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!

ISBN: 9780771047589
Trade Paperback
McClelland & Stewart
336 Pages
$19.99