Comments on: Steve Toltz: A Fraction of the Whole

By: Trevor Berrett

Trevor Berrett — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:37:17 +0000

I recommend it, Tuesday. Though a lot of people didn’t like it because Toltz is, in many places, being a bit over the top. I’m anxious to know your thoughts.

By: tuesday

tuesday — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Thanks for the great review! The only book I’ve read from this year’s longlist is ‘The Lost Dog’, but this is definitely going on my to-read list.

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:42:54 +0000

Hurrah!

That’s what I was hoping to hear Trevor, with such a seeming paucity of good novels this year, I’m cheered that this one at least seems to deserve its place.

By: Trevor Berrett

Trevor Berrett — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:48:11 +0000

You know, Max, I have usually found the longlist to be mixed up anyway with several hit and miss novels on it. So I have to say that I do think it deserves its spot on the longlist. For a first novel, it is amazingly well controlled despite the flaws in voice. And it goes through some interesting themes in ways I’ve never seen before.

To take it a step further, based on this year’s longlist, I think it deserves a spot on the shortlist, though in a perfect world this would be a longlisted title that was pushed out of the shortlist by an abundance of masterful pieces, but those masterful pieces are in short supply this year! Oh, to go back to 2004 and 2005!

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:59:01 +0000

That sounds quite fun, it can be very difficult for comic novels to distinguish characters with distinctive voices, so that’s a fault I can probably forgive.

It does sound a bit like Tolz is directly addressing us, which is unfortunate, but it sounds like that’s not fatal. I’ll be getting this once it’s in paperback I suspect.

But Trevor, do you think it deserves to be on a Booker longlist? Is it that good?

By: Bloggers take on the Booker longlist

Bloggers take on the Booker longlist — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:30:06 +0000

[...] The Mookse and the Gripes [...]

By: Trevor Berrett

Trevor Berrett — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:02:19 +0000

Kimbofo, thanks for the clarification. I definitely have to check out Seven Types of Ambiguity (the novel first, maybe the literary theory later)!

Michael, initially I was going to try to sell them on Amazon. I sure spent a bit of money on this project, having to get all in hardback and some from the UK, so it would be nice to get some of that back. But your comment makes me think there’s a better use for them! I’m surely willing to donate to the local library if you think its patrons (or you) are interested! Which ones does the library have?

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:30:20 +0000

Amazon says the paperback edition of this novel will be published in February.

Trevor, will you be selling your unwanted books back, or looking to donate them somewhere? (Hint, hint) :-)

By: kimbofo

kimbofo — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:37:58 +0000

Sorry, I didn’t really make myself clear — the Perlman book is wonderful. (There’s a review on my blog somewhere.) He’s Australian, too, like Toltz.

By: Trevor Berrett

Trevor Berrett — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:25:50 +0000

Kimbofo, I have never heard of the Perlman book before. I’m not sure if what you wrote above is a recommendation or not, though. Kind of sounds like it isn’t, but I like the title!

Good luck getting your hands on the Toltz book. It and Netherland are the only two on the longlist that I’m planning on keeping on my shelves. The rest (at least that I’ve reviewed so far) are on their way out soon after the shortlist is announced!