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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great - and fun - read, even if you aren't a Canadian, November 26, 2007
Back at the beginning of 2007 I started listening as Terry Fallis released each week a new chapter of his book as a podcast episode from his website. Although not a Canadian, I rather rapidly got caught up in the adventures of Daniel, Angus, Muriel and the rest of the cast of characters and found myself eagerly looking forward to the next week to learn what would happen next! Once the book came out in printed form, I was delighted to be able to go back through and read it again. While the book is obviously about Canadian politics, the author provides enough background information that it is certainly understandable - and enjoyable - for the non-Canadian. In fact, as someone very interested in US politics the book was an interesting view in how politics works in our neighbor to the north.
Politics aside, the book is just a great *story*. I enjoyed the characters and how they evolved over time. I enjoyed the various different side stories... and I very definitely enjoyed the "Diaries of Angus McLintock" that ended each chapter once the book got beyond the initial chapters.
At the end of the day, no matter what our political system or country I think we all would love to have a few more politicians out there with the character and principles of Angus McLintock! Now we just have to wait to see what might come next for Angus, Daniel and friends.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A farting rookie MP tries to change Canadian politcs, February 12, 2011
In case you didn't know Best Laid Plans is the winner of the 2011 CBC Canada Reads contest. It was described as the "most essential Canadian novel of the decade."
It's not though.
If you allow the book to stand on its own merits - without hype or celebrity promotion - it fairs quite well. Best Laid Plans is funny, unique, and an enjoyable read. In the opening chapter you'll find this gem of a sentence: "Let's just say she was rather enthusiastically lobbying his caucus." Yeah, Terry Fallis went there.
I'm kind of glad Terry did too. Living close to America, some Canadians believe our politics to be boring in comparison to the antics of the Tea Party or the inspiration of Barrack Obama. It's not true. We have just as much quirkiness, just as much sliminess, and more then enough "huh?" moments. Most of it just goes unnoticed.
The novel takes place in the Ottawa area and centre's around a Liberal party political aide. In an effort to escape the party gives him one last assignment - to find a candidate for a riding that never votes Liberal. A few whips and chains later (!) the chosen candidate ends up being elected to office and we follow a rookie MP who just doesn't care about being re-elected or pleasing the party leader.
For many this book could be an introduction to Canadian politics. I wish there were more books like Best Laid Plans out there. But it's not grand or moving on the scale of "essential Canadian novel of the decade." It's just an entertaining and average read. Reading this will not change politics in the country as some claim.
Terry's main character, the political aide, is unfailingly whiny. He whines about leaving politics, he whines about a new relationship, he whines about politics, he whines about falling into dog poop... you the idea. The idea of one rookie MP changing politics is laughable as well. The perfection portrayed by MP Angus McLyntock is unrealistic, contrived, and equally as annoying. Its good that the books is about 350 pages because if it were any longer I would have said, "enough."
Indeed the only character flaw of the rookie MP is that he farts loudly. On that previous sentence, which aptly sums up Best Laid Plans, I end this review.
Rating (gouge my eyes out, below average, average, above average, more please)
Average
Enjoyed: Funny, an easy and quick read, rare Canadian fiction about Canadian politics
Disliked: Main character is whiny, unbelievable
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Readable and fun, but flawed, March 28, 2011
This is a fun read. You won't want to put it down. If you want to be entertained, but aren't too concerned about believability or fairness, then this will work for you.
There are some problems however:
* The author's (and hence the characters') obsession with grammatical pedantry is boring at best, irritating and pretentious at worst.
* There is no attempt at political fairness. All conservatives are hypocritically puritan, lack compassion, and will do anything for power. Liberals are presumed to be "better" despite showing all of the same characteristics.
* The public humiliation of the conservative candidate is never explored. A popular and successful figure, his political career ends when he is accidentally revealed to be engaging in an entirely legal activity. The book has nothing to say about this great unfairness, except "tee hee."
* Angus is an elderly Scottish engineering professor who is also a radical feminist. He holds exactly the correct opinion on absolutely everything. This is very helpful in getting him elected; of course, it also means he could never exist.
But if you can skip over these cognitive road bumps, you will enjoy the ride. This is a very readable book, and the sequel is worth checking out too.
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