The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Jul 04, 2013 06:32PM
Why would you write a deeply disturbing book like A Casual Vacancy when most of your fan base is made up of children and young adults? We're you trying to shock the ten-year-olds out of their HP fantasyland or were you just anxious not to be pigeonholed?
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Was "Casual Vacancy" as fulfilling for you as a a writer as the last in the Harry Potter series?
If you could describe the plot of The Casual Vacancy in three words, what would they be? Also, what fruit would you use to describe The Casual Vacancy?
I felt like, had Harry never received the owl and entered the world of magic, that his life would have fit very much into the world of the Casual Vacancy. Were you thinking of how an unwanted, neglected child who did not have a magical rescue would fare as you wrote this book?
You probably could have retired on the fortunes earned from your famous series, but you have not. What draws or drives you to keep creating works and characters such as you have done with "The Casual Vacancy?"
As a sucessful author, how bold to shift genres completely. Is it diffucult to deal with readership who may not welcome that shift, due to their attachment to your previous work (still wanting more)? Thank you!!!
Did you inspire in something special to write this book?
Do you like the idea of bringing "The casual vacancy" on tv or do you think it will be difficult?
Another question, what was the worst comment you'd ever received for this book? And how did you deal with it? And would that comment stop you from writing another Adult book? Why or why not?
Did you feel the same connection to the characters in Casual Vacancy as you did in the Harry Potter series?
¿El tema que lleva implícito esta novela tiene mucha connotación pública como para haberle dado cabida en su primera novela para adultos? Solo hablo español. Is the issue that implies this novel has a lot of public connotation as to have given him a place in his first novel for adults? I speak Spanish.
Why did you write the Casual Vacancy?
The Casual Vacancy, as you said yourself, obviously depicts a more negative view of life than Harry Potter. Harry Potter, at its core, is about the resilience of good against evil, love, redemption, and hope. Though the world is sometimes unjust, Harry Potter (the series and our protagonist) affirms it is still lovable. Even though it touches upon a lot of social commentary like the Casual Vacancy, it mostly views issues as transmutable (Hermione with the house elves, Kingsley Shacklebolt as a pro-muggle prime minister, etc).The Casual Vacancy, however, does not view society as willing to change for the better. As the end of the novel, everything is the same. Though the characters aren't inherently static, Shirley doesn't seem to care that two children are dead--she still assumes the poor take what is rightfully hers. While some families and individuals seem to be patching themselves up (especially Samantha Mollision), the congregation still adverted their eyes to a mother in suffering.
So my question is this: which do you think is a better portrayal of reality? Can mother's love really save a child's life and can that same child go onto offer the murderer forgiveness in battle? Or are all the stars dead and we can't bear to think about it, as Tessa expresses?
I'm asking because I can't reconcile how the two books are written by the same author. Then again, I enjoy each unconditionally. Maybe I'm asking because I don't know how to make up my mind about what type of world we essentially live in.
What inspired you to write an adult fiction book, and are you planning on revisiting children's fiction?
I think "The casual vacancy" is not exactly a story with heroes and villains, but with people who show the nuances of every human being in an unexpected situation. From my point of view there is no "happy ending" and leaves the reader curious about what had happened to the characters if they had acted differently in every circumstance. Did you always have in mind how the story ends or you had to choose between several alternative endings?, How hard is making the decision to remove characters that can become highly appreciated by readers?
Were you afraid to write something different after your success with Harry Potter? Was it hard to begin in an entirely different world?
After writing a series of children's book, you wrote an adult book. Did you change your vision through the complexities of various situations in life to do this? how did you feel when you completed the casual vacancy?
Harry Potter was more into magical/mystical theme based, while The Casual Vacancy was into real life/political theme. I want to congrats you firstly because you managed to write them without having any similarities on how you wrote it. You are a wonderful writer after all. My question is what did inspire you to write it and why did you decide to write a more into adult type book instead of child book, like Harry Potter. Was it because all the Harry Potter fans have grown up so the book can suit their era as in now? and was it hard for you to write something really different from Harry Potter, like without having to involve any "magic" on the plot of The Casual Vacancy?
I hope you will answer my question. Anyway, I just want to say to your writings have inspired me a lot. Thank you so much for giving a magical childhood for all of us and don't stop writing.
Love,
Karen
What was your inspiration? A relatable life event?
Was there a reason you chose to right about such an important topic in such a complex way? You must have created a map or chart of all the different characters in this book I have heard many people say that the number of characters makes the book hard to follow.
Did fear of readers not liking your new work impede your mind whilst writing? How often did you second guess your writing?
In which book (Harry Potter series or Casual Vacancy) did you draw more parallels between your characters and people you encountered in your life?
Why, did you write this book?
Amy wrote: "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 ?"I think a mentoring program is an amazing idea.Perfect for young writers! (Including me!) :D
Not long after reading A Casual Vacancy I read Middlemarch for a second time & was struck by the similarity between the citizens of each town despite the different centuries. Were you influenced by Middlemarch and, if so, were you trying to convey the way human foibles endure?
For me, The Casual Vacancy was about responsibility. So many people had a role in the deaths of the Weedon children. I now wonder what role I have in the lives of people around me a bit more. So often I find myself thinking "it's none of my business" or that it is "not my place" when it comes to seeing suffering around me. Maybe it is fear of getting involved. I do not know where it comes from but I do want to do more. I would like to know if you have any ideas for how people can play a greater role in the lives of those around them. How can we prevent the suffering of people like Krystal and Robbie? Where can we begin? I feel that they could have lived a life without such pain if only the people in the community had reached out and taken on some of the responsibility to care for others.
Looking back at The Casual Vacancy, are there any things you would have done differently and, if so, what?
Dawn, Calling her book "crap" and not asking a real question leads me to believe you aren't quite capable of basic understanding of good literature.
The character of Howard immediately came into my head as Richard Griffiths playing him in the movie, was he your inspiration for the character?
Did you take any inspiration for the Harry Potter characters or themes?
What trigger you to write the scene when Krystal committed suicide?
Do you have a set procedure for writing characters? Each of the characters in "The Casual Vacancy" seems very real, very human. How do you do that?
What was your reasoning on both ending and starting the book with a death? Loved the book by the way!
I finished The Casual Vacancy months ago and I still think about it every day. It truly affected me in a lot of ways and changed my life. Was this your intention? Did you want this book to stay with people and to make them think?
Where did you get the inspiration from to write this novel? (Sorry if my english isn't very good?
One of the most intriguing character in casual vacancy, in my opinion,is Patricia.She,though,appeared in only one scene . Why did you not go much deeper into this particular character?
J.K. Rowling,I love how you can make believable characters inside and outside of Hogwarts. The Casual Vacancy, to me, very much showed that you are truly capable of writing in any genre or about any subject.
Do you feel like expanding even more and giving us some literature in another genre like historical fiction, science fiction, or horror?
Many people were disappointed this was not a continuation of the Harry Potters, how do you defend your choice and will you continue the HPs?
Hi J.K. Rowling,What inspired you to write The Casual Vacancy? Since it is different from Harry Potter, what helped you in the writing of The Casual Vacancy?
Where did you go outside your home that was comfortable enough for you to set and write for hours?. . .
First of all, thank you for the character, Hermione, and the entire world of Harry Potter! You have reignited my love for reading and writing. It is my dream to pass on my love for reading and writing to my children and hopefully one day to others as well. I love how you build your characters into everyday people that we can all relate to and love. When writing a novel, do you build the characters first or do you get to know them as you are writing a scene? Also, how did you feel when writing about the difficulties Krystal had to face? When she was raped or commiting suicide?
What was your thought process throughout the book?
How was writing The Casual Vacancy different from writing Harry Potter?
What was your inspiration for writing The Casual Vacancy?
Tan wrote: "The novel's characters are divided into two distinct communities. I found the collective attitudes and world views of both communities to be VERY realistic, and I find that I most definitely more ..."Great question! I hope this one gets shortlisted, I'd like to know the answer!
can you share with us how to write a story with so many characters like in Casual Vacancy?
Why did you choose to write this as under the same name as the Harry Potter books when by publishing it under a pen name, for example, you could really get a sense of the book's merit?
Why was there no Molly/Arthur Weasley or something similar? Was there some requirement of the novel that precluded a single positive parent-child relationship?
In The Casual Vacancy I was able to relate to so many of the characters. Everyone has such a tragic story. I love how all of their lives entwine to bring the plot together. My question would be how do you decide who is the most tragic? Who lives and who dies? How do you decide who we as the reader we will learn from the most by sacrificing them? The best example is Krystal, who's life and death is just a result of her surrounding and upbringing. But she touched and changed so many but was at the same time, to some, insignificant.
Was it a relief to write about the 'real' world instead of a fantasy world? Did it require more attention to detail?
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