Name: A Fraction of the Whole
Rating: 4.041666666666667 (24 reviews)
ISBN: 9780385521727

Steve Toltz

A Fraction of the Whole

Steve Toltz's A Fraction of the Whole is a riotously funny explosion of a novel SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2008 From his prison cell, Jasper Dean tells the unlikely story of his scheming father Martin, his crazy Uncle Terry and how the three of them upset - mostly unintentionally - an entire continent. Incorporating death, parenting (good and bad kinds), one labyrinth, first love, a handbook for criminals, a scheme to make everyone rich and an explosive suggestion box, Steve Toltz's A Fraction of the Whole is a hilarious, heartbreaking story of families and how to survive them. 'A fat book but very light on its feet, skipping from anecdote, to rant, to reflection, like a stone skimming across a pond . . . it is brilliant' Guardian 'Sparkling comic writing . . .It gives off the unmistakeable whiff of a book that might just contain the secret of life' Independent 'With tinges of magical realism and buckets of misanthropic humour it's a clever and funny debut' Observer 'If first novels were sandwiches, Steve Toltz's would be a juicy, swaggering doorstop of a sarnie, overflowing with eccentrically combined but delicious ingredients . . . Toltz is a superb phrase-maker with an acute eye for humanity's shortfalls'Big Issue Steve Toltz was born in Sydney. After graduating from Newcastle University in 1994, he has lived in Sydney, Montreal, Vancouver, Barcelona and Paris, working primarily as a screenwriter and freelance writer, but also doing stints as both a private investigator and an English teacher. A Fraction of the Whole is his first book.

A Fraction Of The Whole

Nika Khoshdel

Trevor Berrett

Excellent! Comic and pensive, this book combines transcendentalism and nihilism in the voice of two lazy wits.

For my complete review:

http://mookse.wordpress.com/2008/08/1...

Lisa

After his father's death, Jasper reflects on Martin Dean, the man who had raised him in intellectual captivity and spent his entire life analyzing absolutely everything, and describes his unusual boyhood, colorful family members, father's failed battle to make a lasting impression on the world, and their many adventures together. A first novel. Reprint. 40,000 first printing.

Arun Seehra

Belle

Tiffany

Richard Bravery

From his prison cell, Jasper Dean tells the unlikely story of his scheming father Martin, his crazy Uncle Terry and how the three of them upset � mostly unintentionally � an entire continent. Incorporating death, parenting (good and bad kinds), one labyrinth, first love, a handbook for criminals, a scheme to make everyone rich and an explosive suggestion box, Steve Toltz�s A Fraction of the Whole is a hilarious, heartbreaking story of families and how to survive them.

Pia Leichter

An uproarious indictment of the ridiculousness of the modern world and it's mores, this novel also tells the moving, memorable story of a father and son whose spiritual symmetry transcends all their many shortcomings.

A Fraction of the Whole

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