The Best Laid Plans (2007)

A Canadian political satire, won the Stephen Leacock prize. LOL.
Duncan Angus McLintock is a Scottish prof of engineering in Ottawa, who agrees to run as Liberal candidate in a federal election, as part of a horse trade that lets him escape the dreaded horror of teaching English to engineering students. He agrees to run in a riding that is the safest Tory seat in the country until…as the title says…
The Best Laid Plans" captured the simultaneous cynicism, idealism, humour and resignation that infects and defines Canadian politics.
Great fun. ( )

Crusty, intelligent, and opinionated Angus agrees to have his name put on the ballot in an election that he has no chance in winning, and that's just the way he wants it. He lives in a riding that always votes for the other guys, the incumbent is the most popular finance minister ever, and expected to become Prime Minister of Canada one day. But then scandal hits, and Angus finds himself elected to office. With no desire for re-election, and no desire for a political career, Angus can be that politician who actually does the right thing rather than being a politician.

The Best Laid Plans won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour and the 2011 CBC Canada Reads competition (the theme that year was the most important book of the past decade).

It took me a while to get into it but once I got to around page 30, I started to enjoy it. I don't find the humour especially funny, and some of the writing makes me cringe, and it's predictable . . . but many parts are clever, and while the humour isn't laugh out loud, it does make me smile. It's not difficult to read, yet I'm learning about how my country ticks. And best of all . . . I kept looking for opportunities to pick it up, and when was reading and needed to put it down, I'd think "one more chapter."

Recommended for: Well, as I said, it won CBC Canada Reads, so that means it's a must-read for all Canadians, obviously. I'm trying to think if someone who doesn't live in Canada would get anything out of it, and I'm not sure. Maybe; probably not. ( )

This was a good book to read over the holidays - pleasant enough, but not so gripping that I had to sequester myself away from family and food to read it. It seemed to try too hard, and the characters just didn't appeal that much. Set in Ottawa, otherwise would have been 2 stars. ( )

"I will admit I was a bit apprehensive about this book initially because I am not well-versed in politics — nor do I want to be.

However, Terry Fallis managed to make the political observations, proceedings, and commentary manageable enough for the regular reader. And I must say, I did enjoy his wry humour.

Read my full review: http://www.monniblog.com/2011/01/the-best-laid-plans-by-terry-fallis/" ( )

Excellent account of the goings-on on parliament hill. Story of an MP in Ottawa. ( )