The Garneau Block and its story of a “Let’s Fix It” campaign to save the neighbourhood is one of the funniest pieces of Canadiana I’ve read in a long time. The residents of this Edmonton neighbourhood are memorable for their quirkiness but are also reminiscent of the residents of Winnipeg and Vancouver–two places I’ve lived. If you’re looking for satire, local politics and humour, you’ll enjoy the book.
Babiak initially serialized the work in the Edmonton Journal, but the novel doesn’t read in a choppy way at all. There are no cliff hangers that ring false in the full, novel version. It’s just very funny–ridiculous at times but definitely believable.
I received an early copy as part of the M&S 100 Readers Club. Thank you M&S.
What’s the book about?
It’s a satirical look at life in a Canadian neighbourhood, in this case a fictional cul-de-sac in Edmonton’s Garneau neighbourhood. The neighbourhood has been rocked by the sudden death of one of its neighbours, and then mysterious signs appear on their trees. The signs read “Let’s Fix It.”
The neighbours are pretty funny. In some cases they are stock characters, the local wanna-be politician, the university professor, the shop owner, the single, pregnant woman, the leftist, the foreigner and the gay guy. But they’re never presented as 2-dimensional characters, each is quirky and crazy in a way that takes you deeper into the characters and closer to the realization that “hey, I know this person.”
I keep saying it’s funny. It is. Not slapstick but like parody or satire or Miss Marpole. Funny like that. I really enjoyed the read.