3.75 stars

Daniel has left his job working for the Liberal Leader in the House of Commons, but has promised to find someone to run in the next election for the Liberal Party in the Cumberland-Prescott riding, where the PC candidate has served for years and is loved by all. The PCs have this riding locked up. So, after a lot of searching, Daniel convinces Angus McLintock, an engineering professor, who has absolutely no desire to be a politician, to simply put his name on the ballot for the Liberals. However, things don't quite go as planned...

I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I'm not a big fan of politics, or especially reading about it, but this is funny and entertaining. I couldn't quite give it a full 4 stars because in the first half of the book, there was an occasional slow patch, but the second half really picked up. Angus is a great character and I loved the "antipolitician" that he was. Not caring what people thought of him, he said and did what he thought was right. There were some great secondary characters in this book, as well.

This book was a fabulous read. I loved the characters and I loved the story. It was funny, well written with a great usage of the English language, very visual, and an all around great read. This was surprising to me because the premise of the book didn't capture my interest - but it was the November's selection for my bookclub and I was reading ahead. Wow - for once I loved the book someone chose for the club. I think this book would make a fabulous movie and wish someone would be astute enough to pick up the rights to the book. I would be first in line to see it.

The characters are people I wouldn't mind knowing myself and the story is funny and engaging. A good read even if you're not that into politics. (But if you are, it's informative and thought provoking in an amusing way. I think you'd enjoy this book even if you're not Canadian, but especially so if you are. And doubly so if you're from the Ottawa area.)

I very rarely read fiction, I tend to hide in the political science/history/reference sections of Chapters. I received this book from a family member who believed this would be THE book to get me into fiction - and they were right! Now when I visit Chapters I take a copy of this book from the Fiction section and place it on the shelves of "Canadian Political Science" in hopes that someone, like me, may read it (sorry Chapters staff!) This book is witty, humors and a "must have" for anyone of the Liberal persuasion. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any political junkie or "ideological policy wonk" that is looking to get into fiction.

This is the best book I have read in ages. It is a 'must read' for anyone old enough to vote. It certainly proves the point that the more humourous the subject, the closer it is to the truth.
I cannot wait to read the High Road.

Every Canadian should have read this before May 2, but anyone can enjoy it anytime. It was one of those books that made me slow down at 25 pages before the end, not wanting to leave the people behind. If only we had an Angus McClintock in Ottawa! I laughed, I cried, I sank into deep thought and then I laughed some more.
Great book. Looking forward to the Further Adventures of....

I would not consider myself an avid reader, but when I do read the book has to grab me and usually this comes from the pace of writing and the vocabulary. Terry Fallis captured me in the first few pages, and I rarely laugh out loud when reading, but I did so on many occasions. I love Canadian literature as it is home to me and I can easily lose myself in the places and situations - this book did that too. If you love reading a book which challenges your vocabulary, have an interest in politics and Canadiana this is a great read. Some were so funny I read out loud to family and friends and we all laughed so hard we cried. Not many books do that accept another great Canadian humourist, Stuart McLean.

I finished reading this the day Harper's Tory government fell. As we go into an election campaign I only wish I had a candidate like Angus McLintock! This book is a delicious commentary on Parliament Hill as it is, and as it could be.

As an 'ideological policy wonk' (Fallis' term, but it just fits so nicely!) I loved loved loved this book. If readers have never taken part in an election campaign or ever watched televised House of Commons proceedings, they're going to learn a bit, while giggling themselves silly. The scene where the MP is trying to call the PM a liar without saying the word "liar" is by far the most hilarious bit I've read in ages. And as an amateur grammar freak, I liked the bits about that too. Its like Fallis was inside my mind, knowing what things make me laugh.

Daniel Addison has one thing left to do before is done with politics; he needs to find a candidate to run in the Tory stronghold of Cumberland-Prescott. Even though there is essentially no chance of a liberal candidate winning he is finding no one willing to take up the challenge. After speaking with every possible contender he turns to his landlord, Engineering Professor Angus McLintock. With essentially no fund, no campaign workers and no committed party representative, Daniel somehow has to run a very convincing campaign against the extremely popular Conservative incumbent.


I want to tell you more, but even one more word will start to give away plot developments and I don't want to deprive you of the fun of reading about them. I wasn't too sure about reading a book about politics, but I was assured that it was funny. Well, politics is funny all on its own, if you don't believe me, get a bowl of popcorn and turn on the house of commons channel one day and start watching. I was hooked in the first pages. From back room dealings, sexual escapades, campaigning to lose, this book has it all and more, lots more. There were times I was laughing so hard the tears were streaming down my cheeks. My family thought I had lost it for sure. One section kept me laughing page after page. I could image the press reporting on "that story" and not letting it go. Oh yes, Canadian politics rocks.


I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes politics, for anyone who doesn't like politics, even those who are indifferent will be amused. The Best Laid Plans is not limited to Canadian readers only, readers in any country will enjoy the antics portrayed within its covers.

I also bought several other copies to send to my friends. I haven't done this with any other book. So read the blurb and give yourself a treat, and buy this book.

This is a funny, fast-paced romp that begins and ends on Parliament Hill. It accomplishes the improbable, marrying humour and the rules and procedures that determine how things get done in Ottawa. The main characters are intelligent, honourable and loveable, and in current context, we can only wish they would spring off the page in defence of Canada's democracy.

The Best Laid Plans, by Terry Fallis, is, in my opinion, a perfect novel, deserving of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, and of every accolade it receives. If you haven't yet read it you must, right now, rush out and purchase your very own copy; no, don't borrow one, buy your own because it will be a mainstay on your bookshelf for years to come.

Now, it's best to understand it's not easy to make me laugh, and I'm also a very critical reader; despite that Terry had me laughing myself silly with the opening scene, to the point I couldn't speak and still break into spontaneous giggles when I think about it. And while that side-splitting humour toned down through the novel into a voice of wit and delightful absurdities, it remained an engaging read that produced explosions of giggles throughout.

Terry's characters are endearing, real, deftly crafted, his plot tight and seamless, the ending the perfect bow on the perfect package. I'll never again think of Parliament Hill in quite the same manner. Well done, Terry! Bravo!

This is a wonderful 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.

This is a very funny book that gives us a satirical peek inside the Canadian political system. After reading the book, it is no wonder to me why it won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.

The author's excellent characterizations and insider details of the internal machinations of parliament bring the narrative to life. The diary entries at the end of each chapter were effectively employed to reflect on the plot points that had ocurred before moving on the to next chapter, and I thought this device was well employed here. I thought about trying to explain the plot here, but I am afraid to give too much of the story away.

I will point out something else: I think the story behind this novel (being self-published after many rejections, then winning the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and now finally being published by M&S) is an inspiration to those authors who have struggled to write and publish about Canadian themes: that there is an interest in good writing even in our smaller market, and there is hope after getting rejection after rejection.

I read this book in a few short days and I found it hard to put the book down. My only regret is that the book actually has an end. I sincerely hope that the author will write again about these characters, as I found them to be quite compelling. I heartily recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly laugh-out-loud Canadian novel.

I read Terry Fallis' Best Laid Plans in the original self-published edition. And it left me with a smile at every sitting, from beginning to end.

Terry's protagonist is the noble idealist that we all wish actually would populate the halls of power. Come to think of it, as a long time friend of Terry, there was a lot of Terry in his hero. Terry for PM?

Terry has written about something he knows well. As a one time political aide, he writes about the political machinations with an insiders eye. And he brings out the humour and fun for us all to share.

The only problem with the book? It ended. So, time for Terry to write a sequel. Maybe our hero should find himself in the Canadian Embassy in Washington as a representtive of the newly elected government?

The Best Laid Plans. A great, entertaining read.

This is a satirical look at political life in Ottawa. It was very funny. It's refreshing to see how two people who weren't even interested in being a part of the political machine, rose to the challenge. Here's a funny quote:
"You are the lab rat in what could be a classic experiment in Canadian democracy...Perhaps for the first time in Canadian history the voters have elected a Member of Parliament whose singular commitment is to the public interest, not his own, and the political consequences be damned. You cannot be bought, you have no desire for re-election, you have no interest in higher office, and you don't care what people think of you. You actually do what you say. You are the mirror opposite of what Canadians have come to expect of politicians. You are the anti-politician. In fact, my rudimentary understanding of physics suggests that if you were to collide head-on with a traditional politician, you might cancel one another out and both disappear in a puff of smoke."
Who said Canadian politics wasn't interesting?

When I first picked up Terry Fallis' novel which is described on the cover as a "satirical novel of Canadian politics" I wasn't expecting it to be very compelling -- I'm not much into politics, after all.

But this novel was compelling from the first word. I was immediately hooked by narrator Daniel Addison and his departure from the Canadian political scene to teach English to Engineers at Ottawa University.

I particularly enjoyed the hilarious and uniquely creative description of walking in on his girlfriend and a cabinet minister and describing their tryst in "parliamentary language."

Rick Mercer couldn't have done a better job of setting up the laughs from this scene. But once Fallis introduced stodgy old engineering professor Angus McLintock I was double-hooked.

Following this unlikely Liberal candidate's rise to power marks one of the best books I've read this year. The main plot and sub-stories wind perfectly together providing a wonderfully balanced and thoroughly enjoyable tale. While I actually did laugh out loud several times reading this satirical novel, I was also moved and touched by the characters who live long after I have turned the final page of the book.

I simply loved this book. It won the Stephen Leacock Award for humor and that worried me - for some reason I often don't find "funny" books very funny. I can't recommend this one highly enough. Daniel works as a speechwriter for the Leader of the Opposition on Parliament Hill. He is slowly changing from an idealist to a cynic. Then he finds his girlfriend in a compromising position with a certain politiican. That is enough for him to pack up and head to the University of Ottawa to teach. But they have one last request - find someone to run for the Liberals in the strongest Tory riding in the country. He says yes. And then every single person in the riding says no to him. Until he meets his landlord - Angus McLintock an engineering professor with a love of hovercrafts and a hatred of teaching English to first year engineers. Daniel offers a switch - he'll teach the class if Angus agrees to run. Angus agrees as long as Daniel promises he'll lose. They have a deal. No budget, no headquarters and only 2 volunteers - Pete1 and Pete2 (heavily pierced, mohawked and tattooed engineering students). A loss seems guaranteed. Or does it? If you ever watched the West Wing you'll love seeing the behind the scenes political maneouvering on the Canadian side of the border. It was totally laugh out loud for me.

I picked it up to read on a trip and loved it. Jolly good fun!