The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling -503 pages
Book Blurb:
When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
My Review: 2 stars
This book is one that I just couldn’t finish. For the record, the writing was wonderful and Ms. Rowling doesn’t need to prove herself as a writer any more. The story, or the first third that I actually read was highly character driven with loads of descriptive elements. It was the storyline that didn’t draw me in and right now, there’s just too many other books to be read.
Curious to see what the masses and other reviewers think.
Quotes I liked:
You must accept the reality of other people. You think that reality is up for negotiation, that we think it’s whatever you say it is. You must accept that we are as real as you are; you must accept that you are not G-d.”
-It was strange how your brain could know what your heart refused to accept.”
Shop on Amazon Here!
Ugh, glad I’m not the only one who bailed on this book! I can’t remember exactly why I did (it was at least a year ago) but I know I could not get into it, found it depressing, and couldn’t understand what the fuss was about. I did enjoy Cuckoo’s Calling, but Casual Vacancy did nothing for me!
Meigan, I’m glad you agreed with me as well. So many people were reading it and raving…maybe my expectations were too high? Who knows, it did nothing for me either.
Happy Reading,
L