I found that feeling to be appealing.
It was a nice book for a day-long break.