Possible Harry Potter Reference

[Hannah]

I noticed that on the first page of The Casual Vacancy, when the Fairbrothers are going out for their anniversary, that it is their nineteen anniversary. When I saw that, I immediately thought of Harry Potter and the epilogue being set nineteen years later. Though then Barry dies on that nineteenth anniversary, so I wonder if that is J.K. Rowling's way of saying that this is the death of Harry Potter and the epilogue is all she will write about the HP characters' futures. I was wondering if anyone else noticed that or thought about that.

[Gretchen]

I just figured they are in their mid 40's and have preteen/teen children which puts them at being married almost 20 years. So almost a milestone anniversary at 19 but not a big enough anniversary for Barry to get into too much trouble for not having a big celebration and made a bigger deal. Plus you know what Freud said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

[Amelia]

Thank you Gretchen! Not every word in The Casual Vacancy can somehow be linked to Harry Potter, and I wish everyone would stop trying to make fruitless connections. Maybe J.K. Rowling is sending subliminal messages about the future of Harry Potter in the opening pages of her new book, but I highly doubt it.

[Christina]

Yeah I don't buy it at all. Nineteen wasn't at all an important number in the Harry Potter books. I think a lot of fans are really clutching at straws here, despite Rowling's repeated insistence a that there are no similarities between the two works. Someone mentioned in another discussion about a reference to a step-father locking his step-son under the stairs, and questioned whether it was a reference also - maybe it was JK having a wee joke, or maybe it's also coincidental. I don't know, I just feel like everyone needs to completely disregard the fact that she wrote Harry Potter whilst reading/discussing TCV

[Hannah]

Those are good points, thanks! I was just wondering if anyone noticed or thought about it too.

[Nermin]

No, it doesn't make sense. And Harry doesn't have brothers.

[Katharina]

Christina wrote: "Yeah I don't buy it at all. Nineteen wasn't at all an important number in the Harry Potter books. I think a lot of fans are really clutching at straws here, despite Rowling's repeated insistence a ..."

I agree that the thing about the number 19 is probably grasping at straws, but I do think that the mentioning of the kid locked in the cupboard must have been a subtle joke and a nod to her Harry Potter fans. She's a smart lady, she never puts anything in her books without thinking about it, and she knew that many of us would be reading it. :)

[Gretchen]

Katharina Ofelie wrote: "Christina wrote: "Yeah I don't buy it at all. Nineteen wasn't at all an important number in the Harry Potter books. I think a lot of fans are really clutching at straws here, despite Rowling's repe..."

I don't know that she would use that as a joke (cupboard). The thing is I have heard of sooooooo many tragic cases where parents or foster parents did things like that. There was even a case in our State of children being housed in stacked animal cages. When I read the cupboard thing with the sad soiled child it made me think of that not Harry.

[Katharina]

I don't mean that she used it to joke about molested children, not at all. I meant that I think it's a wink at the Harry Potter fans that she knew would be reading the book. I instantly thought about Harry and I know I'm not the only one, and, knowing Jo's usual attention to detail, I don't think she would have put an example in there which was so similar to Harry without having some sort of thought behind it. She could have chosen to have the stepfather lock the child up in a cage or a basement, but no, she chose a cupboard. I don't think that could have been a coincidence.

[F B]

I believe the similarity stops at Barry and Harry. See ryhming names? Maybe the next main character's name in another novel might be Larry. Or Perry. I mean come on guys I truly dont see any harry potter reference.

Post potter depression at its best..

[Gretchen]

Peeves wrote: "I believe the similarity stops at Barry and Harry. See ryhming names? Maybe the next main character's name in another novel might be Larry. Or Perry. I mean come on guys I truly dont see any harry..."

Lol, "Oh there you are Perry." Perry, I love it, great name.

[Candy]

I remember thinking it was hilarious that she would have a character rhyming with 'Harry'. Such a close coincidence - but I guess that's a clear announcement (however unconscious) that HP is a completely different world and story.

[Amanda]

I don't see any direct link or hidden clues to Harry in The Casual Vacancy, but I do see that poverty, abuse and neglect are recurring themes in both works.

[Kressel]

I wondered that with the name Barry, she was hinting to Pres. Obama, who was called Barry when he was younger. The book is an argument for liberalism in social programs.