From the Bookshelf of ♥ Nothing Better Than Reading!! ♥ …

The Casual Vacancy

J.K. Rowling

Start date: August 1, 2014

Finish date: August 31, 2014

Discussion: Book/Genre of the Month

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 169 topics — 1,401 comments total

Book/Genre of the Month

* The System
By A , Crazy. · 2 posts · 468 views

last updated Nov 26, 2020 11:02AM

Your books in 2023
By Miriam · 3 posts · 19 views

last updated Jan 23, 2023 11:40PM

showing 7 of 7 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Aug 27, 2012 Antonia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, favourites

First and foremost, I want to point out what a difficult but intriguing experience reading this book was for me. It was so, so different from what I had imagined it to be.
It started off pretty slow and it took me a considerable amount of time to get used to the names of all these characters, their mutual relationships and their own private thoughts, the way they viewed themselves and their social environment. Somewhere in the middle, though, the book begins to draw your attention to an extraordi First and foremost, I want to point out what a difficult but intriguing experience reading this book was for me. It was so, so different from what I had imagined it to be.
It started off pretty slow and it took me a considerable amount of time to get used to the names of all these characters, their mutual relationships and their own private thoughts, the way they viewed themselves and their social environment. Somewhere in the middle, though, the book begins to draw your attention to an extraordinary depth. It is deep and challenging and it hides even more life meanings and lessons than it originally seems to give to you. I particularly enjoyed most of the characters (Fats and Krystal are my most favourite) and I fell in love with the way most of them were extremely unhappy with themselves and their lives, but somehow they kept on fighting for something worthy and permanently soothing. Rowling's writing pleasantly surprised me and assured me that she is one of the greatest writers of all time. Considering the incredible success of Harry Potter, for the length of almost the 1/3 of the book I unconsciously tried to compare this book to the Harry Potter ones and bluntly failed because this book is much more wise and thought-provoking than Harry Potter was. But don't be fooled, Harry Potter IS (not was) the clay from which the happiness of my childhood was created and, for this, I'm eternally grateful to Rowling.
Overall, 4 out of 5 stars. The ONLY reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of the fact that this book seemed a bit too depressing for me. I don't know if this was the whole point of it, to underline to us that real life is anything but spread with rose petals and easy crossroads, but to some extent I caught myself wondering whether it would have been better if Rowling had made it a little bit brighter. A masterpiece though, with a highly intelligent set up of people and their burning lives, that will keep you thinking (and wondering) long after you've finished it. A "must read" for all book lovers. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 23, 2015 Vandhana rated it liked it

Shelves: books_i_own

So far I have read books where it revolves around one or two main character(s). This is my first novel with no such thing. so many stories, so many perspectives. Enjoyed reading it. Nearly I became a citizen of Pagford :P

With out reading reviews I wont start a book. So I had a clear vision of what this book is all about. This is not that JKR who wrote HP.
This book showed us a different J.K.Rowling.

Overall a very different experience for a J.K.Rowling Fan :D

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2013 Nila rated it really liked it

This was a really good read once I got into it! I am really glad I read some reviews before I started to read it because as other people did I had a hard time not trying to compare this book the Harry Potter series.
This is a stand alone book as it should be in a class all it's own. J.K Rowling rolled together a bunch of complex characters together that piss you off and make you almost want to cry at the same time, as only she can! The title threw me off at 1st, Casual Vacancy is not what I thou ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 Alka rated it did not like it

Shelves: e-book

I wish Rowling had written something more substantial. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen but it didnt. Life in a small village may be challenging but to read about each and every incidence is mind-bogglingly boring. Come back, Harry Potter!

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2012 SandyGM rated it it was ok

I was disappointed in the writing. I found her Harry Potter books so imaginative and inventive. A Casual Vacancy was somewhat lackluster and basically the writings of small town gossip. I wasn't a fan of this book...I expected so much more creative writing. ...more

1 like · Like · see review