Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008
One of two debut novels in the 2008 Man Booker shortlist and it certainly deserves the recognition. Great characterisation, plot and observations on a disjointed family.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
Win a Copy of The Sisters of Hope Square by Faith Hogan and a Bucket List Scratch Book
Closing date: 04/07/2026
Martin Dean spent his entire life analyzing absolutely everything – from the benefits of suicide to the virtues of strip clubs and passing on his self-taught knowledge to his son, Jasper. But now that his father's dead, Jasper can fully reflect on the man who raised him in intellectual captivity, and the irony is this: theirs was a great adventure.
As he recollects the extraordinary events that led to his father's demise, Jasper recounts a boyhood of outrageous schemes and shocking discoveries – about his infamous criminal uncle, his mysteriously absent mother, and Martin's constant battle to leave his mark on the world. From the Australian bush to the cafes of Paris; from the highs of first love to the lows of failed ambition, this is an unforgettable, rollicking and deeply moving family story.
A Fraction of the Whole features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Debut Books of the Month, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
A Fraction of the Whole is available in Paperback, Hardback
A Fraction of the Whole was written by Steve Toltz and published by Penguin Books Ltd
