So much for the audacity of hope

Those who expected a novel loosely based on Barack Obama’s re-election to be a puff piece should look away now. O – A Presidential Novel is a refreshingly cynical look inside the Obama White House by an anonymous someone who claims to have seen the President live and work at close hand.

Like Primary Colours with Clinton, the novel never attempts to disguise who “O” might be. And, like the West Wing, it is an irreverent and witty take on an ideal Washington world, following the ups and downs of compelling characters from across the spectrum. From lobbyists, hungry journalists to rich donors, O takes a peek at every level behind the scenes from 2011 to Election Day 2012. But there is more. The anonymous author is less than flattering, and at times scathing, about Obama and the system he tried, but ultimately failed, to change.

The bar is not set particularly high.