The Best Laid Plans

Here’s the set up: A burnt-out politcal aide quits just before an election — but is forced to run a hopeless campaign on the way out. He makes a deal with a crusty old Scot, Angus McLintock — an engineering professor who will do anything, anything, to avoid teaching English to engineers — to let his name stand in the election. No need to campaign, certain to lose, and so on.

Then a great scandal blows away his opponent, and to their horror, Angus is elected. He decides to see what good an honest M.P. who doesn’t care about being re-elected can do in Parliament. The results are hilarious — and with chess, a hovercraft, and the love of a good woman thrown in, this very funny book has something for everyone.

I had several reasons on choosing this book. Canadian author, a satiracal story around Canadian politics and it was the winner of Canada Reads 2011. But the main reason is that I'm far behind in my Canadian Book Challenge and what I mean by far behind is that I only read one book so far.

I'm glad that I picked this book up. I truly enjoyed reading it. I found the setting, Ottawa inviting just as usual, although I could deal without the bitter cold of winter, having lived there for two years. It's a great feeling reading a book and knowing exactly where the author is describing. I loved the characters, Daniel, Angus, Pete1, Pete2, but my favorite was Muriel. Spanky and straight forward type of woman.

My only complaint was that I was expecting a more humorous book and don't get wrong there was alot to laugh at, but I didn't find it to be a laugh out loud type of book.

I'm looking forward on reading the author's next book, The High Road.

The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis (4/5) Fiction: Satire; Published: McClelland & Stewart (2007); The Stephen Leacock Award for Humour; 2011 Canada Reads Winner; New Author; Canada Reads; Canadian Book Challenge 4 (2); Books 2011 (10);