HI! I hope you’re all having a good week so far! Today I’m going to be reviewing J.K. Rowling’s novel Theย Casual Vacancy.
Before I get to my review I just wanted to say how much I love reading. I know this sounds kinda random, okay is very random, but today I had two co-workers talk to me about books and how they like seeing me read, and tell me that that they like to read also. I don’t know, but it just made me feel so good that I kind of inspired them to open up to read (as one is more of a closet reader) and I don’t think we should be ashamed of reading. I’m hoping to have more book discussions with them, but it’s great to know that there are book lovers within my group of fellow workers! ๐
A Casual Vacancy by: J.K. Rowling: When Barry Fairbrother suddenly collapses and dies everything changes. The people in his life, and his town are now left with a casual vacancy meaning they have an empty seat on the parish council. Trying to find out who will fill the position has become an all-out war in the town of Pagford. This novel started off slow and left the reader a little unsure where the plot was going. Rowling bounced through character point of views too quickly and without notice that left the novel a little jarring; it wasnโt as bad as the reader got to know the characters, but at first it was definitely jarring. The town and setting she created was very believable and realistic as well as the characters that lived inside it. There were a multitude of diverse characters who all grew and developed to shape the story. The plot, as a whole was alright; as the reader got to the end things really started to pick up and make it all worth reading.
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I read a few chapters of this when it first came out but I couldn’t get in to it! I do want to give it another try though!
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I hear you. It wasn’t the easiest novel to get into. I got lost with all the characters that were introduced and then trying to figure out POV you’re in. I hope when you read it (or try to read it) again, you like it! ๐
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Great review for this book Meghan. I haven’t read this one and probably won’t because it doesn’t really sound like my kind of book, for me J.K. Rowling is always going to be the author of Harry Potter and that’s it, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. It sounds like it may have been hard to get into but that it was well worth it by the end, so I guess it’s good you stuck with it until then! ๐
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Thanks Beth! It was hard to get into at first, but it did get better. I can understand that; keeping her as the creator of HP.
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Harry Potter is such an epic series for me, I don’t think J.K. Rowling can ever be anything else. Maybe one day that’ll change and I’ll be able to pick up this book as well but at the moment I’m not ready for it I guess.
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I’ll definitely check this book out further. Thanks for introducing me to it, and great review!
I’m new to blogging and book reviewing, and am very impressed by your blog. I was wondering if you had any tips for newbie bloggers and book reviewers.
If you have the time, please check out my blog @breenysbooks. I’d love any feedback. Have a wonderful day.
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I still haven’t tried to read this one yet because of all of the mixed reviews early on. I do want to give it a try some day though. Thanks for the honest review ๐
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Thank you for the comment! I think this book is something people either like, or dislike; I think a lot of that has to do with it being so different from her writing style in Harry Potter, and because of that Rowling is trying to find this voice that isn’t completely there yet. I do hope you enjoy it if you decide to read it! ๐
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Thank you for this review! Each time I go book shopping I find myself debating whether or not to give The Casual Vacancy a go (the back flap just does not seem to appeal to me :/), and each time I walk away without picking it up…
Reading your review now makes me definitely want to add the novel to my reading list.
Side Note: I totally relate with your into paragraph ๐ I love that feeling of inspiration that comes with being acknowledged for my reading obsession ๐
Happy reading!
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I’m glad I could persuade you to pick up the book! I hope you enjoy it when you read it! ๐
It’s a great feeling ๐
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I too am a bit of a closet reader myself. I have heard many mixed reviews about this book but would give it a shot if I had the time. New Baby= No time. Great review. If you don’t already, I suggest you follow JK Rowling on Twitter. For someone know for writnig books read by kids and teens she is quite the pugnacious type. It’s great!
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Thank you for your comment. If you ever give the book a shot, I hope you enjoy it! Oh I know, I’ve seen her tweets, they are quite the entertainment!
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