Thoughts on: The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis

When I heard all the accolades that Terry Fallis' first novel was getting, I had to pick it up.  Winner of CBC Canada Reads 2011. Winner of the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour.  Fallis' political satire "The Best Laid Plans" was shaping up to be the read of the year:

I can tell you right now that this book does not dissapoint.  It appeals to me on a variety of levels, but even moreso, it has a broadness of appeal that would spread to anyone who is not a frequent reader.  Besides the fact that it is well-written, poignant, romantic and intelligent, it has all the right stuff to make it a knock-out success.  It's fast-paced and allows you to slip comfortably into a world from which us civilians are pretty sheltered. 

What made this book Awesome? Well:

1) Lots of correcting grammar humour.  Who knew split infinitives could make me laugh so violently?  When two english nerds get together to critique the ill-fitting rhetoric of aging parlimentarians, it adds a shade of hilarity that is just high-brow enough to hit home. 

2) Fart jokes... enough said

3) A fabulously romantic, and realistic love story.  One between a widowed man and the ghost of his wife, another between a beautiful young masters student and an English Professor/Liberal Part Speech writer.  The former especially tugs at the heart strings.

4) Exploration into the Machiavellian world of Canadian Politics. Seriously, there are some freaking douches in the Capital. 

5) A searing inditement of our narrow minded education system that focuses on specialization.  Blinders on we major in something obscurely academic, without a broader scope of cultural awareness.  Unless you are an individual who is seeking out a well rounded education, Universities push a certain path onto chosen degree programs.  Art majors (like myself) have a gross misunderstanding of basic scientific principles.  Science majors do not get a substantial exposure to philosophy, art and literature (like I said before, unless it is self sought). 

6) Frequent Chess games

7) Home-made hovercrafts

8) Environmental kick-assery

AND FINALLY!  (Finish him....)

9) It's Canadian -- I know what you're thinking... So is Nickelback, Default, and my poops... But this book reveled in its own nationality.  It was situated in an unmistakably familiar location with ideals very close to my own heart.  Instead of just playing the token Canadian Author card, Fallis really takes his understanding of what people know and love about this country, and transforms it into a banner for action.  Well played, salesman.

I'm feeling a bit like a snot monster has taken up residence inside my noggin, so I must sleep early and well in order to stand a chance at functioning tomorrow.

Ta for now,

ET