Owls, Doughnuts, and Democracy
A mother works to improve her government and her family in the revealing novel Owls, Doughnuts, and Democracy.
A woman with political ambitions teams up with a knowledgeable octogenarian to effect change in Jason A. N. Taylor’s jaunty satirical novel Owls, Doughnuts, and Democracy.
Bea, a struggling single mother to Sam, and Harold, a former member of parliament, come up with an idea for Direct Democracy, whereby citizens could vote for legislation by online poll. What begins as a simple thought experiment snowballs toward action. In time, Bea and Harold choose a candidate and begin an earnest campaign to put Direct Democracy into action in the Canadian government.
Despite its focus on political change, interpersonal concerns reign in the book, which is concerned most with Bea—a bold, complex heroine. Though she struggles to keep up with the father of her child and his fancy new wife, she is unapologetic about her ambitions. She also works to prioritize Sam, fighting feelings of resentment that his arrival interrupted her career; she and Sam spend time owl-watching to bond.
Indeed, many scenes focus not on Direct Democracy but on Bea’s personal life, including her complicated relationships. Her personal connections are explored in depth, including the resentment she feels toward Sam’s stepmother, Amy (whom Sam calls “Momma A” to Bea’s “Momma B”), for having the money to give Sam a better life. In conversation, though, she and others sound stilted because of their aversion to contractions.
Pulled between her political ambitions and motherhood, and ultimately forced to choose between the two, Bea’s priorities shift as the novel continues. Her evolution is engrossing and sympathetic, even as she takes questionable actions for the sake of her fledgling political party. Still, when the political plot takes a backseat to Bea’s personal concerns, the book’s pace wanes. Indeed, it takes a lot of page space for Direct Democracy to go from the idea stage to the planning stage to the election, where politics at last take center stage.
However, when the minutiae of party politics are covered, the book’s pace flags again. Once Bea and Harold establish their party, they’re forced into meetings that run long, during the course of which audience interest is further compromised. Still, the novel is laced with witty satirical observations about bureaucratic nonsense and hints of sympathetic political philosophies that have universal appeal.
Owls, Doughnuts, and Democracy is a slow-burn satirical novel in which a mother works to bring an improved form of democracy to Canada.
Reviewed by
Leah Block
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
