Steve Toltz, A Fraction of the Whole Review

Overall Rating

A Fraction of the Whole, Steve Toltz's debut novel has started a quarrel in the literary world. One half argue that this is a true masterpiece; stimulating and well thought out, while others argue that the 711-page novel is simply a collection of sub plots with no perspectives and contains one too many dire dud patches.

It gives an inspiring account of Jasper Dean, and his reflection on his father Martin Dean. A failed genius who spent his existence torn between his own misanthropic values; that he must discard the world and its foolish residents, contradictory with the bleak longing that those individuals should sit up and take notice of him.

Jasper Dean is our narrator and relies heavily on extracts lifted from Martins journals, to aid his research into whom his father truly was.

Whatever its faults, Toltz's book is a brilliant debut; it bounces with sarcastic cliches. It has what many 700-page novels lack- the character development that calls on us to care for the characters, as well as the absurd exaggeration that makes it exhilarating, urging us to keep turning those many pages!