I do not follow politics ever. I do not bench press political views and feed on party politics at breakfast or for that matter at any given point of time in my day. Rest assured I will at no time in the present or future morph into a political news afficiando . But this, this book drew me into it like a succubus or like steroids would an overzealous ape-like bodybuilder. I could nae, have put it aside even if it concealed the weight of a twenty five pound dumb-bell within its pages. It does in no way exercise your biceps or any other ligament rested within your arms. At 313 pages give or take a few, it is as light as a two pounder. It does for a large part, work on the belly through the many chuckles it induces, incrementally increasing the ha-ha factor per page, it is constantly cleaning up the smile on your face and building the petite muscles of your belly sans the abdominal crunches.
Daniel Addison the main protagonist, is a speech writer for the opposition party (Liberal Party), due to an excessive zeal for political leadership on the part of his stunning girlfriend and the strategic positioning of a rubber plant (I reveal nothing) he leaves hurt and decides to change careers to teach. But fortunately for us he continues to be locked into the party, and is entrusted with the task of finding and helping run the political candidature for the Liberal Party in Cumberland-Prescott a Tory stronghold. Cumberland-Prescott is where he meets my favorite character in the book, Angus Mclintock who in a well arranged quid pro-quo moment, agrees to run as a candidate in return for literary favours, (again I reveal naught) Angus considers the favours signed in blood by Daniel, will more than make up for his unwanted inclusion in the election process. Angus Mclintock reminds me of a close friend. The straight forward, practical, devil may care Scottish Canadian persona I am lucky to have encountered in real life. He like me does not believe or indulge in politics much. But the attitude and the character could have easily been based on him. Again such is the compulsion of Terry's writing that you associate with these characters as if they were drawn from real life and relate to them with or without the political dialogue though it is so much funnier with.
Angus's stint in the ensuing election, his handling of the constant chaos, the self-indulgence of the political parties, the endless strain for the upper hand, and the open need of party members to watch other players fold their hand, both within and without, leads to situations of hilarity for the reader, straight faced righteousness for Angus and ulcer inducing moments for Daniel. There is a well-placed romance and I think like me you will find the characters of Muriel, Pete 1 and Pete 2 extremely fascinating.
Enough said go read, if you so wish. Develop some laugh lines, for this book does dispense them generously, and be happy under the pale light of a bedside lamp.
For more on Terry please find below the link to his website,http://terryfallis.com/the-best-laid-plans/
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