A Fraction of the Whole

By: Steve Toltz

Narrated by: Colin McPhillamy, Craig Baldwin, Multiple Narrators

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.

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.

©2008 Steve Tolz (P)2008 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Comic drive and Toltz's far-out imagination carry [this] epic story." (Publishers Weekly)

Entertaining, Engaging and Offbeat Marathon Novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Anyone who enjoys unabridged audiobooks, for example while exercising (like I do), or on a long road trip, might enjoy this novel which is really several family stories in one!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Fraction of the Whole?

Ironies of Martin's youthful intended good deeds in his home town gone awry

Have you listened to any of Colin McPhillamy and Craig Baldwin ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no way

Hilarious in parts but too long

Some of the plot twists were implausible. And the mix of funny and serious didn't really work.

Charming and Fun

The book starts off a bit slowly, but you're soon drawn in to a world of villainy, deceit, and hysterically bad parenting. The narration captures each of the characters in a way that I think might not have been as carefully presented--had I just read the book. In short, one of the reasons that I listen to audio books. First class narrators, and a witty, character-driven story.

A wild ride.

At first I was unsure but I ended up quite liking it. Unbelievable character stories that leave you thinking -ya, OK. That so nuts that just might happen! Wry humor. Some thought provoking philosophies.

Can't love it enough

Tolz's smart writing is what pulls you in, what astounds you, and what you stay for. The story is inventive, far-flung, irreverent, and the characters are cuckoo! But also hard to ignore or dismiss. Some may balk at the length, but I wished it was longer. Listening to an Aussie accent is heavenly, though I will say, it takes just a bit of an ear to tell the two voices apart sometimes, but it isn't a problem for the story, only if you start the audio book in the middle of a section and forgot who was talking.

I realize that it isn't for everyone, especially those who want nothing but action or easy story. This requires some critical thought processing but offers buckets of humor in return. It made me smile for 25 hours. What else can claim that distinction? And it is the first book I have listened to more than 2xs. Please hurry up and get Quicksand on Audible.