The High Road

It has only been four months since Angus McClintock became the MP for the Liberal party in a longtime Conservative riding, but due to spoilery things that happened at the end of The Best Laid Plans, there is another election already. Surprisingly, Angus has decided to run again. Angus is a rare honest “politician” (but really an engineering professor) who doesn't make decisions based on what's best for him politically, but makes those decisions based on what's best for Canada. This election will be tough on Angus, as he is up against a politician who is all about the negative attacks.

Once again, Terry Fallis has made politics funny! I am not that into politics, but boy, these books are just so funny, and because of that, I am show more interested. I love Angus! The story is actually told from the point of view of Daniel, who works for Angus. You do get a bit of Angus's viewpoint at the end of each chapter, though, as he writes, in diary form, to his late wife. There are a number of other great supporting characters, as well. I hope Fallis continues to write stories about Angus. If he does, I, for one, will keep reading them. show less

It simply kills me to give Terry Fallis' comic sequel, The High Road two stars. Throughout the entire reading, and subsequent post-deliberation, I kept wondering why it was did I not only find Fallis' humour lacking, but sometimes outright condescending, and what was it about the story arc left me feeling as though I needed a real, fully-balanced meal instead of some meal replacement drink.

We again spend time with many of the main characters to whom Fallis introduced us in The Best Laid Plans. They walk on and off stage without much further development, little by way of evolution, and so Fallis leaves the interest and momentum of the novel to the plot. Which is perfectly fine. The plot, however, again looks vaguely familiar, with show more another unlikely campaign and election happening, the usual bout of falling on ice (instead of dog droppings), misadventures and misdemeanours. It's all rather deus ex machina.

The humour, however, devolves much in the way Canadian parliamentary procedure and decorum has devolved, smacking somehow of insincerity, self-service, and partisan posturing. This go round humour comes at the expense of anything or anyone ill-fitted to white male, middle-class, liberal privilege. The two keen youths, endearingly monickered Pete1 and Pete2, are ridiculed for architectural and colourful hair, body art, as well as artistic expression in their clothing choices. Fat people are shoved into stereotypes and ridiculed. Middle-aged women are likewise labelled. After awhile the entire slap-stick, heavy-handed humour wears thin to the point I kept listening for the percussive ba-doom-ching of the vaudeville band.

Along with what is, in my opinion, failed humour, is a condescension by way of education and literacy which in itself became humorous, simply because our erstwhile hero, Angus McLintock, on his way to correcting the abuse of the English language to any who dare speak, was foiled by poor copy-editing and proof-reading. There were many instances of a missing comma in dialogue, or a mis-spelling. Normally I would simply read over these omissions and forgive them as the foibles of human nature. But when you have a main character painstakingly particular about correct grammar and punctuating skills, well, you had better bloody well be sure the grammar and punctuation is perfect. Terry, your self-published first novel was better-edited than this sequel, I'm sorry to say.

All considered, a disappointing sequel to what had been a brilliant debut. show less

Picking up where The Best laid Plans left off, I really enjoyed spending more time with Daniel, Angus and Muriel. Such fun characters! What I love about satire is that even the evil characters are good for a few laughs. Yes, the story does stretch into the unbelievable at times and yet, I can see how some of the events (like the one involving the FLOTUS, the U.S. secret service and Angus’s hovercraft) could play out in real life. What makes this book work for me is that I have a rather cynical view of politics, so the uphill battles Angus and Daniel face ring true for me, even if this is speculative fiction.

Overall, another fun political satire romp.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers.

****

Be warned, this review may be somewhat spoilery if you haven't read this book's predecessor, The Best Laid Plans (hereafter referred to as TBLP).

This was a highly entertaining sequel, at least once Angus's re-election campaign kicked in. For some reason I just didn't engage with the story right out of the gate the way I did with TBLP. I think part of me was just not in the mood for grammar correction, especially of things like split infinitives and ending sentences with prepositions (ideally, you should just recast the sentence to avoid the problem entirely -- otherwise, shunting the component parts around sounds really stilted in all but the most formal writing, so if there's no elegant way to show more solve the problem you can usually leave it in), and part of it may just have been that I already had the first book in my head for this one to live up to.

But don't get me wrong: once we got into the election campaign and the madcap hijinks started (canvassing by hovercraft, the cookie-filled candidates' debate, etc.), the smile was back on my face and I was really enjoying myself. The typo involving Angus's name on the press release earned a smirk and a stifled snort, as did the continual jokes about Angus's amazing hair and beard. If this ever becomes live action, there is no way anybody will ever be able to live up to my imaginings of Angus's coiffure.

In terms of reader engagement, I was especially pleased with myself for correctly predicting which of Ottawa's bridges would collapse -- note: this is not a spoiler event, as it is mentioned on the back cover. Had I not been on the bus when I read that part I would definitely have done a victory dance of some kind. So Fallis is true to life on that part, and similarly so with the reasons Angus finds for the collapse. I was also very pleased to read the part about the crucial role the English-to-French translator plays in getting the report done quickly so that it can be released to the public at the same time Cabinet receives it (Angus of course is a stickler for integrity and insists that the public have equal access to the report's findings). Funnily enough I was wondering to myself about the translation aspect (call it professional curiosity) and then lo and behold here comes the translator! And again, had I not been on the bus I would probably have bellowed "TRANSLATOR!!!!" or something equally ridiculous. (As I said with the first book, this was written pretty much specifically for me, so expect me to be very easily pleased.)

Again, some of the characters on the other side of the debate were a bit cartoony (Flamethrower Fox was almost unreal, although sadly even he could be a very realistic portrayal depending on where you look), but the characters on the good side developed a bit. We delve more into Angus's relationship with his late wife, Marin, and some of Angus's diary passages addressed to her are particularly touching. Daniel and Lindsay's relationship evolves, although I would have liked to see a bit more Lindsay in this book, not merely as the supportive girlfriend. Naturally there are limits to first-person narrative but it would be nice if she had been around more. Perhaps she'll be finished her Master's in time for the next book. Speaking of which, the ending to this book is very satisfying, being capable of standing on its own but also cleverly paving the way for a sequel, which I will be eagerly awaiting.

To sum up: recommended if you liked the first book. show less

There aren't too many fictional books about politics in Canada. This book does that and adds a dose of wry humour to the mix.
While the author certainly lays out his own political leanings for all to see, it doesn't get in the way of the story. His description of the practicalities of running an election campaign are quite interesting for those of us not in 'the business'.
The only criticism of the book is that the central character, Angus McLintock, is too good to be true. Cynic that I am, I find it difficult to believe that someone like him would actually run for, much less win, an election. But like most cynics, I love to believe that it just might happen, some day.
All in all a delightful read, and a gentle introduction to elections show more and politics in Canada. show less

Loved this and the chatty political stuff, the thrill of having a real representative. Wild and crazy and laugh out loud funny. Read it. PS: If you are a Conservative, just read it as if all the Liberals were Conservatives. It'll be just as funny. The NDP gets a few mentions but as usual, is left out of the discussion. Most annoying!
Still loved the book. Not quite as good as the Best Laid Plans, and I almost gave up in the middle, but forced my way through and had many good chuckles at the end. Well worth it, quick read, funny to imagine, and Fallis does description very vwell, even if some of it is most unlikely.

I took a break from The Salterton Trilogy because this arrived as a time-limited ebook from the library. It was therefore slightly strange to find Leaven of Malice referenced in the first few pages of this one, having just finished it myself.

I don't think Terry Fallis is in the same league, and perhaps it is unkind to read him so soon after the delights of Davies: there probably aren't many contemporary authors who would stand up well in comparison. This is a competent enough book, but the slapstick humour of the first is wearing a bit thin by this one, and I'm beginning to get irritated by the lack of purpose and character of Lindsay, the love interest. There were fewer laugh-out-loud moments in this one and the material felt a bit show more stretched.

Oh, and split infinitives are perfectly fine in many contexts, by the way, Mr Fallis. show less