A Fraction of the Whole
9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Synopsis (from Amazon):
"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."
(Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008)
"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."
(Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008)
Journal Entry 2 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Thursday, April 9, 2009
I´ve finally found the time to organise this ray. Here´s the shipping order:
- katrinat (UK) (Booker Roundabout)----read
- lucy-lemon (UK)(would like to post within the UK)-----asked to be skipped
- Cross-Patch (UK) (Booker Roundabout)-----read
- karen07814 (UK)(another reader before the book leaves the UK; EU posting O.K.)----read
- franaloe (Netherlands) (Booker Roundabout)-----read
- Laui (Netherlands) (Booker Roundabout)-------read
- Xeyra (Portugal)(Booker Roundabout)-----asked to be skipped
- Sternschnuppe28 (Germany)(Booker Roundabout)----read
- laure69 (France)(EU posting)------read
- arturogrande (UK)(international shipping O.K.)-----asked to be skipped
- JenKazoo (US) (US shipping)---asked to be skipped
- Bibliocrates (US)---Happy reading!
- ajsmom (Canada)(international shipping)
- J4shaw (Australia) (Aus or NZ shipping)
On its way to katrinat. Happy reading!
- katrinat (UK) (Booker Roundabout)----read
- lucy-lemon (UK)(would like to post within the UK)-----asked to be skipped
- Cross-Patch (UK) (Booker Roundabout)-----read
- karen07814 (UK)(another reader before the book leaves the UK; EU posting O.K.)----read
- franaloe (Netherlands) (Booker Roundabout)-----read
- Laui (Netherlands) (Booker Roundabout)-------read
- Xeyra (Portugal)(Booker Roundabout)-----asked to be skipped
- Sternschnuppe28 (Germany)(Booker Roundabout)----read
- laure69 (France)(EU posting)------read
- arturogrande (UK)(international shipping O.K.)-----asked to be skipped
- JenKazoo (US) (US shipping)---asked to be skipped
- Bibliocrates (US)---Happy reading!
- ajsmom (Canada)(international shipping)
- J4shaw (Australia) (Aus or NZ shipping)
On its way to katrinat. Happy reading!
Arrived today, looks great and brand new! Look forward to reading this
Hmmmmm........ I loved this book for the first 400 odd pages and then it started to drag. I have to admit that I only skim read the last 150 pages as I was determined to finish it and still loved the characters enough to want to know what happened to them but couldn't bring myself to struggle for may more evenings.
Personally, and I know many will disagree, I think it needed a serious editing and could have easily have lost a couple of hundred pages.
Personally, and I know many will disagree, I think it needed a serious editing and could have easily have lost a couple of hundred pages.
Journal Entry 5 by katrinat at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Saturday, May 30, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (5/30/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Lucy asked to be skipped as she had the book from elsewhere.
Now off to CrossPatch. Enjoy the madness
Lucy asked to be skipped as she had the book from elsewhere.
Now off to CrossPatch. Enjoy the madness
Journal Entry 6 by 
Cross-patch
from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Safely arrived, thank you katrinat. I have just finished The White Tiger - wonderful.
Journal Entry 7 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Update.
I'm half way through reading and should be there sometime this week. I am enjoying it all so far, but shall save my comments 'til the end.
I'm half way through reading and should be there sometime this week. I am enjoying it all so far, but shall save my comments 'til the end.
Journal Entry 8 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, July 13, 2009
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, July 13, 2009
Well, I got to the end. I am so glad I didn't follow temptation and skip any of it. I agree there may be scope for more editing, but I'm not sure where. I sort of didn't like the final tying up of threads, but I certainly loved the occasions where we went off on another tangent! I found the style teasing and very masculine, Nick Hornby and then some. Without these linked Booker rings I doubt that I would have read this book, so thank you for the shove. I'm going to read something light and short now.
Going in the post this afternoon to the next in line.
Going in the post this afternoon to the next in line.
Journal Entry 9 by Cross-patch at to next participant, a ring/ray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, July 13, 2009
Cross-patch at to next participant, a ring/ray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, July 13, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (7/13/2009 UTC) at to next participant, a ring/ray -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
I'm not entirely sure how many books there are in this book, there's definitely premise for about 3. After a slow start (I think that's where the editing may have been useful) it picked up and became an entertaining read with great diversity of language.
Now waiting for the next person's address
Now waiting for the next person's address
Journal Entry 11 by karen07814 at Texel, Oudeschild, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Sunday, July 19, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (7/20/2009 UTC) at Texel, Oudeschild, Noord-Holland Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
over to you
over to you
Arrived here. I have one more BC-book to finish before I will start this one. My boyfriend will try read 'the fraction of the whole' in the mean time (he has been looking forward to this book as much as I have!).
Thanks for sending!
edit 14-09-09: I'm sorry this book is taking me longer than a month! I've only got 150 pages to go (and they will go fast now), but seriously, this book should have won the booker prize. For sure.
Thanks for sending!
edit 14-09-09: I'm sorry this book is taking me longer than a month! I've only got 150 pages to go (and they will go fast now), but seriously, this book should have won the booker prize. For sure.
Yup, liked the book. I actually think this book should have won the MBP, or at least I liked this book best of the shortlisted ones I've read so far. There is so much going on! Some nice and unpredictable changing plots, some predictable ones too, nice use of language, a lot of imagination, etc. This one sure did it for me. Only the end, I kind of agree there with the previous readers, that was kind of easy done. Anyway, I am curious about the opinion of the next readers, so sending this on to Laui fist thing tomorrow morning!
It's arrived safely. Thanks Franaloe for sending. I've my current book to finish and then this one's up. I'll keep you all posted!
Oct 1st: started reading.
Oct 1st: started reading.
I just can't find the right frame of mind to read this one. I've had it for a month so it's time to move it on. I'll contact Xeyra to see if she's ready for this one, I'll make release notes when I've made the release.
Thanks for letting me join!
Edit nov 3rd: Xeyra asked to be skipped, now contacting Sternschuppe.
Thanks for letting me join!
Edit nov 3rd: Xeyra asked to be skipped, now contacting Sternschuppe.
Released 14 yrs ago (11/7/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed out to Sternschuppe today. Safe travels!
Mailed out to Sternschuppe today. Safe travels!
Journal Entry 17 by Sternschnuppe28 from Flörsheim am Main, Hessen Germany on Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thank you so much for sending, dear Laui! The envelope looks like a piece of art - very beautiful!
Journal Entry 18 by Sternschnuppe28 from Flörsheim am Main, Hessen Germany on Thursday, November 26, 2009
I tried hard to get into this book, but will eventually give up after 200 pages. I read and read ... I dont mind self-indulgence here and there, but this one did hard on my nerves, too much ranting and rambling. There are some funny moments in between, indeed. The father and son soliloquies are not all that great. Their voices seem too merge. I might miss something, but I am just not having the patience and time right now to finish.
The book will continue travelling to Laure69 tomorrow.arturogrande asked to be skipped.
The book will continue travelling to Laure69 tomorrow.arturogrande asked to be skipped.
I've got it. Thank you.
How is it possible to make such a mess with a life !
I won't say I got horribly bored but the book is too long for what's really to be told.
As JenKazoo asked to be skipped, the book left one hour ago for Bibliocrates.
I won't say I got horribly bored but the book is too long for what's really to be told.
As JenKazoo asked to be skipped, the book left one hour ago for Bibliocrates.
Picked up from the PO 1/12/2010, not sure when it arrived, have had limited internet use...
I will read it and pass it along s soon as possible. Thanks for shipping it arturogrande!
I will read it and pass it along s soon as possible. Thanks for shipping it arturogrande!
