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Comment As You Read | The Casual Vacancy By J.K. Rowling
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Sammee
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rated it 2 stars
Mar 04, 2013 03:40AM
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I'm about half way through now - not sure what page, so I won't say anything yet about characters or content. As I mentioned on the thread for the New Year challenge - it's not as bad as I thought it would be, although I certainly don't recognize JK Rowling in it. And I find it lazy on her part that she writes from so many different points of view and has to qualify her pronouns all the time: Mia wrote to Sammee that she, Mia, was finding this aspect of the book annoying. Sammee wondered what Li thought because she, Sammee, wasn't as annoyed. Tee hee. The characters certainly are gritty. I'm not actually liking any of them at all, which makes it difficult, but it's a fairly easy read. Also, "glistening condom?" Really? Ew. I forget what chapter that was in, but I'm like, "ok, JK, ok. We know you can be gritty."
I'm still waiting for Harry Potter to swoop in- just kidding, kind of. I saw an interview where Rowling said she can't revisit those characters right now. So now I completely understand the writing style of this book. She really wanted to run away from Potter and she did. Not that it's a bad thing; this book is just different. It's character drive. I'm enjoying the diverse themes of cutting, bullies, and unhappy marriages.
Sometimes I want to slap Mary the same way I wanted to slap the mother on The Killing (AMC tv show).
BBC is turning this show into a tv series. We should have a virtual watch party when we've finished reading.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...
Yeah, I want to slap Mary, too! And I think that, while the extreme character stereotypes worked in Harry Potter, some of her characters in Casual Vacancy are a bit too two dimensional if she's writing in muggle-reality. Not hating it, though, which is a nice surprise. It is engaging me. Took a bit to get the characters straight, but now I know who everyone is and am getting drawn in.
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I initially spent lots of energy keeping Ruth and Gavin and Miles and fat what's-his-name and Shirley and Maureen and Samantha straight, and who each is married to and which kids belong to which parents. I think I've got it now, but they really are all very unsympathetic characters. Every now and again, there's a nice moment about a character but even Barry wasn't such a great guy (based on the first chapter where he's thinking about how disinterested he is in his wife). Anyway, almost finished...Sammee - what makes you keep reading is being able to discuss it with us! :-)
Okay - finished. Hm. I rated it 3 stars, but then realized that 2 stars is "it was okay." It's somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me. I'm gonna hold off on commenting until everyone else has gotten further. I do have the general comment that I still feel as if her characters are a bit black and white, kind of like the Dursleys. I mean, Dudley shows a teensy bit of emotional range at the very end of the Potter series, but they are overall overdrawn villains. That worked in the fantasy world of Harry Potter. Not so much in "reality."
I'm so glad I wasn't the only one that wanted to slap Mary! I have about 3 pages to go and will finish it over lunch. So far I'm leaning towards 3.5 stars. Those last 3 pages hold it's fate. I created a little flow chart of all the characters at one point. Just helped, I guess, since I'm also reading The Confessions of Sleeping Beauty. Not that there is any way I could confuse the two!
Band of sisterhood! We will leave no one behind! Can't wait for everyone to finish. Looking forward to your full review, Mia! :)
It sort of had that feel of a book by Maeve Binchy, if Maeve Binchy went off her antidepressants and went on a bender. :-) I don't think it'll be one of those re-read books like the Potter series, but, as it's percolating more, I think it's a solid 3 stars.
"If Maeve Binchy went off her antidepressants and went on a bender." Hahahahahahaha!
No I won't be rereading it either, but I do want to watch the BBC series.
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Where Andrew skips school (i'm not ruining ANYTHING! Rowling did that already)
I find this book to be annoying & I've NEVER said that about ANY book in my ENTIRE life! So far all the adults feel 1 dimensional. So many characters & most of them are unlikeable, others are just plain ole' asshats but Rowling has a knack for writing younger characters more complex which was a breathe of fresh air. However, it seems completely out of place with the overall story (so far). And I'm not a prude at all but I find this book is trying so hard to be foul that it's crass for no reason. If she is trying to send a message with this story its getting muddled by this.
That's all I have to say about that... for now, lol.
I liked it better as I went on, but I agree. Although I was kinder and called her adults "two dimensional!" And I'm with you: I'm cool with gritty, but it does seem like she's trying to be crass. If this didn't happen to be JK Rowling, though, would it feel that way? I'm not entirely sure. She does flesh out the younger characters more. And I was wrong in an earlier comment - Barry wasn't thinking nasty thoughts about his wife; he was thinking that he'd disappointed her (within the first few pages - no spoilers there), so he was more of a sympathetic character. I just went back to re-read the first chapter or two because it took me so long to get settled into the story that I think I missed some of the earlier stuff. And she did make me cry at the very end - won't say why. But that may just be that I'm getting sentimental in my middle age. ;-)
Spot on with the tears, Mia! Sammee, I think it does get better, but not stellar. This book reminds me of Scott Spencer's A Ship Without Paper (which I need to finish). Complete 180 from Endless Love- which is a massive favorite of mine.
Come on library! (I'm 3rd on the waiting list now)
If I hadn't borrowed mine from a friend, I would have sent you mine, Karen. Hurry up, library! People need to learn to speed read! :D
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LOL - Sammee - it took me two days after your post to realize that Fats skipped school, not Andrew! (That's how invested in the book I was!) Yeah, to Karen and Sarah, it's not worth actually laying out cash for the book, I don't think. Li - dread is such a strong word! :-) But I know what you mean. Can't wait to hear what you think about it. She takes a while to build into the central conflict -- first part is establishing a bunch of really unpalatable characters. But it should at least be fun for you to read through, having read our (spoiler-free)comments above.
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Yes. Its about the story, not the artist for me. If anything I'm giving this more of a try because its Rowling & because its a book club selection. When this came out & i read what its about I had no interest to read it. Plus the e-version of the book was $24! Presently its 8 bucks clearly someone in marketing was a little too eager. Life is too short to read shit books. If we really stop & think about it; This book is really her 2nd story. I mean yes there are 7 HP books but really that was 1 story so really she is still trying to find her way. I get that. Now Do I like the path she presently on... No.
I did think at one point that, if this is her take on reality, no wonder she decided to craft Harry potter world as an escape!
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OMG! so true!!! This book just feels like ok adulthood sucks! everyone is awful but if you are young well that is a time for true exploration. Youth is so complex & adults are simple & mean,lol. If that is her real world then I get why HP was so brilliant.
Sammee, "Life is too short to read shit books." I'm writing this on my forehead in washable crayola. Amen, Mia! I checked out 50 Shades of Gray from the library, but I felt bad for the tree that had to suffer for that dribble.
Can't wait for our April pick!
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If I must suffer so shall YOU! we are ALL in this together
If it helps, Li, I read it fast to get it over with! Rip off the bandaid. Just remember, it gets better after the first 100 pages. Better- not great. Lol.
I agree with Sarah. And - look at what a lively discussion this has already led to!!! :-)I also started reading it while I was on the airplane and couldn't really run or hide from it! But it does go more quickly and we're really curious to hear what you think! This is good for us. How can we have an opinion about it if we don't buckle down and read it?
Band of Sisters, leave no girl behind! :)
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http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news...
what am I missing about this book
Sammee wrote: "BBC to Turn J.K. Rowling's 'The Casual Vacancy' Into TV Serieshttp://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news...
what am I missing about this book"
Nada. It's all PR hype. Much like 50 Shades of Crazy.
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Life is too short (and hectic - still in school!) to read a bad book.
Also, the library needed it back by Friday. I'm a fast reader but not that fast! LOL
Hoping our April pick is a little better.
To be honest, it does get better, but not great (as I think Sarah has said somewhere in this thread). You needed to be trapped on an airplane like I was to get through the first 100 pages. Oh well. Anyone else making progress on it?By the way, Li, did you get Clockwork Princess yet? I just got it and will probably start reading it regardless of our April pick.
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Yep, I've read them - text away! By the way - I see that The Fault in Our Stars isn't the April pick - I've read it and it's pretty good, so worth a read for those of you who haven't.
I just went ahead and bought Clockwork Princess on my Kindle because I had no capacity to delay gratification. :-)
Anyone else finishing Casual Vacancy? Just remember - suffering builds character. tee hee!
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Parminda just put Howard on blast at the town meetings. Yes the book gets better as you go one but i think its mostly because the bar has been lowered once you see that you are getting. I keep reading mostly for see what happens with Krystal, Fats & the other teens in the story. My heart broke for Krystal when she was attacked. but the thought process that came after kinda shocked me even though that is the realist approach I think someone in that situation would do if they lived the life Krystal lives.
And I'm confused. Is Collin a pedo or not? Is this all in his head or has he actually done something in the past & if his boss knows how the hell is he working in a school?
Yeah, the Krystal story is more compelling, and then leads to the one genuinely emotional response (aside from disgust) that I had while reading the book! Part of Colin's OCD is that he is NOT a pedo, but that he has these mental images of having done such things and then he obsessively worries that he's actually done these things and has forgotten he's done them, even though he and everyone else knows he hasn't. Yeah - it's kind of an obscure form of OCD for her to invent (although I've actually seen people during my training who had similar content in their OCD)!
Still 3rd on the waiting list...come on Dauphin county library people, read faster!!!!!
Not that I've got to read any of the book yet but how you're describing Colin puts me in mind of a person I know and love who is a pathological liar. She tells the same lies over and over to the point that she can't actually remember the truth anymore. It actually makes sense to me that this could be a form of OCD.
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Holy crap! This went from being rubbish for about 80% of the book to being captivating. I keep reading on to find out what happened to Robbie (my heart broke), Howard (I could careless) Shirley - his wife (that crazy chick) IT all just snowballs at this point & all i want to do is keep reading to find out how it ends. Very surpising
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The ending was captivating. I really didn't want to put it down cause there is this moment when you know something major is about to go down. Teens really lead the story. The adults are selfish & in that they caused so much destruction.
Getting hooked on completing this book is what made it 3 stars for me. I was dead set on giving this book 2 stars but once I finished I couldn't do it. Certain characters (the younger ones) made it far more enjoyable.
Agreed. I haggled between 2 and 3 for the same reasons!
I'm #2 on the library waiting list now. YaY!
Mia wrote: "Agreed. I haggled between 2 and 3 for the same reasons!"Oh good! I couldn't tell if I was being generous. Can't wait for our next read. :D
Karen wrote: "I'm #2 on the library waiting list now. YaY!"Hurray!
Okay - another logistics question: how do you do the italicized "Mia said..." etc. comments?
Hit reply to the person's comment you want to italicize. :)
Sarah wrote: "Hit reply to the person's comment you want to italicize. :)"Duh! Thanks!
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Hold onto your bookmarks! I got an email from the library today both The Casual Vacancy and Under the Dome are ready for me to pick-up. I could actually read March's book in March yet. (Though after reading this thread, part of me is a bit scared to start it!) I'm definitely looking forward to April's reads (the 2nd is already on request but I'm on the waiting list for it) and I'm going to give March's my best try. Have a great day everyone.
Karen - definitely read it, or at least start it (tho it gets better at the end)! We'd love to hear your input!
