The Best Laid Plans

I think this is a book best described as cute. Everything is a little overly simplistic: the characters are too flat, the jokes are a bit too on the nose, the plot is overly predictable, and the representation of canadian politics a little too black and white. But, still the book remains cute, and the author does not commit the egregious sin of presenting the book as something it is not and so I can't hold any of the books faults against it.

I liked this book. It was warm and entirely Canadian. I know that sounds like faint praise but it fits. I read this in the lead up to the Canadian elections which proved perfect timing as well.

Daniel Addison is trying to escape the cynicism of Ottawa politics, not to mention a betrayal at the hands of his girlfriend. He ends up managing the campaign of an unlikely Liberal candidate with zero chance of being elected - so of course you know how that's going to go.

The issues he has to deal with are way too conveniently solved, answers are altogether too pat, coincidences abound. It's paced like an hour long sitcom instead of a story. It's Corner Gas on Parliament Hill. But it's still eminently likeable. I wouldn't call it a guilty pleasure, more of a cozy read.

Enjoyed the read immensely. A light look at the inner workings of Canadian politics. An unlikely candidate becomes the best candidate in parliament, despite his earlier wishes. Terry Fallis won the Stephen Leacock Humour award for this novel. Well-deserved. I especially liked the section about the invention that got them to the House after a snowstorm that made the roads impassable.