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WINNER OF CBC CANADA READS
WINNER OF THE STEPHEN LEACOCK MEDAL FOR HUMOUR

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.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McClelland & Stewart (September 5, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0771047584
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0771047589
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.54 x 0.84 x 8.5 inches
Reviewer: Reg Nordman
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Satire in just the right size serving dish
Review: These two books (Including the High Road) are hilarious ( and satirical). The author takes on a two volume story of how an eloquent, articulate, inelegant engineering professor finds himself an unlikely MP candidate in a riding that he has no chance of winning. His co star in this drama is a, jaundiced for his years, political speech writing Ph.D. in English. In the style of Jonathan Swift the author carves just north of a ludicrous path through the corridors of almost power in the House of Commons. His insights cut very close to exposing the bone of seedy and parochial displays in the House and how ideals could fall to the pursuit of re-election. The present CBC comedy series on The Best Laid Plans adheres somewhat to the book , but does sway into a bit more melodrama than that book. In my mind the book is quite good enough without a TV producer "juicing" it up.

Reviewer: Rmcguirephoto
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A funny, but well researched tale about Canadian federal politics
Review: A light and funny tale about the unpredictability of Canadian federal politics, this story is a quick read and is engaging. I particularly enjoyed it because like the main character, I too have worked on Parliament Hill for members of Parliament and have managed election campaigns. Although the story is a bit far fetched, on most of the details about life on the Hill, Fallis is accurate. It's clear he's both worked there and has done extensive research. He paints a truer picture than many political science texts, but with an enjoyable, amusing story.

Reviewer: Samantha Lorens
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Surprisingly Interesting
Review: Who knew Canadian politics could be so interesting? Terry Falles takes readers on a very funny journey into Canadian parliament with surprising characters and lots of heart. It's a modern day "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" but in Canada so it's more like "Mr. McLintock goes to Ottawa".A quick, upbeat read.

Reviewer: NW Allison
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Best hilarious Canadian antidote to current US politics
Review: After being introduced to this author's work by a staffperson at Munro Books in Victoria, BC last summer, Terry Fallis has become my favorite Canadian comedic author, and this book tops the charts. The humor and twists of this comic political novel are a great antidote to the bleating, braying and soul-sucking hideousness we are seeing on the national stage in the USA right now. I liked it so much I sent it to ten friends for Christmas this year, all of whom, like me, need a political lift and something to laugh about that all liberals can relate to. I liked it so much that I've read the rest of his books too. Go Terry Fallis! This book saved my sanity at a really lousy time.

Reviewer: yearofthejonah
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A farting rookie MP tries to change Canadian politcs
Review: 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)AverageEnjoyed: Funny, an easy and quick read, rare Canadian fiction about Canadian politicsDisliked: Main character is whiny, unbelievable

Reviewer: Garth W
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: It Get's Better
Review: The writing is a bit much at times. It is like he is too conscious that he is writing a political satire and the narrator of the book has a wit that is too obvious. However, the political plot line develops nicely, and I found myself really rooting for the protaganists in the end. It is a good Canadian read, but not great Canadian Literature - if you know what I mean. I'll read his next book, just to see what Angus gets up to!

Reviewer: Scott S
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Humane, hilarious, and enlightening
Review: It is rare that one finds laugh-out-loud reading material that is also enlightening, but to this U.S. native Fallis's satire on the Canadian parliament was both. I cared about the characters, cheered for the idealistic and accidental representative Angus, and learned a fair amount about parliament to boot.I'm going to write a thank you note to my Canadian friends who recommended this book.

Reviewer: Cathy Gross
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: What a delightful read - funny, poignant
Review: What a delightful read - funny, poignant, heartwarming, wonderful characters and an ending right out of a 1930's swashbuckling adventure! The serious undertone is a behind the scenes look at Canadian Federal politics. It's left to the reader to decide if the characters are ficttitional or not. Looking forward to the continuing saga in The High Road!

Reviewer: Shawn Kinghorn
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I already owned this book but I have bought two more copies on the last while to give to friends/family because it’s such an amazing book. Very funny, and clever, and so heartwarming as well! Be sure to read the two sequels to this as well, and everything else by Fallis!

Reviewer: ceriithomas
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Angus is an dour Scottish engineering professor in a Canadian university. Lacking any background in politics, he divides his spare time between writing diary letters to his late wife and building a hovercraft. Daniel is a disillusioned political hack who returns to academic life. In return for taking an unpopular teaching commitment, Daniel persuades Angus to stand as a paper Liberal candidate in an ultra-Conservative seat.This unlikely scenario takes on further twists as Angus's non-political background influences his decision to put principles before party. Yet the maverick politician's engineering skills take an unexpected significance during a crucial Parliamentary division.Despite an implausible plot, I enjoyed this novel. Both Angus and Daniel are strong characters and interact to form a highly entertaining, if rather unusual, political drama.

Reviewer: Dave the Rave
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is a fast-paced, witty political farce that let's you cheer for the good guy (a la Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington) and boo the bad guys (think the last reel of Citizen Kane). Some may think that Canadian humor is too board; it is what it is.

Reviewer: bw
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A good comic story

Reviewer: Swifter53
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Loved this novel. Many laugh out loud moments. It tells the tale of an unlikely political candidate who turns the Canadian parliament on its head. In the end it seems honesty really is the best policy. It was such a good book, I also read the sequel.