A fraction of the whole
I was happy to hear that Sydney-born Steve Toltz has been selected for the long list (as opposed to the short list) for this year’s Man Booker Prize.
From what I have read so far of A fraction of the whole, it is fantastic and hard to put down. I’ve only read about a quarter of the book.
Why? This is gross but you asked for it. In my attempt to be a Compacter, I borrowed it from the library - it is a really big book (I didn’t think I could read 700 pages in 3 weeks but I borrowed it anyway). As I started reading the book I found… wait for it… it’s gross… I found pubes. Yes, pubic hair in my library book!!! I was like, gross! So I flicked the couple of hairs away and tried to forget I ever saw them, but they kept appearing randomly through the pages of the novel and I decided it was all too disturbing and returned it to the library. I did tell the librarian about the pubes and suggested they find the last person who borrowed the book and give them a DNA test. The unfortunate thing is, that I was really enjoying the book. I hope one day to finish reading it because it is so funny, compelling and witty. So good luck Steve Toltz for the Booker Prize.