J.K. Rowling - Casual Vacancy

[HopeDream]

I'm 1/3 of the way through and enjoying it. It's gritty and refreshingly adult. Definately Not Harry Potter. I'm enjoying it as it's own animal. I will let you know how I like the ending once I've finished it.

Any one else reading it?

 

[Haven]

Ooh, I cannot wait to hear what you think once you've finished reading it. None of my friends have started it yet, and I'm itching to hear some reviews!

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

Ooh, I cannot wait to hear what you think once you've finished reading it. None of my friends have started it yet, and I'm itching to hear some reviews!

Me too! Get to reading lol

 

[aviastar]

I'm eyeing it on Amazon for my kindle, which means it's only a matter of time before I read it. I will take the plunge if you ladies want to join me and we can discuss as we go!

 

[HopeDream]

Well I finished it and I still like it as much as when I started, so that's good.
(Try not to expect too much and you'll enjoy it)

It seemed to be fairly well paced and didn't drag on like the final Harry Potter book did - which was a relief.
It's definitely a conversation starter, and I'd like to see it as assigned reading for highschoolers (but the topics are quite mature, so I don't think that it would actually happen).

I really enjoyed the wide cast of characters of different generations and their different viewpoints. It was interesting in that it seemed to cover all the topics that JKR didn't touch when she wrote Harry Potter.

I'd like to discuss it when you have read it too.

 

[Haven]

I bought it this weekend and have read about 50 pages. I'm enjoying it. So far it seems like it's going to be a really interesting character study. I'm definitely intrigued, and I wish I had more time to read it right now!

 

[Haven]

I just finished it, and I really enjoyed it.

I gave it 4.5 stars on Goodreads.

It is definitely gritty, and for a while I was pretty sure I'd finish reading it feeling emotionally drained, and I wasn't sure I was up for it. However, the ending left me feeling a renewed sense of connection and obligation to my fellow man. I don't want to spoil anything, but I was impressed with the way Rowling managed to pull that off after exposing so many individuals at their worst throughout the book.

I thought the language and imagery was phenomenal at times. I pulled this quote out when I first started reading:

"Colin had a habit of making sweeping judgments based on first impressions, on single actions. He never seemed to grasp the immense mutability of human nature, nor to approach that behind every nondescript face lay a wild and unique hinterland like his own." (99)

It is an enormous departure from Harry Potter, both in subject and style. I'm impressed with her ability to craft a story and weave it together so well, which is of course something we saw in the HP series. This book showcases her ability to reveal ugly truths about human nature in a fresh and startling way. I'm impressed.