Fantasy Book Club discussion
This topic is about
J.K. Rowling
General Chit-Chat
>
JK Rowling's Casual Vacancy - started on the wrong foot?
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
K.A.
(new)
Oct 05, 2012 01:31PM
I read the synopsis, and I can't say it sounds appealing to me. But I also read a lot of the reviews, and was disturbed to find a number of 1-star reviewers giving it that rating simply because it didn't sound appealing, and a lot of 5-star reviewers giving it that rating because they loved HP and were anticipating a good read - but without either of them reading the book first.
reply
|
flag
Yeah, I feel KIND of sorry. You writes what you writes, and if she's sick unto death of the HP world and wants to expand her horizons, more power to her. However, I don't feel TOO sorry as she's undoubtedly raking in the dough whether the reviews are good or not...
K.A. wrote: "I read the synopsis, and I can't say it sounds appealing to me. But I also read a lot of the reviews, and was disturbed to find a number of 1-star reviewers giving it that rating simply because it ..."The reviews that bothered me the most were those that compared CV with the Harry Potter books as though Rowling must confine her writing to young adult books. People bought it, saw that it wasn't about magic or Harry, got mad, and rated it at one star without even reading it.
Malcolm
I didn't actually see a lot of those. Most of the reviews I read admitted that they were aware it wasn't related to Harry Potter and they didn't expect it to be. They just didn't like the premise (me neither, but I didn't rate it!) and rated it a one-star without reading it, based on the synopsis. Same with some of the 5-stars - based on their perceptions that Rowling is a "great writer" so it must be good.
I guess that's what the mixed reviews are about huh? What a shame and unfair to leave bad reviews without reading the book. I thought the premise sounded intriguing myself, but I don't mind reading off genre books from time to time. I'll probably be reading it soon. If J.K. Rowling fans read the synopsis and they aren't a fan of the genre or adult novels, then why did they buy it? Or are they just bitter she didn't write something else they would like?
She could have helped a little in this matter by doing what most other authors do and allowed reviewers/ critics to have advanced copies of her books. This would have allowed for the reviewers to have something to review instead of all the speculation; and more readers would have known what to expect. Instead she acted just as she did when she had another HP book coming out with no copies allowed out and everything top secret. But this wasn't another HP book and I think she should have treated it differently. Several reviewers , including Lev Grossman have written great things about the book - after it came out and they had a. Chance to read it. But he emphasized how different a book this was from her others, how talented she is to do that. Wouldn't the greater than one million people who had already bought the book have benefited from these reviews... or would they have bought it anyway because it said J.K. Rowling. ? I think preventing any advanced Copies of this book assured her of the latter.
ARCs are a handy way to get the word out to critics, reviewers and the public. I saw at least one article on line about the book's subject before it was released; this came from an interview with Rowling. I do think book purchasers who go into bricks and mortar stores can read the cover copy or, online, read the publisher's description. That way, they know they're not getting another Harry Potter book. I wonder if the secrecy was due to her being used to it or because she worried about bad pre-publication reviews as she switched from Y/A to Adult.
I think there was plenty of advance buzz about this book to inform readers that it was a big deviation from the Harry Potter schtick. I certainly knew it and was curious to see what the response was. It occurred to me that there would be some whiners about it not being a fantasy novel.
lesson here is, everyone has it's own way of understanding how the book should be rated. If you want it read it. For me it was OK. I wouldnt say i didnt like it, the thing is - The story is quite interesting and would keep you reading for days.Just remember you'll never find Harry Potter in the book.
I think it's sad that most reviews of this book start with the lines "This is not Harry Potter", because with those words, you've set both standards and expectations sky high and whatever comes after such an adventure will undoubtedly seem dull if you've read and enjoyed Harry Potter. I think it doesn't help that those of us who kind of grew up with her Potter characters are now adult, and thus would be reading adult fiction. However it's often said that she made people read, she started an interest in some who would never have picked up reading otherwise, and maybe this genre just isn't for them. The leap between fantasy and this kind of fiction is pretty big, and the fact that lovers of Harry Potter don't like this book doesn't make her a bad author, she just needs a new audience.
I've read.. Hmm, about half of A Casual Vacancy and I was excited that she was doing something so different. Unfortunately, while the book is very skilfully written; it is so frustratingly dull! It's almost painful to read.
I think maybe if she had made the content more interesting then people wouldn't have such a big problem with it.
I, sadly have to agree with New York Times. It almost seems as if there was a vacancy at the heart of this book..
Oh and you shouldn't feel bad for Rowling. She is raking it in and I'm sure, even gaining buzz due to the polarity with readers/reviewers.
I think about Stephen King, who could write just about anything and people would buy it, from the stories in Different Seasons to all the horror he's well known for to The Dark Tower. He wrote under Richard Bachman to see if people would buy his books without "Stephen King" on the cover, to see if he was really that talented, or just lucky. Rowling's name might sell books like that too, but I think Harry Potter has defined Rowling not only set in a genre, but in a character. It will take a lot for her to break that. It's kind of like how the most famous child star on Nickelodeon wants to grow up and be a serious actor but they are always seen by fans as the role they played as a kid.
Honestly, I couldn't finish it.About half way through I found myself saying those eight deadly words: "I don't care about any of these characters."
I've learned that once I find myself saying that, it's best just to put it down at that point.
I've finally finished it! It was a hard slog; about two thirds of this book is god-awful but then, right at the end, the magic finally happens (literary magic of course.)If she had had a better editor, or a close friend (not a yes man) sharpen up the first 200 or so pages, this book may not have had such a bad rap.
You shouldn't have to read right to the end just to get to the good stuff...
Mod
I can't comment on writing, I don't even know who dramatised it, but the characters are all awful.
Has anyone else seen it?
I have read it and it is very well written.It is a completely different genre from fantasy and if written by a different author would have been successful . I think her initial Potter fans are angry with her for changing topic.
plus her Cormoron Strike books are great, also well written.
I read the first third of the book but really couldn't get into it. I think it's partially because I was reading it in short amounts and it's hard to keep track of characters. There's a HUGE cast.
Mod
I'm an American, and I remember enjoying British tv shows that made it over here. Then I moved to England and like, 80% of the tv shows I didn't understand the humor until I had lived there awhile. I feel like this book was really written with the British audience in mind. The whole feel reminds me of many shows I came to love after I understood the culture. My point is - I don't think it's so much that people couldn't adjust to it not being HP - I think it's just very British and many readers find it too far outside their taste.
I actually quite enjoyed that book. Couldn´t find anything that was off. 4 stars from me and I don´t give 4 stars that easily.
Mod
I didn't finish it because I didn't care about what happens. I didn't expect it to be HP since it was already said at lot it was an adult read in a different genre. And I also read sometimes mysteries and adult reading (and other things).It was written quite well but I didn't find the pages engaging. I also think that it attracted lot of readers coming from HP that were ready to give it a try even in a genre they don't really read but it didn't work for an important part of them.
