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.
I sort of have a love/like thing going on with this novel, it probably deserves another half star, but since we can't give half starts, c'est la vie. The first 300 to 400 pages I loved, then I started to get bored and I found myself struggling to wade through the last 300+ pages. The writing is fabulous though, with many laugh out load moments. Steve Tolz can weave a tale, there is no doubt about that!
