Biography, Quebec novel, science fiction, political essay… Here are the books lying around on the bedside tables of party leaders in the National Assembly as the holidays approach.
François Legault
AFP
As an avid reader, Prime Minister François Legault plans to first delve into the biography “François-Albert Angers: le Rebelle Traditionaliste” (Jean-Philippe Carlos, 2023), published earlier this year by Éditions du Boréal. François-Albert Angers, who died in 2003, was one of the most committed Quebec intellectuals of the 20th century, but he remains a little-known figure in our recent history. This economist is associated with the Quebec nationalist and traditionalist movement.
On a lighter note, the CAQ leader also plans to read Christine Brouillet's latest novel, “Le mois des Morts,” which tells the story of Lucien Jutras, a teenager searching for life following the death of his mother at the start of the COVID pandemic itself is -19.
Since reading is not just about relaxation, the Prime Minister also wants to read the important essay “The Engineers of Chaos” by the Italian-Swiss author Giuliano da Empoli, who has established himself for several years as one of the leading political thinkers of our time. This work is a comprehensive reflection of the political communication strategies of the “spin doctors” of populist leaders such as Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro and Matteo Salvini.
Marc Tanguay
Archive photo QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
Quebec Liberal Party interim leader Marc Tanguay also has a busy reading schedule for the holidays. He will first attack JR Dos Santos' novel Spinoza: The Man Who Killed God. “He is my favorite author. Like no other, he has mastered the art of the novel, which not only entertains but also provides information about science and certain great historical figures,” he explains.
Mr. Tanguay also plans to explore the world of writer Martine Desjardins with her science fiction novel La Chambre verte and re-read Roy Jenkins' Churchill “in the original English version.” “In my opinion, it remains the best biography written about this outstanding figure of the 20th century,” insists the liberal leader.
Gabriel Nadeau Dubois
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Like his colleagues, the Québec Solidaire spokesman also has a biography on his agenda, that of Gérald Godin by Jonathan Livernois, published this fall. “It is the biography of a politician that inspires me a lot and shows that the love of Quebec and the fight for its independence were not incompatible with the defense of the rights of immigrants,” he explained.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois will also read two novels, Le testament des solitudes, by Haitian writer Emmelie Prophète and Michel Jean's latest book, Quimmik.
*PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon could not say what he will read during the holiday season. “His only certainty is that he will play outside with his children,” said his spokesman.