[stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Tue Jun 25 17:22:41 UTC 2013

That's true. HP definitely crossed markets, though I've always found the
teen angsty stuff a little annoying, but in part, this is what makes it
YA.

And I agree that not everyone lives a rotten life, but for whatever
reason, this story, these characters were compelling to Rowling. Again,
can't comment on the book itself just yet, and no book will be for
everyone. I'm always fascinated by the choices an author makes when
writing. I recently read a series called the Mortal Instruments by
Cassandra Clare, which is a YA fantasy series. Didn't enjoy as much as
HP, and was more teen-driven than HP, though I found some of the content
a little inappropriate, but over-all, it wasn't too bad. Anyway, my
point is that there were character traits and plots I would have done
differently. I would love to sit down with authors and really get deep
into their material, smile.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:01 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Bridgit,
Yes, there was a lot of bleak in Harry Potter and ultimately much more
violence and misery than she put into this one. There is a difference,
however, and perhaps you've hit the nail on the head with your statement
about it being an adult novel. I personally dislike categorizations like
this. Initially, Rowling said that she had not thought of Harry Potter
as a children's series. It worked in that market, but as we adults who
love it know, it has so much more in it than your average middle school
student can process or relate to. Also, I guess I'm not a very good
adult, since I don't care for things that don't have at least some of
the levity, joy and wonder that I find in my own adult life. Not
everyone is miserable and amoral. Donna 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:11 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Although, consider how bleak Harry Potter was. Many critics pointed this
out especially since it was Children's Lit. I think she goes for realism
over a more romantic view on life. And she herself has dealt with a lot
of situations including divorce, living on welfare and the death of a
parent. Amidst all her success, there has been suffering. I haven't read
this new book yet, but I would argue that dark, bleak material is not at
all out of character for her. And being an adult novel, perhaps she
didn't feel compelled to temper the subject matter with a more balanced
view of happiness and contentment with the darker side of life.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:54 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Bridgit,
Yes, read it for sure. I should add that. For those of us who love Harry
Potter and are ourselves writers, I believe that it is important to see
the next stage in her writing. I just find it a bit disturbing that,
with all the success she's had, she wrote something so uniformly bleak.
Donna 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:14 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

I've wondered about this book. I know it was intended for adults and was
suppose to be completely different than Harry Potter. It may be
difficult for Rowling to find an audience and have anyone endeared to
books that are not Harry Potter. Good writer or not, this is the
downside to have such a beloved series. People want HP, but she's done
with that world. Thanks for the review. Despite the fact you didn't care
for it, this makes me want to read it to discover for myself what it is
about and get my interpretation.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna
Hill
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 8:54 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Book Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Hi Friends,
After our discussion not long ago about the Harry Potter series, I
finally read Rowling's new adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. I expect to
post this book review to Goodreads, which I just joined as another way
to promote my novel. I thought I'd post it here first. It's a first
attempt -- all done today -- so I'll probably change or add something,
if I know me. * grin* Donna
***

The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling's first novel since the Harry Potter
series, is set in the small English town of Pagford. It follows seven
families through the aftermath of the death of the school's beloved
rowing coach. A member of the Pagford Parish Council, Barry
Fairbrother's death brings about a "casual vacancy," according to
Charles Arnold-Baker's Local Council Administration, Seventh Edition.
Squaring off against one another, two groups of candidates jockey for
position to fill his seat. The primary divide concerns their views on
shutting down a methadone clinic and seeding jurisdiction of the Fields,
a concrete and steel, poverty-stricken neighborhood whose children
attend Padford's schools, to the city of Yarvil.

The first word that came to mind, after reading a quarter of the book,
was "drab." None of the adults was easy to like or care about. No one is
happy, healthy or noble, and there is little levity or wit. None of the
adult relationships even qualify as working reasonably well. Their
teenagers are lost and hopeless souls devoid of wonder. If I hadn't been
a Harry Potter fan who wrote extensively on the series, I would have
given up on this book.

But, I kept reading -- albeit with the morbid curiosity of someone
watching a train derail. I found a character to care about -- Crystal,
the 16-year-old daughter of a heroin addict.  I had the sense from the
start that I would be punished for my concern, and I was not mistaken.
There are no happy endings here. The few signs of redemption come at the
greatest of costs and are marked by the tiniest of gestures. She
succeeds only in portraying the utter depravity of human culture. 

The book must be considered in some ways to be well-written. Rowling is
mercifully gifted at concise summations of background information and
the dialog is realistically candid. The appearances of comments by "The
Ghost of Barry Fairbrother" on the Council's website provide some
interest, if the reader can get that far. Tess's thoughts near the end
of the book, however, sum it up best.

Block quote

But who could bear to know which stars were already dead, she thought,
blinking up at the night sky, could anybody stand to know that they all
were?

Block quote end

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