A fraction of the whole

[Alison]

I have just finished this book. It is a book of 700 odd pages - a bit long for me! However, it was a fun book to read, the writing was witty and the story bizarre but somehow one enjoyed the over the top characters and inplausible story line. And it really was a bit silly! A lot has gone into the writing - some of the comments and descriptions and observations are very clever and thought provoking. Toltz is a good writer, I thought!

[Gisela]

I really liked it, but definitely thought it could have used some good editing. It was a bit long in parts, but overall I really loved his wit and humor...

[Sarah]

I am reading it right now and really enjoying his writing. I can see why it was shortlisted for Booker Prize.

[Helen]

Very clever commentary on all of life's ills. This is one serious writer. I loved it.

[Veronica]

I loved this book - funny!

[Richard]

i think he has a funny book in him, but Fraction should have been culled down to a shorter book - after 350 pages of essentially the same thing it became very repetitive

[May]

I REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK! Glad I found a discussion page. Does anyone else find that this is probably one of the most ironic story lines ever - couple examples:

Anouk hates rich people, ends up as the world's richest woman. Eddie is meant to be Martin's best friend - turns out he hates his actual guts. Young Martin loves Caroline, Caroline never showed attraction for Terry and then it turns out she loves Terry. Harry West writes the Book of Crime, it gets published under Terry's name. Brett loves the Towering Inferno, wants Jasper to tell her for him, next thing you know, Jasper falls for her too...

THE LIST GOES ON!

I think the surprises are what make this book so darn addicting. About halfway through I start telling myself that I should SEE these things coming, and I fall for them again.

I also feel so horribly bad for Martin, he practically 'owes' his entire life to his brother.

Also, Eddie makes me sick, frankly.

Jasper is so much like his father. Which is a recurring worry for him throughout the whole book, no doubt, and a theme as well, but in a way I love how Toltz conveyed that through his writing. Do you think there will be a sequel? I sure hope so.

And then there's the fact that the book is just so so so so funny and twisted. Love it.

Reply!!!

[Baz]

One of my favourites. Such a beautiful, funny, heartwarming and melancholy novel. And it's one of those rare big long novels, one that doesn't feel long at all. It is so fluidly written that I just breezed through it.