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The Best Laid Plans: A Novel

Terry Fallis

Terry Fallis
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Thirty-something Daniel Addison is jaded and burned out from his Parliament Hill job as a speech writer for the Liberal Leader of the Opposition. After a messy breakup with his girlfriend, Daniel is eager to escape the duplicitous world of Canadian politics, so he accepts a faculty position with the University of Ottawa's English Department. He soon moves into a boathouse apartment in nearby Cumberland owned by Angus McLintock, a cranky engineering professor in his sixties who is mourning the... (show more)

Thirty-something Daniel Addison is jaded and burned out from his Parliament Hill job as a speech writer for the Liberal Leader of the Opposition. After a messy breakup with his girlfriend, Daniel is eager to escape the duplicitous world of Canadian politics, so he accepts a faculty position with the University of Ottawa's English Department. He soon moves into a boathouse apartment in nearby Cumberland owned by Angus McLintock, a cranky engineering professor in his sixties who is mourning the recent loss of his wife.

Both Angus and Daniel intend to retreat from the world for a while, but fate won't have it. Angus is desperate to avoid teaching English to first-year engineering students yet again. Daniel, as penance for abandoning his party on the eve of an election, must find a Liberal candidate to run in ultra-Conservative Cumberland. In an unlikely alliance, Angus consents to stand as the in-name-only, certain-to-lose Liberal candidate, and Daniel agrees to take Angus's English class.

Everything is going according to plan until the voters are suddenly forced to take a closer look at Angus, throwing his certain defeat into doubt. Scrambling to deal with this unexpected development, Angus and Daniel land in the middle of a hilarious political maelstrom that tests not only their friendship but their beliefs in government and democracy. (show less)

Reviews (10)

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Facebook User, 26 days ago

Quote-leftBrilliantly funny political comedy. Even for non-Canadians, who will surely recognise some aspects of their own national political system, or you may treat it as a Gulliver's Travels kind of satire. Very likeable characters (maybe a bit too likeable) and wonderful language that does not get in the way of fast-paced story telling. One of the most enjoyable audiobooks I have listened to so far, it had me laughing out loud in the train, and it is certainly more sophisticated than most self-published audiobooks. My only criticism: all storylines wrap up a bit too neatly. The main characters sure have some karmic credit. Having said that, I'd rank it with Stephen Fry's novels for dry wit, humour, love of language and love of the slightly bizarre.Quote-right

Debbie Vanderburgh
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Debbie Vanderburgh, about 1 month ago

Quote-leftOur Book Club read this novel and we gave it a B rating overall. It is a topical, insightful look into Canadian federal politics and university politics as well. It is humourous although the "laughs" are somewhat predicatable and repeated often. The characters are likeable, especially Angus and Muriel as well as Daniel. It is set in Ottawa and Cumberland, well described and easily recognizable for residents and visitors. One of our book club members was disappointed by the omission of the Bloc Quebecois from the political antics... a missed opportunity for humour!
Overall it is enjoyable and worth reading.Quote-right

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Facebook User, 2 months ago

Quote-leftThis is a LOL read. I will never see the phrase "to lobby someone's caucus" in the same light as before.
Funny, interesting, well written and has a heart. Loved it. Angus McLintock is quite unforgettable.Quote-right

Molly McCarron
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Molly McCarron, 5 months ago

Quote-leftVery funny and eerily accurate political satire. The author first released as podcasts, then self-published in book form, then won the Leacock prize and, at last, it was published by a major house.Quote-right

Kate Ferris
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Kate Ferris, about 1 year ago

Quote-leftThis is right up there on my absolute favourites list! I loved crusty old Angus McLintock, rooted for Daniel Addison, and laughed out loud so many times my husband read it as soon as I was finished. I can't hear any news about Ottawa and Parliament now without wishing there really WAS an Angus McLintock.Quote-right

Brad Buset
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Brad Buset, 5 months ago

Quote-leftA hilarious romp of engineering, politics and hovercraft building. Thought provoking and extremely well written.Quote-right

Connie Crosby
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Connie Crosby, 5 months ago

Quote-leftA fun read. I learned a lot about inside the Canadian government along the way. Angus McLintock will go down as a classic Canadian character!Quote-right

Sandra Frayne
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Sandra Frayne, 6 months ago

Quote-lefta really fun read about the Canadian political systemQuote-right

Michael Hill
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Michael Hill, about 1 year ago

Quote-leftOutstanding book! Deserved to win the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour...Quote-right

Joey Lee
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Joey Lee, about 1 year ago

Quote-leftCaught myself laughing aloud in public places ... just to funny ... hilarious fr beginning to endQuote-right

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People (38)


Paul Gallagher
Michelle Morelli
Jonathan Hoel

Richard Binhammer
Terry Fallis
Kate Ferris


Tyler J. Turek
Joey Lee
Michael Hill
Rick Weiss
Sally Winter Moxam Telford
Ellen Watts

Sandra Frayne

Sonja Riemann-Galton
Brock Peters
Kristen Scheel
Connie Crosby
Brad Buset
Molly McCarron

Rebecca Brayton

Debra Aylwin Wright
Debbie Vanderburgh

Shawn Verner

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