Library Reads: J.K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy

Mixed reviews followed the first novel after the ending of her much popular series, Harry Potter. I think honestly it was the expectations that gave people the varying perceptions of her writing though. The Casual Vacancy takes time to grow on you, I will warn. It isn't till about hundred pages on that you really feel the weight of the book and the character development that ends up touching you. She has a way with bringing out human qualities and giving people something to fight for in her books. While some of the characters might fall into the mold that seems closely tied to some of the characters in Harry Potter, her first book after the series proves she should have a long career as an author.

Summary: Pagford is a small town who seems to have always felt a reason to protect themselves from the next door, Vargile. When the parish councilor dies, Barry, the town is left in a huge war as three of it's inhabitants, Colin, Miles, and Simon run against each other to grab the seat. This results in an ugly battle. Unknowingly, there are a lot of forces behind the scenes, their children for instant, who have a huge say in what happens.


Characters: The plot is one that isn't very defined. It's there, but I would say the book is definitely more character driven than having an aim at where it's going. For those who loved the very obvious direction of the Harry Potter series they will hate how this book never goes to a clear direction. There are characters who are very well developed and have likable and unlikable qualities. What they do are driven by understandable forces like Kay for example. Then there are characters who never quite find their footing with being at all understandable like Miles. Because there are so many characters it can leave some feeling moved to the side for others. The nice twist is you come out unexpectedly liking some you thought you wouldn't, and disliking some you thought you would.

Writing: Rowling has a way of capturing the language that reminds me in a way of Stephen King. She writes to capture the dialect, and not exactly for the sake of making everything spelling and grammatically correct. Sometimes you just have to do that to kick a book to life, and she does. There is a lot that can be chopped from this book, because it is so long winded it does lose some of the powerful kick that a book driven by characters would.

Plot: I will say the main issue that sticks out to me, and it seems obvious to others as well, is the very over use of vulgarity. I'm not quire sure why Rowling put something vulgar on essentially every other page. I couldn't go a couple of pages without a word depicting a sexual act or genitals being on the page. While it would have worked to included this on some pages it just overshadows your whole book when overused. It's like Miley Cyrus' transition from Hannah Montana to an adult pop star. It looks a little desperate. There is enough about the characters and the messy race to being on the council that make it intriguing enough.

The Casual Vacancy is definitely an exciting start for Rowling after the Harry Potter series ending. It's solid enough to show she has real skills and a great ability to tell a story. She may be trying to force herself a little too much away from it too quick, as it's going to take time for her to be known as an author in general for all her works. She proves herself more than a trend though. It's  political satire I didn't expect to like, and ended up enjoying enough to have trouble putting it down.

Rating 8 of 10.