The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Courtney
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Jul 04, 2013 07:18AM
Your characterisation of the teenagers in The Casual Vacancy is quite accurate (from my perspective as a high school teacher, anyway). Did you do any additional research to achieve this or did you base these characters on your own former students/people you knew as a teen yourself?
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When you were writing The Casual Vacancy, did the ghosts of HP haunt you? As they say that characters are types, can you relate any HP character to any one in Casual Vacancy?
People say that the book is not at all related to Harry Potter. But is it?
What type of research did you do to develop your characters, as this book is such a departure from your Harry Potter novels?
How was the transition from writing Harry Potter series which were set in a fictional world and The Casual Vacancy, which is much more real in the sense that it is a reflection of the current society? While the former was about the good vs. evil, the latter delves into the greyer areas of human emotions. As a writer, what was the transition in your thought process, if any?
What inspired you to write "The Casual Vacancy" right after a whole children's series?
How was the transition from writing Harry Potter series which were set in a fictional world and The Casual Vacancy, which is much more real in the sense that it is a reflection of the current society? While the former was about the good vs. evil, the latter delves into the greyer areas of human emotions. As a writer, what was the transition in your thought process, if any?
As a High School teacher, one of my students read The Casual Vacancy at the same time as I was reading it. We both annoyed by some of the critics. This is not a book for young adults but for adults. We discussed the book in detail. However, she asked me a question I could not answer. Is Great Britain over-looking the drug problems in their country and do you feel this was one of the reasons J.K. Rowling wrote the book?
This was so different from what we are use to seeing from you, was it difficult to write Casual Vacancy?
I have heard many people say that this book is "nothing" like the Harry Potter series, yet I found them to be similar in the complexity of the relationships between the characters. Can you comment on your writing process in terms of developing those complexities?
Between the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy, what did you like writing the most and why?
The powerful magical world felt so dear!Is the plain reality (as depicted in Casual Vacancy), so harsh?
I haven read the book but i would like to read it if i have an opportunity. I would like to know what is the role of krystal in the story if she comes and then she dies away.
I loved Harry Potter, but still haven't read The Casual Vacancy. Knowing you are a great writer, stepping in to another area of writing, what expections should I carry while reading The Casual Vacancy?
After the Harry Potter books being published and that story having it's grand finish, was it difficult to start a new story with new personalities?
What was the inspiration behind writing Casual Vacancy?
I know this question relates nowhere to The Casual Vacancy.But I really want to know if you would continue the Harry Potter world?And I think me and a billion other people will be more than excited to hear a YES to that!
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. RowlingDid you anticipate the negative response of so many of your fans to this book?
Howard Mollison is sort of the anti-Hagrid, isn't he? As soon as I read the description of him, I was reminded of the line, "He looked simply too big to be allowed." This is literally true of Howard, as you make the point that his obesity-related ailments cost taxpayers easily as much as a methadone clinic patient. What feedback have you had about that issue since the book came out?
You show an amazing depth of understanding small town politics in The Casual Vacancy. Have you ever decided to run for a council seat? Do you think that politics change from country to country?
How difficult is it to write a novel that is so different frim your previous work? I do mean this genre wise. Because fantasy and this dark rather more drama like novel are two such different genres I was wondering if it is easy to switch that easily.
The plot of The Casual Vacancy was really dark and devoid of hope for these depraved characters who inflicted pain on each other. In sharp contrast, the Harry Potter series showed love conquering all and good winning over evil. What message did you want readers to take away from The Casual Vacancy?
I haven't read The Casual Vacancy, anyway, but I have read the synopsis of this book and I'd like to ask, what are good things about this book that can force me to read it in your, as the author, point of view? I am a big fan of Harry Potter and till now I cannot find anything that can stop me to admire Potter's stories and I hope you can answer my question and make me admire The Casual Vacancy as much as I admire Harry Potter. Thanks in advance :)
I found very close resembalance between character of Neville Longbottom and Colin Wall. They represent different perspective of courage and bravery. They both defy meme on bravery. How Close you have come in real life with such characters, and why it has become so important theme for you?
When writing the Casual Vacancy were you more focused on the characters or the story?
What made you switch from a successful career in young adult literature to adult literature?
With the huge numbers of character in the novel, did you ever have more characters than you included in the book?
What was the inspiration behind The Casual Vacancy?
Was Stuart an biological brother of Crystal Weedon since he was adopted?
Was this book like closure for you? Does it symbolize the end of the Harry Potter era and the beginning of another? Does this mean you are done with the wonderful world of Harry Potter?
Was it a different feeling, writing a non magical adult book, than the feeling you had writing the oh so famous Harry Potter novels, targeted towards youth?
my question:ms.J.K Rowling,do you write another fantasy book like Harry Potter?
What inspired you to write Casual Vacancy and what inspired the characters, plot, and setting? Was it difficult to switch genres and tone of writing after so many years of writing kids/young adult books?
Harry Potter was most definitely fantasy and The Casual Vacancy seems to be less so. What inspired you to try something different?
Death seems to be a constant theme in "The Casual Vacancy" as it was in the Harry Potter series, what purpose does it serve in your plotting?
why did you give up on writing more stuff about harry potter's world, when this gave you everything you have now, including millions of people who loves you? Casual Vacancy it's a great book, make a movie out of it. It would be awesome, I know. You are great. Don't give up on magic, 'cause you could write a LOT MORE about the past on harry potter saga.
What was your favorite word to use in this book?
How do you manage to leave a hidden message every time..with each book ?...you write with that aim ..or does it just come?
Where did you get your inspiration for the book from?
Hi Ms Rowling,I'm a very big fan of yours but I have to admit that I am disappointed with The Casual Vacancy. After reading it, I was at a loss. There are a lot of issues Pagford's facing like the Fields, the Drug Rehab clinic, rape, poverty, child abuse, bullying between teenagers and even adults and of course, the competition to replace Barry's place. However, at the end of the book, these doesn't seem like to have been addressed. Even Barry's successor is not at all admirable. The pressing issues weren't solved which basically created a lot of loose ends. My question would be, did you really intend for it to have a loose end? Like you're trying to tell us that this is reality and until now, even with a lot of planned improvements with how politicians should serve the public, efforts are still futile because we are still facing these problems since time immemorial.
First of all let me start by saying that I enjoyed the book a lot, being someone that has always been interested in what makes people tick, which is one of the reasons that motivates me to read so much and go through a very ample spectrum of stories. I did find the story to run a little slow and I think it was mostly because you had so many characters and switching from one story to the other made it a little bit slow to move along the story, but I think in the overall you needed all of them to depict the main character that I have a strong feeling it was the small town, but reading the other questions in this forum I came to the conclusion that it could also be Britain's Institutions. I guess the question after all this rambling is: Who was the main character of this story and what made you write about it?
Do you meet and compare notes, with some of your English and Irish contemporaries.
I was very confused about the point of this book. Where most believe the Casual Vacancy was genius, I was a little let down. What exactly was the main theme driving the writing of this book? Or maybe my question is, do you personally find all of humanity as unredeemable as the characters in this book? And further still, are there any undertones of how humanity is messed up and doesn't deserve mercy relating to a belief in God.?
Mrs. Rowling, I was wondering, when while writing "The Casual Vacancy", did you incorporate your personality from one time or another into one of the characters, much like you did with Hermione Granger?
Where did you do your research on the pot smoking scene. Unfortunately that scene seemed really unrealistic to me. it kind of took me out of the story. For instance, pot never looks like twigs and pepper corns, and you don't sprinkle it on tobacco to make a joint. Have you ever smoked pot? The description of the feeling was very good.
All of the characters seem to represent something, be it a concept of everyday life, a quality of human nature, etc. For you, which character in this book represents family or the sense of having a home?
Why on earth did you write such a sordid book with so many negative characters? Where did all the charm of the Potter books disappear to?
Like most people posting questions, I am a biased fan and love every character you put in print. I found refreshment and thought in the literary depth of "Casual Vacancy." My question is this: of the many themes in this novel (e.g. fatherhood, ambition, coping with death, etc.), which ones were you hoping stood out and why?
I loved casual vacancy despite it being a far cry from Harry Potter. You really showed your versatility and should be very proud of yourself for what you have achieved :). Are any of the characters actually based on people from your past as they bear some similarities and if so did you find it hard writing the book as it stirred up old memories or was it a release? Thank you
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