The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Catherine
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Jul 04, 2013 12:27PM
Do you think The Casual Vacancy offers an accurate portrayal of British society? What research did you do before writing the book, did you come across real people or a real place which inspired the book?
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Would you consider every writing about other mental health and physical health issues ?
Did you feel the need to write Casual Vacancy to get rid of the Harry Potter label or was it written on pure pleasure?
This book is a turd, no matter how you polish it- it will still be a turd. I'm sorry to be cruel, but someone should have been more honest with you before you published it. Specifically, the overall setting was unimaginative, the characters were mostly predictable, and many scenes were poorly paced. So my question is: How will you redeem yourself with your next book? I say this as your average joe jackass- knowing full well that I will never achieve the success that you have, but also as someone who knows the power of low expectations of talented authors like yourself. I believe in you.
What were you thinking when you switched your writing from Harry potter books way to Adult books way !??And is there any chance about a spin off series or Prequel for the harry potter or any kind of new releases ???
Dear ms. Rowling, your novel "The Casual Vacancy" is situated in a constituancy, should we regard your novel as a personal criticism on the "state" of our nowadays democracy??
Due to the success of Harry Potter, you obviously became very established in the fantasy genre, and seen as an icon for budding fantasy authors (myself included).
Was it hard to make the transition from children's fantasy author to an adult writer, with much more serious themes? Were you worried about how it was going to be received, due to the contrast of Harry Potter and The Casual Vacancy, particularly as it had been over 10 years since you had written anything that was not related to Harry Potter.
Was it hard to make the transition from children's fantasy author to an adult writer, with much more serious themes? Were you worried about how it was going to be received, due to the contrast of Harry Potter and The Casual Vacancy, particularly as it had been over 10 years since you had written anything that was not related to Harry Potter.
How come the kid who's been bullying the self-harming girl doesn't get any kind of comeuppance? All he seems to do is get off with "They were just jokes," and then he gets to make out with her friend. What gives?
Do any of the characters represent things you think or feel but are afraid to say aloud? If yes, which are those?
As an author, how have you found the change in genre? Have people been positive?
What inspired you to write The Casual Vacancy? You provide such details that I truly feel like I'm a "fly on the wall" observing everything.
I have a few questions:1. I have sensed some similarity in "The Casual Vacancy" to the Harry Potter series, especially in the first chapter. For me, the death of Barry somehow symbolized the death of Harry Potter books (Harry-Barry) and how they were the beginning of a new era for you. Was this intentional? And was the similarity in the two character's name, was that intentional?
2. The pain you have expressed through the teenagers of this book were one of the realest I have ever read. It was clear to me that you were writing from experience... is that true? Did you ever feel like that in your youth?
3. How did your experience with teenagers or being a teenager yourself shaped your writing of them in this book? Do you think the teenagers in the casual vacancy are mirror images of a lot of teenagers today or those are characteristics that in your eyes have always been common with youth?
4. How long did it take you to write the book?
5. Did you ever have doubts about writing certain scenes in the book?
6. The casual vacancy deals with some pretty difficult topics- depression, self-harm, suicide, drug abuse, and violence in the family. Was that a step you always knew you were going to take after Harry Potter, books in which those things were hardly hinted?
7. Were you afraid to write something so different to the Harry Potter series?
8. Are you planning to continue writing (whether published or not) for a very long time or is there another thing you have wanted to pursue?
How you felt writing The Casual Vacancy? And did you expect the same fame as Harry Potter for this book?
None of the characters who were politicians were very likeable. Even if they have generally positive opinions there is something in their personal life that makes you dislike them and their actions. How much of this fact was due to the fact that they are humans? Or was this more of showing the true faces of politicians?
What were some things that inspired you to write The Casual Vacancy and if possible, could you please write some books on the Marauders Era? Thanks!
Did you get any inspiration from Harry Potter while writing this book?
What was your feelings when your wrote the book?
Your level of character development is flabbergasting and awe-inspiring. What further fascinates me about your character development is how your characters evolve seamlessly, as if it's a natural progression as in life. My question is, the characters in Casual Vacancy are so in-depth and charismatic in their dysfunction and so amazing in their idiosyncrasies, how did you develop them? It's almost as if they know they are dysfunctional, and they mildly embrace those dysfunctions, but yet they want to keep them a secret even though everyone already knows about them. That level of character development is just beautiful. DO you envision those traits and then develop the characters around that or the other way around?Thank you for your words.
Lyn
Tom Hollander did such an AMAZING job with the audio version of this book. Assuming the inevitable happens, what one character would you cast him to play in the film version?
After writing the harry potter series did you plan to write such a serious book or did you just decide it was time to change the genre?
I think "The Casual Vacancy" is a Dickens for the 21st century. You held up a mirror to the world I live in. Too few writers do that. Your final sentence is a knock out punch. It literally took my breath away the first time I read it; "Her family half carried Terri Weedon back down the royal-blue carpet, and the congregation averted its eyes."
How important is it to you that your writing has a strong moral message?
Can a novel change society?
How was for you the transition to adult books? and Did you feel any pressure with this new story?
What inspired you to write The Casual Vacancy? And is this one of many adult novels?
What caused you to write such a serious book considering Harry Potter was a funny/fantastical/magical book series?
Was The Casual Vacancy a book idea that had been in your head for awhile like the HP series, or was it something you slowly realized?
The reader can immeadiately see the corruption, internal wars and quest for power throughout the book. However this is concentrated mainly in the "adult" world. Do you think that the death of Robbie and Krystal symbolize the death of the hope for a better future generation? Do you think that people like Sukhvinder still exist and can make a difference in our world?
The interwoven plot lines could have intersected in so many ways to create a climax and denouement. Why did you choose those particular characters to play out the tragedy and more importantly, why did you choose those characters to show so much growth at the end as part of the resolution?
Obviously, characterization plays a huge factor in The Casual Vacancy. You were able to draw these characters each in a unique way, and to me, this book feels like a character study more than anything. Each character is wonderfully portrayed and well-written. Even in Harry Potter, I believe one of the strongest aspects was characterization. As someone who wishes to improve as a writer, I'd like to ask you, how do you personally approach writing and developing characters in a realistic way?
Now that you have written for both the childrens market and the adult market which one did you find hardest and why?
People say that you could have written another children's series instead of straying onto the adult genre. What is your defense to that?
When conceptualising a story like Casual Vacancy, what sparked the idea for this story? I'm always interested on where writers write from was there an incident, person, or occurence that gave the thought to write this story?
If you could go back to before you wrote your first book, what would you change ?
ok....so...The Casual Vacancy was a complete turn-around from Harry Potter....I loved the Harry Potter series, and knew that this book was going to be nothing like them, how were you able to get around all the political and social perversities..drugs, vandalism, poverty?
I loved how the characters were very real....only looking out for themselves, and not the community at large....always placing blame on others..that is what happens in real life too!
was this as much fun to write as Harry Potter?
Ms. Rowling, you are recognized throughout the World as the "Lady who wrote Harry Potter". How big of a challenge do you think it was to try and write something that would set aside Harry Potter for a moment and define you as a versatile writer? And how well do YOU think you did in overcoming that challenge?
What gave you the idea of writing this book?
Would you change anything about the book? If you would, what would it be?
Were you scared to write something entirely not connected to Harry Potter? Fears based on whether or not people would like it? How would your fans react to do?
As it stands, the Harry Potter series was cross-generational, and loved by millions because of the complex and interwoven storyline and characters. While Casual Vacancy has that same strong base, it is definitely an adult book. Was the shift in character restraints, growing youth verses adult, give you a feel of freedom while writing, or was it more of a confined feeling?
Was it hard for you to say goodbye at the end to any of the characters?
Because I like Rowlings books, and because Cynthia is cute, my question to him is: can you get Cynthia's number for me? ;)
Why did you make the story line about so ordinary everyday small town political life? Also why did class warfar have to be in this story?
The Casual Vacancy is different from the Harry Potter series. Was it challenging to transition your writing and ideas to an adult type of book?
what inspired you to create such a plot like in the Casual Vacancy?
As a reader, my biggest challenge was to know who to root for in the first 100 pages. No one was completely likeable! So my question:Who is your favorite character in the book?
It seems to me that A Casual Vacancy and the Harry Potter books have in common a deep sympathy with those in our society (and particularly in British society) who are considered "weirdos" and "outsiders." There's a suggestion in the Harry Potter books that people we regard as social outcasts and dysfunctional misfits actually have a literally magical virtue that mainstream folk cannot perceive, while the more "mainstream" one is (like the Dursleys), the less actual virtue one possesses. In A Casual Vacancy, the downtrodden whom Barry Fairbrother championed are marginal folks, who are yet capable of deep love and loyalty, while the more "mainstream" types are at best indifferent to the sufferings of others and at worst actual victimizers. What I am not sure about is how does Fats Wall fit into that paradigm? Is he corrupted by his social power?
The Casual Vacancy is not at all casual nor vacant. Why did you choose to title this book this way? What is casual and vacant to you?
I didn't read this book at first, but my friend did. I was then inspired to read the book after she told me a bit about the book. It was a very nice book. I want to know what inspired you to write this book. Was it something true, based on something, or was it just something you made up? Thanks. From your number one fan.
I was wondering how you came to write this story and if you ever had any real doubts about publishing this book because of all the Harry potter fans that could have hated it because it wasn't Harry potter. Thanks :)
My question regarding The Casual Vacancy would be, "What does it mean!?!" The book is too finely crafted not to mean something. It reminded me of my literature classes in college where I would read this beautiful work but never quite grasp it until the next day in class when the professor would help illuminate it for me. I desperately want someone to explain The Casual Vacancy to me on a deeper level. My own theory is that Rowling is saying there are people out there worth saving, but we are often too caught up in our own petty concerns to either notice or care. Like the theories I came up with on my own in college, I am sure this one barely begins to scratch the surface.
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