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The Casual Vacancy

J.K. Rowling
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The Casual Vacancy

J.K. Rowling
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"A study of provincial life, with a large cast and multiple, interlocking plots, drawing inspiration from Elizabeth Gaskell and George Eliot...The Casual Vacancy immerses the reader in a richly peopled, densely imagined world...intelligent, workmanlike, and often funny."—The Guardian (UK)

Overall rating: 2.7735848 / 5 from 53 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults, presents a complex narrative set in the seemingly idyllic town of Pagford. Customers have mixed opinions on the book, with some appreciating the well-developed characters and intricate stories, while others find it confusing or disappointing. The plot, revolving around the aftermath of Barry Fairbrother's death, reveals the underlying tensions and conflicts within the town.

Summary topics

  • Story Development: 22%
  • Character Development: 22%
  • Plot Complexity: 15%

Review topics: ["book","read","characters","story","plot","rowling","writing","life","vacancy","storyline","themes","build","written","writer","novel","harry potter","words"].

Review highlights

  • "This is an excellent and very sad book, but not one I would reread because it made me a little miserable." — Julia
  • "These are very real stories, twined together, as small town life ensures." — Pamela D.
  • "It's very intricate and I'd love to go back and reread it, perhaps someday, now that I know the characters so well." — Elizabeth

Reviews

British ""Payton Place""

"It took me forever to get into the book. Finally I started connecting the personalities of the families of influence. It was a like a small town gossip session with the influential dwellers vs the ones without adequate dwelling conditions. Nothing but Trauma and Drama."

— Melody K. (1/5)

very slow and confusing start to this novel

"I was truly excited to read an actual adult novel written by the famous Harry Potter creator. However as fascinating as the first paragraph was and the main starting point, it directly went into another family and all their characters and same with paragraph 3 and 4. . . So, although they are very interesting characters, I found myself flipping back over and over to get to know them. Once the introductions were over and I was done trying to remember who's family was who's, I really started to enjoy the book and was eagerly waiting to see what happened next. I loved all of the intricacies of the stories and how characters I thought I wouldn't care to pay attention to, really evolved and developed a good narrative. So while the beginning was a bit of a headache for me, I definitely don't regret starting this book"

— Owl1935 (4/5)

Not a Harry Potter story!

"It's a very different kind of story by J. K. Rowling and definitely not meant for Harry Potter fans. However, it has a really strong plot and great character development. I really enjoyed reading it."

— Sara (4/5)

meh

"I was a little disappointed by it and it wasn't fully an 'adult' novel writing wise."

— Kimberly (2/5)

Not what I was expecting but an interesting book

"I was curious as to what Jk Rowling would do next. While the content is completely different than the Harry Potter books, her writing is so captivating, she could write the yellow pages and I’d still read it ."

— Kate (4/5)

Loved this book

"Rowling didn't disappoint! The story weaves an intricate web among characters that keeps you turning the page long into the night. Characters grab hold of you, some you love and some you can't wait to see what evil comes to them. Loved this book! Will definitely read this again!"

— Littlebee (5/5)

Edgy

"So edgy and different from her classic Harry Potter Novels, but her fantastic writing skills still shine through. If you like dark and twisty, this one might be for you."

— Sarah93 (4/5)

The only JK Rowling book on my shelf

"I was not nor do I think I will ever be, a Harry Potter book fanatic. I know that they are amazing and that I must be crazy for not reading even one of the series, but honestly, at this point in the game, I don't think I could. The Casual Vacancy was one of my book club's choices, and I bought it, read it, and wasn't wowed. Though I understand that JK Rowling can tell a beautiful story, as evident in this book, I just wish it were a bit more exciting. I felt that there were a lot of wasted pages, explaining or describing things that the reader doesn't need. If you want a thrilling drama, I wouldn't recommend. If slow and steady is your thing, this book is for you."

— Olive (3/5)

Not for me

"I could not get into this book. So much time on character development. Slow moving."

— LovetoRead (1/5)

There are no wizards here

"Haters Gonna Hate… However, The Casual Vacancy stands on it’s own Merit. This was a perfectly wet, gloomy, maritime fall, weekend to hunker down with J. K. Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy”. The 503 page book is NOT “Harry Potter,” a fact the Rowling has made clear after announcing that she would be writing for adults this time around. Yet, many reviewers are bent on driving home the fact that this is not Harry Potter; “the magic and wizards have been replaced with sex, violence, drugs, and cussing. ” One reviewer went so far as to say the book contains lots of “gratuitous sex and language. ” Frankly, in a world that has bought hundreds of thousands of copies of “Fifty Shades of Grey”, I don’t know how anyone could say the sex and language in “The Casual Vacancy” is gratuitous. Here’s a news flash for the offended: Teenagers have sex, experiment with drugs and alcohol, and enjoy dropping the F-bomb. Also, in the UK, the “C-word” is not taboo, as it is here in North America. Lets forget that Rowling wrote “Potter” and look at this piece on it’s own merit (and also be grateful that, unlike, Fifty Shades, Rowling uses grammar and proper sentence structure in her storytelling). “The Casual Vacancy” begins with the death of Barry Fairbrother: who is, possibly, the most admirable character in this story. The dozen or so main players in this slice of life tale are brutally human. The town of Pagford is an unhappy place. There is divide between the wealthy and the poor, marriages are unhappy, and the children seem to be raising themselves, with parents who are either unable or too busy to bring them up. Most of the adults are very concerned with and critical of the business of others as opposed to realizing what is going on in under their own roofs. At times it was difficult to find any redeeming qualities in many of the characters, still, I kept turning pages, engrossed by the storylines weaved by Rowling. I found myself caring what would happen to these people: Wanting better for the downtrodden, even when I doubted it was possible. Rowling has created very real characters. At times their behavior is a sad commentary on humanity. The joy taken in the suffering of others, bullying, greed for power… all of it, however hideous, resonates with the reality of life. It is often the teenagers that are most likable, in that, however flawed; they are at the very least being honest. During the race for Fairbrother’s vacant council seat, the ugliness of politics brings out elevated nastiness in some and bitter loathing in others. It also reveals some personal secrets that inflame and set off other events that can’t possibly end well. Revenge is never sweet. Elitism brings emptiness. Desperate acts bring disastrous results. These are very real stories, twined together, as small town life ensures. Many of the characters are forced to take a look at who/what they truly are. Rowling takes us to dark places. She scrapes the underbelly of life and shines a light on hypocrisy. The Casual Vacancy is not an easy read but it’s a good read. Rowling still has the ability to bring emotion to her storylines. Even the best of us has weaknesses, which is why I found the stories relatable. I couldn’t put this one down. For lovers of contemporary fiction with a dark edge, The Casual Vacancy is a great fit."

— Pamela D. (4/5)

Q&A

  • Published date: Jul 23, 2013
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 512
  • Publisher: Little, Brown And Company
  • ISBN: 9780316228589
  • Dimensions: 5.5" W x 1.25" L x 8.25" H
J.K. Rowling is the author of the bestselling Harry Potter series of seven books, published between 1997 and 2007, which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, are distributed in more than 200 territories, have been translated into 73 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films.

As well as an Order of the British Empire for services to children's literature, J.K. Rowling is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, France's Légion d'honneur, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and she has been a commencement speaker at Harvard University. She supports a wide range of causes and is the founder of Lumos, which works to transform the lives of disadvantaged children.

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