Ignatieff, Harper, Martel and who’s reading what

First Chantal Hébert said that Fearful Symmetry should be the Prime Minister’s bedside reading.

Then she said in Le Devoir that if there was only one book that the Quebec political class should read this autumn, it’s Fearful Symmetry.

Then Lise Payette said (also in Le Devoir) that the book should be on the bedside table of every self-respecting Quebecker (yes, it’s true, she wants them to read it so they can see that there is no future for Quebec in Canada, but then she didn’t read the book carefully, because I talk in some detail about how Quebec can and should be accommodated within Confederation. What we agree on: that people should read the book!)

Then Yann Martel, the award-winning Quebec author gets all bent out of shape because he, in common with the rest of the Quebec cultural élite, is still beating the dead horse that says that Stephen Harper is a cultural know-nothing who should read good books (preferably ones suggested by Martel…). Instead, he learns from Chantal Hébert, the PM is reading… You guessed it: Fearful Symmetry. Not a Martel novel? Quel culot…

Not to be outdone, the Leader of Her Majesty’s Official (and Loyal) Opposition, Michael Ignatieff, has just told the National Post that the last book he read was…Fearful Symmetry.

Do I detect a trend here…?