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The Casual Vacancy

J.K. Rowling

Start date: June 1, 2015

Finish date: August 31, 2015

Discussion: SUMMER READS 2015

Why we're reading this: This book received the most votes in our final tiebreaker poll for summer 2015 reads under the category o…more
[close] This book received the most votes in our final tiebreaker poll for summer 2015 reads under the category of "books we should have read by now"! Looking forward to reading it!

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SUMMER READS 2015

The Casual Vacancy - FULL DISCUSSION
By Kristina · 12 posts · 118 views

last updated Oct 17, 2015 03:57AM

I'll Give You The Sun - FULL DISCUSSION
By Kristina · 11 posts · 140 views

last updated Sep 29, 2015 08:30PM

What Members Thought

Sep 29, 2012 Kai rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I do not read books of this genre almost at all, but as a huge HP fan, I felt obliged to give it a chance. I didn't really know what to expect after I had read the synopsis when it was released.
I have to say that I was surprised in most ways.

The first thing that struck me was the writing style, and I was happy to recognize Jo there. But I quickly realized that it was more different to anything she had written. I felt that this novel was so amazingly genuine, down to earth, and therefore unsett I do not read books of this genre almost at all, but as a huge HP fan, I felt obliged to give it a chance. I didn't really know what to expect after I had read the synopsis when it was released.
I have to say that I was surprised in most ways.

The first thing that struck me was the writing style, and I was happy to recognize Jo there. But I quickly realized that it was more different to anything she had written. I felt that this novel was so amazingly genuine, down to earth, and therefore unsettling in many ways. Even her interesting venture into cuss words and sex related issues were real and unforgiving, and in no way unnecessary.

It was also very apparent to me that Jo wrote no feelings and emotional experiences out of her imagination- I felt like she knows what she's talking about when she writes about depression, anxiety, fear and loss.

It puts on centre stage thoughts of characters which are written so bluntly and inelegantly that you can't help but be unsettled. Private, secret thoughts that people can relate to but would never admit to anyone- doing the "right thing" for your own benefit and satisfaction, a secret hurtful pleasure you cannot control, fantasizing about a celebrity rather than your partner, self harm, trying anything to receive attention from someone specific you should not be getting attention from, disappointment from your own child. Those thoughts come from the minds of characters that are mostly so self aware, which makes their actions even more aggravating at times.

This plot hold no good guys or bad guys, especially in the political issues that immerge- Jo shows how people on both sides of a political issue are mostly very self absorved, no matter their political standings. You realize throughout this novel that nobody is as good ad you want them to be, and you can hardly find someone to like completely. I found myself mostly relating to Sukhvinder Jawanda and Samantha Mollison at certain times.

Now, about the ending. The more I thought about it the more pessimistic I realized it was. Drowning of a small child to be followed by suicide was not the extent of the sadness I felt towards the end. It was a Fields boy and his sister to die on such horrible circumstances, the less privileged society. And the only person who seemed to fight and care about them had already died in the very beggining of the book. The person who eventually replaces Barry's seat wants to cut funds to the Fields, and demolish their addiction clinic, which holds to it's credit successes within the Fields community. Even the facts and figures of these successes were neglected, because no one was even going to take them into considerations. So, all in all, rich wins against the poor. Not a very optimistic final part, with tragic deaths and everything.

I thought that this novel was extremely well written, without many dramatizations, and anything remotely relating sappiness. I enjoyed reading it even though there were parts that made me want to put it down because the topics being dealt with were very hard for me to accept. It was as real as reality, yet written artistically all in all. I recommend this book to lovers of the genre or people who are curious about Jo's journeys into some X-rated territory.

Thank you for reading!!

*** Did anyone else think that Barry symbolized Harry (Potter), in that his death in the beggining of the novel brought on a new chapter of Jk Rowling's new professional journey??? Like it was a necessary thing to happen so that the events coming after it could occur????? ...more

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