A Fraction of the Whole –Steve Toltz
Learn like me, why I think Martin’s more left out than jealous. However, I think this escalates into full blown jealously as the novel goes on. Martin’s brother is a child sporting star hero. So, Martin manipulates his brother into attacking his attackers who are bullying him, by telling him the one and only thing that makes him go angry –‘they’re cheating!’ The wannabe thugs after losing a fight to Terry, stab him tearing him apart from his sporting star dreams, they later become his allies in crime, from eleven years old extending into the grown up years. Opening a world of emotional struggle for Martin, both directly and indirectly.
However, the story is told from Jasper Dean’s perspective and this is who raises Jasper like his son but in truth, he is his uncle. I particularly enjoyed the first part of the novel. Here, we see how Martin’s history affects his son’s. As this is a story about a father and son relationship, we can even say that their history is passed on, handed down and shared.
Life is full of contradictions, the connotations of a bad family history clashes with Martin’s philosophies. The Independent was right when they said ‘It just might contain a secret to life.’ Yes, an eccentric person’s testimony to try hard to fit in and do something constructive or you just might end up going to waste like Martin. When you read ‘A Fraction of the Whole’ you’ll know what I mean! Having said that, Martin is a man to far gone into himself, his earlier child circumstances has allowed him to believe in this idea of separation because he is different. Poor isolation that can’t be suppressed! Humans, if someone feels isolated please look after them!!
I occasionally felt that I had to read something happier to balance my own sanity, parts are far too sad, such as when Martin’s companion commits suicide which continues the prevailing sad story.
Well done to Stephen Toltz you get the idea that he’s savouring a great story that he’s enthusiastic to tell and revealing with ease as he goes along. He has witty striking philosophical comments. ‘Anyone who thinks that life breaks people should see the nature of school kids.’ He also says, towards the end, the police guard read this story (A Fraction of the Whole) and called it nothing but fiction –do you think that means something? Perhaps, this story is more than fiction? You can see his genius here and I know this sounds a bit of a no -brainer but his philosophy really makes you think.