The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Arielle
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Jul 05, 2013 06:17PM
Did you write something for adults before Harry Potter?
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I loved this novel but disliked almost every character in the story. Did you dislike your characters? If so, what is it like to write characters that aren't likable? If you liked the characters, why and what in them did you empathize with?
Stuart Walls ("Fats") is one of the most dynamic and intriguing characters of the novel, The Casual Vacancy, becoming one of the more plot-driving characters in the story. In personality development, Fats resembles the classic Salinger character Holden Caulfield from the novel Catcher in the Rye. Did your inspiration behind Stuart Walls come from an analysis of Salinger's Caulfied? I quite enjoy the literary connection, if indeed a connection exists. After reading Catcher in the Rye after The Casual Vacancy, I delighted in analyzing the two similar characters - one from the early 20th century, and one from the present century. Insight on this character development would be much appreciated! Thank you ~ you're an amazing author, and I look forward to reading your up-and-coming novels. "Mischief Managed."
Do you relate to any of the characters of the book?Do you find some characters of the book similar to the characters of your other books?
Would you consider a sequel?
It's may sound silly, but why did you choose to kill Barry Fairbrother at the very early state?
How do you see Sikhism as a religion, and what about it interests you enough to include it into the casual vacancy?
Mrs. Rowling,You have written the Harry Potter series (which may be the greatest book series ever written...for this myself and the entire world thanks you) for so many years, aiming the books towards a young adult audience. Was it odd or perhaps even liberating to be able to include such unfamiliar mature themes into The Casual Vacancy, which is aimed towards an adult audience?
Am I the lucky winner? If I am, then I would like to learn more about Tue eventual fates of the main characters. In particular, I would like to know what happens to the children when they grow up.
Hi J.K Rowling, How came you by the inspiration for writing this intricate, complex, yet entirely realistic book?
It’s striking that the heroes in your story ( a better term might be ‘anti-villains) are adolescent characters, including those who became ‘the ghost of Barry Fairbrother’. Your adult characters, on the other hand, all seemed to have made ‘a deal with the devil’, some personal compromise which rendered them pitiable and ineffectual . My question is: in light of the Harry Potter world, in which the prevailing heroes also were adolescents, do you envision a world where purity of purpose, innocent ambition, and class/race consciousness are corrupted by societal influences to which the vast majority of adults choose to inevitably and eventually succumb?
How different was your approach to this new book from the harry potter series?
Ms. Rowling;Hello. I am one of your many, many fans in the United States, and am overjoyed for this opportunity to speak to you (maybe) in (kind of) person.
I expect you are tired of hearing this, and praise scarcely means anything to you at this point, but still, I have to say; you are an absolutely brilliant writer. You've done what few writers manage to achieve, or even imagine, and it isn't just getting your books read with immense popularity on a global scale. You have created classics that will be read again and again without tiring the reader. And I expect you will write many more.
You did keep us readers on our toes, however. For a while, I was afraid you would stop writing altogether! Perhaps they were just rumors, but around here news was floating about that you were NEVER WRITING ANOTHER BOOK EVER AGAIN.
And, I suppose, you could have. Harry Potter was such an immense success, that, to be honest, you didn't need to write for anything or anyone; not for money, not to be remembered, not for anything.
I also suppose many, if not all, largely successful writers have gone through these struggles. Perhaps a majority of these authors were defeated in the thought that they no longer needed to write for anyone...
Anyone, of course, but themselves.
Your continuation, I believe, had to be a personal choice. What I would like to know is... what prompted you?
Thank you for the talent you have brought into this world, and the books that have lit the imagination of many, sparked hope in the darkest hearts, and opened a canvas of dreams for the young, the old, the fit, and disabled alike.
What are your thoughts on the way people reacted to The Casual Vacancy in comparison to Harry Potter?
Although The Casual Vacancy is perceived as quite a dark novel, most of the characters are redeemed in some way or they are given almost a second chance. Kay breaks off her relationship with Gavin but there is a chance of her finding someone else in London. Fats really manages to drag his name in the dirt but in the end, he gains support from Colin. Sukhvinder suffers terribly with bullying and the attitudes of her parents but she ends up earning the respect she deserves. How did you decide which characters deserve a second chance considering what they have done throughout the novel? None of the characters are purely "good" so how did you know which ones could potentially turn their lives around when given the chance?
Just wondering what other genres your interested in writing and do you have anything in the works now that your can give us a hint about.
What, directly, inspired you, or what cautivated you the most of this story to write it, Mrs. Rowling?
Were you at all tempted to have Krystal survive this story?
'A Casual Vacancy' - What a brilliant reading experience… I was immersed in the book from beginning to end, and found myself becoming emotionally involved with the characters. I cheered for Parminder, despised Simon and almost wept for Andrew and Krystal… Do you become emotionally attached to the characters and then, when the writing is over, do you grieve for them?
Considering the vast genre difference between the Potter series and Casual Vacancy, which character did you find the most interesting to give a voice to?
What pushed you to write for adults after writing such a successful and much loved series for children?
I have a few questions!1) There's any chance that "The Casual Vacancy" will gain a sequel?
2) Even thought "The Casual Vacancy" is going to be turned into a TV adaptation, could a theatre movie be released?
3) Did the story come ready to your mind like Harry Potter did or did you have to work on it?
Where did the idea come for this novel?
Why did you chose Harry as the main character? And how does the character main character effect the story and the people around him?
It broke my heart when Krystal and Robbie didn't make it out. As an author, how do you make the decision to take the horror to the next level or give the character a second chance?
Who or what you'd want to be if the world like you depicted in Harry Potter actually existed?
Dear Joanne, you once described how character of Harry Potter "walked in fully formed" into your mind on your train journey to King's Cross station & worked on story outline & character development from then on for a few years.From my assessment of your journey from 'A rabbit named rabbit' to 'The Casual vacancy',you come up with such characters as inspirations & write a truly gripping story about them following them up.Is this generally true for all your works? What inspired 'Vacancy' characters? also, I expect a 7-book long series must've been exhausting for you, even though it generated movies & a following that demanded so much! but can we expect a book series for any genre in the future after Harry Potter from you that we get a taste of every now & then?
J.K Rowling is like the Literature God, so I must chime in on this: does any characters of The Casual Vacancy share the same source of inspiration of any Harry Potter characters? For example, I heard that Dumbledore was inspired by an old principal of Rowling's, so perhaps this ol' principal may have been inspiration for a character in The Casual Vacancy.
Can we expect an on screen adaptation of the novel anytime soon?? any thoughts on expanding the Harry Potter franchise?
Did you consciously set out to shock all your adult fans, by writing something so totally different from the Harry Potter series?
What or who inspired you to write The Casual Vacancy?
What was your inspiration for this book?
I would like to know in which way the tragic death of Kristal Weedon could change the life of Suckhvinder...Which future you imagine for her, after the events of The Casual Vacancy ?
In the United States people's attitudes toward public housing often has racial overtones, since African Americans and Hispanics tend to be overrepresented in urban public housing. Do you find that there is any similar racist or anti-immigrant component among those opposed to public housing?
JoDo you have any advice for aspiring fantasy authors?
How you decide to write "The Casual Vacancy", how you get the idea? :)
Since everybody loved your books (including me), most of all the Harry Potter series (HP has remained number one on my favorites list, and always will), I ask you: will you write a sequel to it, and for your other books?
Pranshu wrote: "Did you ever feel like you were giving up on Harry Potter by writing this? I've read some of The Casual Vacancy" and loved it, but did it ever feel different weird not writing about Harry?"And btw, that's not one ques, it's two
Marvellous job! Just as Harry Potter books transported me to places where magic was magical, this book gave me shivers; so steeped it is in reality. Casual Vacancy has its feet planted for firmly on the reality of the world today, that I wonder if something like this may have actually happened. Was a real life event around you your inspiration?
Any plans of taking us back to the haven of magic? I do not mean a sequel of Harry Potter.
How did it feel to write a book that wasn't about Harry, Ron and Hermione?
Ok, I realise this is not about The Casual Vacancy. But I have always wanted to know - the way you imagined the Potter characters before the films were made, is that how you imagined them in your head whilst writing the remaining novels after the films were made. Or did you switch to seeing them as the actors/actress portrayed them?
why can't you make something similar like harry potter? can't you pass their story to few generation after it
During writing this book, were you influenced by what your Harry potter readers would think and say?
is there something imaginative like harrypotter series coming out?
Did you have the Dickens 'A Tale of Two Cities' in mind for any of the background textures of the novel?
As The Casual Vacancy represents many aspects of modern society, do you think it has helped to show how so many different characters can live alongside each other without realising what goes on behind closed doors and has this helped to improve society?
As you were writing The Casual Vacancy, have you ever thought of having some characters from Harry Potter cameo in it? Can you actually say that there isn't any trace of Harry Potter magic in The Casual Vacancy or are you sneaky enough that there is? :)
How much was what you experienced or saw growing up? I loved the book
A lot of people sort of grew up with Harry Potter and are now adults. Do you think this book appeals to that same crowd or is it directed toward a different type of reader?
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