The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Colleen
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Jul 04, 2013 01:34PM
This book is very different from the Harry Potter series ,which was categorized as a children's book. What inspired you to make this huge change of genres and come up with a very different theme than the Harry Potters?
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Is there any novel you've ever read and thought 'I wish I'd written that' ?
JK, since the 7th book was split into 2 movies, would you like to have seen earlier books split as well? I for one, felt that Goblet of Fire could have been split since the movie left out half the plot.
I would like to know if Ms. Rowling found it difficult or complicated to switch from the fantasy young adult genre, after her lengthy work on the world of Harry Potter, to do something more adult and more daily life?
"The Casual Vacancy" is clearly a commentary on many aspects of our society, including the way we treat our young people. How do you think the way we deal with adolescents, as parents and as a society, needs to change?
How did planning this novel differ from the Harry Potter series
How was writing The Casual Vacancy different from writing your Harry Potter books???? Were you excited to try something different??? What did you enjoy most about writing something different or even just writing The Casual Vacancy???
As an Indian immigrant in US, I loved Dr Parminder Jawanda's storyline in Casual Vacancy. The characters in that whole family were beautifully developed with penetrating insight. I can't wait for your next book.
As a huge Harry Potter fan, what could you say to entice me to read your new book, The Casual Vacancy?
The Casual Vacancy seems to be a powerful commentary on the world that we're living in, and on the ways that we treat and respond to other people. What do you think is the greatest problem that our world faces, and what can we do to overcome it?
Why did you choose to write this book rater than more Harry Potter'S? I loved them SO much. Wish you would write more :(
Who or what inspired you to write this book? And do you have any advise for upcoming authors?
How did you come up with the idea for Krystal to have the need to give the baby everything she never had?
Whilst reading the novel, I had a distinct image of you having mapped out how every character would become involved with another, who was associating with who and what would happen to them. I saw it all in a big mind map. How close is that to your planning of the novel and how easy was it for you to write such a grown up novel after the Potter series?
It was after I finished the book that I realised there was not one character I really liked or could empathise with. Was this intentional? I did enjoy the book and it did make me think from several perspectives.
How difficult was it to write something completely different from Harry Potter and how did you handle all the criticism from the Potter fans?
One of my favorite aspects of the novel is how it explores the ways people often make judgements and spins "truths" based on very little knowledge. In fact, the narrative itself seems to be judging and empathizing with characters throughout. Which characters do you empathize with and which ones do you find deplorable?
Political and ideological meanings could, of course, be dwelt on when reflecting on The Casual Vacancy, but the most haunting thought/idea I was left with came from your gritty exposure of the ugliness and weakness of human nature (it's far too easy, after all, to write about the potential and existent beauty of our natures). How important is it to you that this kind of real-ness exists in your characters? And if your hope was to showcase this, do you have a goal in mind, in terms of how we can rise above / grow from humanity at its worst?
The Casual Vacancy shows a very real and harsh reality that many people live in Britain, and that is quite unknown to most of your fanbase outside the islands. You've said that the world of Harry Potter was, somehow, a gettaway from the harsh reality you were living back then, so my question is: was your intention with this book to shed some light in these social problems, in order to raise awareness and help those who live in the real life version of "The Fields"? (which would make you, to some level, a little like Barry Fairbrother).
Which book was more enjoyable to write; The Casual Vacancy or The Harry Potter Series and why? (:
The Casual Vacancy is a highly complex book with all of its characters and the challenges each one must face. What strategies did you use to keep the story straight and prevent any conflicts between chapters?
I can understand the need to go somewhere completely different than Harry's world, but why this book? What drove you to Pagford?
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was first introduced to your books while researching books to help my daughter who has severe learning disorders. We found the Harry Potter series and now she loves reading and I too, renewed my love of reading. How did you find the inspiration to write this book after the years of writing the HP series. I was captivated from the first paragraph. Thank you for sharing your writing talents and we look forward to seeing what you gift us with in the future. Nancy
The trait of selfishness is probably ingrained in humanity's survival instinct. Yet, many people are givers in our cultures where "taking and keeping," even when one has more than enough of wealth or material, seem rampant. There was poor Krystal being unselfish in so many ways, yet the one time when she is not she loses her brother. There are other characters who want to help the more unfortunate characters but cannot get the society as a whole to agree--underfunding of social services, for example. You have set a fine personal example of giving, but other rich people have not. What can we, the readers, do to minimize selfishness in our communities even while we try to maintain a decent lving for ourselves?
Was it difficult for you as an author to let go of the well-developed characters in the Harry Potter series and start anew?
I found this book to be a calling for compassion and understanding. Do you hope to change the hearts and minds of people with this book?
Was it hard to write after such a successful first series? Considering the expectations?
I enjoyed the Casual Vacancy very much.I found the story to be a 'comedy noir' of sorts.
Was that your intention?
Do you like how you wrote Harry Potter more? or do you like how you wrote the casual vacancy?
My question is "Why would I, a baby boomer who loves the Harry Potter series and does not like most contemporary novels (they often leave me frustrated or unhappy), want to read "The Casual Vacancy" (apart from your having written it?) ?Thank you in advance! :-)
Were any characters based on people you know in re life and if so, who?
The HP books cover such a large story arch, did you begin the series knowing that some of the main characters would die, or did the ending only become apparent as you reached the last few books? My question is: with this current book or your previous ones - how much did your editor influence the changes you made, and how detailed were your outlines before you began writing?
I haven't yet read the book, but from the description it doesn't sound like anything you have written before. Why did you choose to wrote a book like this one, and where did you inspiration come from?I am looking forward to reading what sounds like an intriguing book in the near future.
These characters are for the most part not very likeable. I have described the book to some people as a book about a small British town populated by hundreds of Dursleys. Could you tell us what prompted you to write about this town and these people? Do you even like any of these characters, and if so which ones and why?
What do you know about Chekov's Gun, conflict, argument, and proper revision of a rough draft? These are all useful terms I've picked up while obtaining a second bachelor's degree in English. I'm not calling you a bad writer but have you ever considered returning to school to perfect your craft? Don't let the high cost get in your way, if money is a problem I'm sure you'd qualify for some kind of scholarship!
Do you think that your other works will be judged on their own merits, or will HP be a perpetual "albatross" (some bird!) that follows you wherever you may go?
Was it difficult to write something other than Harry Potter?
After successfully completing not only the fantastic Harry Potter series but now a fabulously rich and intense adult novel, what's next? How will you shock and delight your fans and your critics on your next project?
I am a huge fan of Harry Potter and I know that you have tried to go in a drastically different direction with "The Casual Vacancy". What are the plans for the future?
All of the characters in the book have a flaw and/or secret. Since he dies in the very beginning we never really see what Barry Fairbrother's flaws or secret is. Did you have one in mind for him and if so what was it?
My question is about the kids in the story: Where do you see Fats, Andrew, Gaia and Sukhvinder when they are ten years older?
When creating characters, your best ones always seem to be teens, and you have very positive views about some of them. In fact, in the Casual Vacancy, some were more mature than adults. Were your teen years a really important part of your life? How do you stay so connected to the feelings people feel at that age? What do you have to say to people who do not take teens seriously, or to people that feel that they are too immature compared to adults? Loved the book.
How did Barry Fairbrother die?
Considering he died in his early forties, and in a town like Pagford where everyone is fighting, it would not surprise me if he was murdered. (I have not read the book yet, and sadly cannot get a hold of it for some time).
Considering he died in his early forties, and in a town like Pagford where everyone is fighting, it would not surprise me if he was murdered. (I have not read the book yet, and sadly cannot get a hold of it for some time).
J.K. Rowling, everyone loves your writing because you have an true talent, but while writing the Casual Vacancy, did you have trouble finding some ideas that were normal and not magical?
The Casual Vacancy is incredibly different from Harry Potter and it did receive some criticism due to the storyline and language used, with some countries threatening to ban the book. How did that make you feel? Were you ever scared that your new books would not receive the same amount of popularity as Harry Potter? Or that people would be forever comparing your future work to Harry Potter?
The Casual Vacancy deals much with the linking together of different situations of the many characters. What was the inspiration behind writing such a story that linked all its characters tightly together in the end?
The subject matter of The Casual Vacancy struck me as Dickensian but your narrator had the detached and ironic voice of a modern Austen. I would be interested to know how you try to balance the different aspects of your writing -social commentary, psychological realism and stylistic choices; in short, what do you think the purpose of the novel is?
Why can't you relate with the characters as you could in Harry Potter?
One common thing I saw between the Harry potter series and 'The Casual Vacancy' was your aptitude for writing teenage boys. As someone who has taught teenagers, you capture them so incredibly realistically and when you write them they just jump off the page and despite all their imperfections the reader can't help but empathise with them and 'root' for them in a way. You do this better than any other writer in my opinion. Teenage boys in particular I think can be a bit of an enigma to females, a lot of their thoughts, feelings and motivations being so different to what we experienced as teenage girls. How do you manage to capture them so perfectly? Is it through research, through knowing some yourself, or do you just have a talent for understanding them?
Considering where you came from - single mother writing in a cafe- how have you responded to your success? Have you found a way to pay it forward? Do you think you could start a mentoring program ?
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