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The Best Laid Plans Paperback – September 5, 2008
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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.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMcClelland & Stewart
- Publication dateSeptember 5, 2008
- Dimensions5.54 x 0.84 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-100771047584
- ISBN-13978-0771047589
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more
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Editorial Reviews
Review
WINNER OF CBC CANADA READS
"Amusing, enlightening—and Canadian, and it deftly explores the Machiavellian machinations of Ottawa's political culture." —The Globe and Mail
"This is a funny book that could only have been written by someone with firsthand knowledge of politics in Canada, including its occasionally absurd side. This is a great read for anyone thinking of running for office, and especially reassuring for those who have decided not to." —The Hon. Allan Rock, former Justice Minister and Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
"Terry Fallis has found the cure for Canada's political malaise: a stubborn, old, irreverent Scotsman with nothing to lose. Until Angus McLintock walks out of fiction and into public office, where he would surely save the nation, the only place to find him is right here among The Best Laid Plans." —Tom Allen, CBC Radio host and author of The Gift of the Game
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter One
After an impressive hang time, I plummeted back to the sidewalk, my fall broken by a fresh, putrid pile of excrement the size of a small ottoman. I quickly scanned the area for a hippo on the lam.
Before I quite literally found myself in deep shit, my day had actually been ripe with promise. I’m a big believer in signs. After six straight days of rain, I believed the sun burning a hole in the cloudless, cobalt sky was a sign — a good one. It somehow lightened the load I’d been lugging around in my mind for the previous six weeks. I lifted my face to the warmth and squinted as I walked along the edge of Riverfront Park. Even though it was a Monday morning, I hummed a happy little tune. Maybe, just maybe, things were looking up. Unfortunately, so was I.
My foot made a soft landing on the sidewalk and shot forward all on its own, leaving a brown, viscous streak in its wake. Congenitally clumsy, I was well into the splits before I managed to drag my trailing leg forward and slip the surly bonds of earth. Airborne, I surveyed the terrain below and, with all the athletic prowess of a quadriplegic walrus, returned safely to earth, touching down on the aforementioned crap cushion.
Just after I landed, I counted roughly twenty witnesses, who stared slack-jawed before many of them split their sides. Fortunately, only a handful of them had video cameras. I expect you can still find me on klutzklips.com. Everyone seemed quite amused by the prominent sign planted three feet to my left: keep cumberland clean. please stoop and scoop. The owners of whatever behemoth produced this Guinness-book offering would have needed a Hefty bag and a snow shovel.
And what an unholy aroma. I’ve always believed that English is better equipped than any other language to capture the richness and diversity of our daily lives. I promise you, the Oxford Concise does not yet have words to describe the stench that rose like a mushroom cloud from that colossal mound. Stepping in it was one thing; full immersion was quite another.
Bright sun in a clear blue sky — good sign. Russian split jump into a gigantic dog turd — not a good sign. Good form, good air, but not a good sign.
An hour and a shower later, I retraced my steps, eyes fixed on the pavement, ignoring the two township workers in hazmat suits at the scene of my fall. I quickened my pace, pumping myself up for the important encounter ahead. After nearly six weeks of intensive searching, I was down to my last seven days. I’d tried flattery, threats, cajolery, blackmail, and bribery, but had come up empty and bone-dry — nothing.
In the first two weeks after my arrival in Cumberland, I’d spoken to the mayor and every town councilor, including the lone Liberal, as well as the head of the chamber of commerce. No dice. In week three, I had pleaded with prominent business leaders, local doctors and lawyers, the head of the four-bus transit authority, and the high-school principal. They’re all still laughing. In fact, one of them needed two sick days to rest a pulled stomach muscle. Last week, I had bought drinks for the local crossing guard, baked cookies for the chief instructor at the Prescott Driving School, and shared inane banter with the golf pro at the Cumberland Mini-Putt. No luck, although the crossing guard at least listened to half my spiel before holding up her stop sign.
I like to think that one of my few strengths is a keen sense of when I’m doomed. None of this “the glass is half full” stuff for me. I know when I’m in deep. So I gave up and returned to the no-hope option I’d rejected at the outset as cruel and unusual punishment. But what else could I do? I had splinters from scraping the bottom of the barrel.
The Riverfront Seniors’ Residence loomed on my left just beyond the park. Built in 1952, it had that utterly forgettable but, I suppose, practical architecture of that era — early Canadian ugly. Two wings of rooms extended along the riverbank on either side of a central lobby. Everything looked painfully rectangular. The only architectural grace note, just adjacent to the dining room, was a curved wall of windows, overlooking the Ottawa River. For the residents, the panorama provided a welcome distraction from the steam-table cuisine.
The lounge next to the dining room was populated with 30-year-old couches and chairs, sporting strangely hued upholstery from the “shades of internal organs” collection, accessorized by protective plastic slip covers. I saw a couple of dozen or so residents camped out in the lounge. Some were reading. Others were locked in debate over what vegetables would accompany the pot roast that night. A few simply gazed at nothing at all with a forlorn and vacant look. The scent of air freshener hung heavy, only just subduing that other odor sadly common to many seniors’ residences. I loitered in the lobby, surveying the scene and deciding on my approach. Evidently, I was too slow.
A grizzled, old man in a peach safari suit and a lavender, egg-encrusted tie looked me up and down a few times, wrestling with his memory. Finally, recognition dawned on his withered face. “Hey, it’s the doggy doo-doo diving champ!” he shouted. I glanced at the aging alliteration aficionado before taking in the rest of the room. All eyes turned to me. I saw heads nodding and smiles breaking. A wheelchair-ridden centenarian gave me a thumbs-up. I heard a smattering of applause that slowly gathered strength and culminated some time later in an osteoporotic, stooping ovation. I felt compelled to take a bow. When the commotion abated, the guy in the peach safari suit approached.
“I gotta tell you that was some performance this morning. After that horse of a dog dropped his load in the middle of the sidewalk, we were all gathered by the window there, waiting for some poor sap to step in it. We even had a pool going.”
Product details
- 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
- Best Sellers Rank: #625,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #933 in Lawyers & Criminals Humor
- #1,620 in Political Fiction (Books)
- #6,357 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine national bestselling novels including his latest, A New Season, all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House. The Best Laid Plans was the winner of the Leacock Medal for Humour in 2008, and CBC’s Canada Reads in 2011. It was adapted as a six-part CBC-Television miniseries, and a stage musical. The High Road was a Leacock Medal finalist in 2011. Up and Down was the winner of the 2013 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award and was a finalist for the 2013 Leacock Medal. His fourth novel, No Relation (2014) won the 2015 Leacock Medal. His fifth, Poles Apart(2015) was a Globe and Mail bestseller and a finalist for the 2016 Leacock Medal. One Brother Shy (2017), Albatross (2019), Operation Angus (2021), and A New Season (2023) were all national bestsellers. In 2013, The Canadian Booksellers Association named Terry Fallis the winner of the Libris Award as Author of the Year.
He blogs at www.terryfallis.com and his twitter handle is @TerryFallis. You can subscribe to his update posts here: https://terryfallis.substack.com.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book humorous and entertaining. They describe it as a smart, well-written, and quick read. The book provides an insightful look into Canadian politics and party politics. Readers praise the wonderful characters and the author's use of English language. However, some feel the story is heartwarming and touching, while others think it's a bit far-fetched.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it entertaining and a fun way to learn about the Canadian Parliament. The language and humor make it an all-around great read. Readers appreciate the interesting story.
"These two books (Including the High Road) are hilarious ( and satirical)...." Read more
"A light and funny tale about the unpredictability of Canadian federal politics, this story is a quick read and is engaging...." Read more
"What a delightful read - funny, poignant, heartwarming, wonderful characters and an ending right out of a 1930's swashbuckling adventure!..." Read more
"...Enjoyed: Funny, an easy and quick read, rare Canadian fiction about Canadian politics Disliked: Main character is whiny, unbelievable" Read more
Customers find the book readable and enjoyable. They describe it as a funny, insightful read about modern life. The sequel is also recommended.
"...In my mind the book is quite good enough without a TV producer "juicing" it up." Read more
"What a delightful read - funny, poignant, heartwarming, wonderful characters and an ending right out of a 1930's swashbuckling adventure!..." Read more
"...It's just an entertaining and average read. Reading this will not change politics in the country as some claim...." Read more
"...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!" Read more
Customers enjoy the book's insights into Canadian politics and its Parliament. They find it informative and enjoyable, especially for those new to the country. The author provides a well-written account of the political process in a humorous way.
"...For many this book could be an introduction to Canadian politics. I wish there were more books like Best Laid Plans out there...." Read more
"...idealistic and accidental representative Angus, and learned a fair amount about parliament to boot...." Read more
"...author has spent time in the back rooms and knows the wheeling and dealing behind political closed doors...." Read more
"This novel gives a completely Canadian interpretation of our political process...." Read more
Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the author's use of English language and find it a quick, entertaining read. The story provides an insightful look into the inner workings of the government with a tongue-in-cheek approach.
"...The author takes on a two volume story of how an eloquent, articulate, inelegant engineering professor finds himself an unlikely MP candidate in a..." Read more
"...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...." Read more
"...Average Enjoyed: Funny, an easy and quick read, rare Canadian fiction about Canadian politics..." Read more
"...This is a very readable book, and the sequel is worth checking out too." Read more
Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters wonderful and heartwarming.
"What a delightful read - funny, poignant, heartwarming, wonderful characters and an ending right out of a 1930's swashbuckling adventure!..." Read more
"...I cared about the characters, cheered for the idealistic and accidental representative Angus, and learned a fair amount about parliament to..." Read more
"...readers on a very funny journey into Canadian parliament with surprising characters and lots of heart...." Read more
"...to continue my acquaintance with Angus, Daniel and the host of entertaining characters!" Read more
Customers have mixed reviews about the story. Some find it funny, poignant, and heartwarming with wonderful characters. They appreciate the author's wit, sarcasm, and touch of sentiment. However, others feel the story ends too abruptly and seems far-fetched.
"What a delightful read - funny, poignant, heartwarming, wonderful characters and an ending right out of a 1930's swashbuckling adventure!..." Read more
"...Although the story is a bit far fetched, on most of the details about life on the Hill, Fallis is accurate...." Read more
"...I cared about the characters, cheered for the idealistic and accidental representative Angus, and learned a fair amount about parliament to..." Read more
"...The only part that bothered me is that the story ended...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2014These 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2014A 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014What 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!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018After 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2011In 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
- Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2011The 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!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018It 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2016Who 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.
Top reviews from other countries
- Shawn KinghornReviewed in Canada on October 8, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book! Amazing author!
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!
- ceriithomasReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2011
4.0 out of 5 stars A decent political drama
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.
- Dave the RaveReviewed in Canada on September 25, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
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.
- bwReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
A good comic story
- Swifter53Reviewed in Canada on October 12, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
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.