The Casual Vacancy The Casual Vacancy discussion


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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy

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message 1151: by Miky (new) - rated it 5 stars

Miky One of the best books I read this year !! I would like to ask if the author liked any of the characters ? No one is a really even a little nice to each other .


message 1152: by Cagakan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cagakan Visne It is a known fact that there are some autobiographical touches in "Harry Potter", and some characters in the series were created with your very own imagination plus people from your life (Like, in a documentary you mentioned having created some of the characters upon people of the town you grew up in). Are there any autobiographical facets in "The Casual Vacancy" as well? And what are the phases you follow when you create a character in a book?


message 1153: by Helena (new) - rated it 4 stars

Helena What does "authenticity" means for you personally?


message 1154: by Jacqueline (new) - added it

Jacqueline What makes The Casual Vacancy the Casual Vacancy? What makes it special? Why?


message 1155: by ilovedivergent (new)

ilovedivergent While writing The Casual Vacancy did you worry about what the Harry Potter fans would think about your book? Also, when I was reading I noticed some of the names like Barry and Pagford sound a lot like Harry and Padfoot. Was Casual Vacancy your way of saying goodbye to Harry?

Also I would like to say I grew up living and breathing Harry Potter and I would like to thank you for creating such a magical story. :)


message 1156: by Priya (new)

Priya Priyadarshini How did you come up with the idea of the story of 'The Casual Vacancy' - a book very different from Harry Potter??


message 1157: by Christa (new) - rated it 3 stars

Christa Why was it so important for you to write this book?


message 1158: by Jake (new)

Jake Williams Why did you decide to embrace popular culture within The Casual Vacancy (i.e with the use of Facebook references and with references to Umbrella by Rihanna) whereas in Harry Potter there was no references to any popular culture?? and also why did you decide upon the song Umbrella by Rihanna??


message 1159: by Ber (new) - rated it 2 stars

Ber Nolan what was your inspireation for this book -
i loved reading harry potter and wished it would never end. i was disappointed in the ending of the last movie they could have done more. It almost felt like the producers were tired of it and wanted to wrap it u as quick as possible.
i liked the way the book finished though


message 1160: by Freya (new)

Freya Elliott Do you feel that quite a lot of the younger fans were disappointed about not being able to read one of your books because it was too difficult or not suitable?


message 1161: by Mehak (new)

Mehak Considering the amount of acclaim Harry Potter received why is that you chose to write a different genre ? Are you happy With the risk you toke by not writing about wizards and muggles?


message 1162: by Valen (new)

Valen Diversity, especially in this day and age is a very hot topic point of discussion. Many people, particularly younger people, feel the need to have a representation of themselves in any form of entertainment ala film, literature, video games, etc (I know I do). Diversity in the form of race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social status or even just personality, are often white washed or ‘blind cast’ in popular culture, only to be produced by the most generic means/caricatures. So, my question is, how important is it for you to have diversity in your works, especially something like The Casual Vacancy which is targeted to a more adult and established audience? Is it something you actively considered or is it something that is only relevant as the story develops into a more solidified entity?

Thank you,


-V


message 1163: by Lewellyn (new)

Lewellyn The Casual Vacancy is an almost 180 degree turn from your last best selling series, Harry Potter, which deals with very 'adult' themes such as politics and major societal issues. So, was The Casual Vacancy a planned work or did it just come to be from an inspirational spurt?


message 1164: by bup (new) - rated it 4 stars

bup Was "Fats," in your secret cache of backstory and notes, a sociopath? Is he capable of remorse?


message 1165: by Nuhi_book_worm (new)

Nuhi_book_worm My only question about this book is that: When did this idea pop in your mind?


message 1166: by Libby (new) - rated it 5 stars

Libby You create a great deal of sympathy for most of the characters in the book, letting us see events from each character's point of view at least once. Are there any characters that you felt were so evil or distasteful that you felt them to be beyond sympathy, or did you feel for all of them when you were creating them?


message 1167: by Gladys (new) - rated it 3 stars

Gladys Franatha I will ask you a basically question, but this is the important one. "Why do you write the casual vacancy?"


message 1168: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Bhatoo If you had the opportunity to become a character in your book, who would you be, and why? Do you have a favorite one?


message 1169: by k.wing (new) - rated it 5 stars

k.wing What do you want your readers to learn from The Casual Vacany? To me it felt like a warning to the adults of the world to pay attention to our children. But what's the one thing you want your readers to learn from it?


message 1170: by Sara (new) - rated it 1 star

Sara Silva What was your motivation to write an adult book, when you had so much success in the field of writing books for younger people?


Clémentine I would ask her : whom have inspired her for all these characters ?
Sorry, my english is awful.


message 1172: by Jamese (new) - added it

Jamese Lambert What Inspired you to write this book? What did you feel helped you through your journey of writing and got you to your goal?


message 1173: by Amelia (new) - rated it 5 stars

Amelia WHOA WHOA WHOA

JK Rowling might read my question..... how does one breathe properly?

Ok, this is tough, but...

All of the characters are pretty intense- they all have strong traits that make them stand out. Which characters (if any) were most difficult to write and why?


Katherine It seems to me that all of your work (Casual Vacancy and the Harry Potter series) deals with serious issues: social justice, racism, classism, and kids in hard, dangerous situations. Is this intentional, or is this just because of who you are and what you bring to your work as an author?

Similarly, I remember your saying in an earlier interview that you valued courage. I feel that Krystal and Sukhvinder are both very brave. Did you intentionally set out to make them brave, or is this part of your personal values shining through the work?


message 1175: by Niloofar (new) - added it

Niloofar Dareshouri What is the topic of this novel and I want to know that is a romantic story or an exciting story like Harry potter?


message 1176: by Anjana (new)

Anjana what was your inspiration for writing the book'THE CASUAL VACANCY'?is this one also an awesome story like happy potter series????????


message 1177: by Mimi (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mimi Your empathy for children is so clear in this book and so many are ruined by their parents. Is Sukhvinder the only one whose life might improve after it all?


message 1178: by Swati (new) - added it

Swati Anwesha HI. I guess I am the youngest in here as I am 14 . I Just wanted to ask about the names in the book (like-Fairweather and Krystal).Did you just write any name that u thought of? I have read a book about u and ur life before HP.In that I read u used to write any name that came into ur mind behind a book or some paper. I am asking this because I want to become an author like u.U are my favourite and HP is my favourite series of books.


message 1179: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Blanco I am a die-hard fan of Harry Potter... and I'm having doubts whether as to read The Casual Vacancy or not. I know they are completely different... My question would be: Where did you get the idea to write such a different book / story.
I hold J.K. Rowling in great esteem and that is why I don't know if I'll be reading her newest book soon. I feel that if I don't like it, she'll lose a bit of her "heroe" status. Hahaha


message 1180: by Camille (new)

Camille Patrick wrote: "If you could ask J.K. Rowling one question about The Casual Vacancy, what would it be? In celebration of the paperback release, J.K. Rowling will answer one winning question about the book from Goo..."

How were you inspired to write a book series, like harry Potter. When I write, towards the middle I run out of ideas. How do you come up with the title of the books you write? Do they come easily?


message 1181: by Guido (new)

Guido Blanco Don't you miss writing books for children? Are you going to write a book series like the Harry Potter's one? Do you think you are going to disappoint the audience with this new book?


message 1182: by Kelly (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kelly I loved your departure into something new and different. From PG-13 to R if you will. What's next? I can't wait for your next project!


message 1183: by Cat (new)

Cat Lover I loved the Harry Potter series and so did my family. Would u ever consider making another book about wizards?


message 1184: by Michele (last edited Jul 06, 2013 09:32AM) (new)

Michele After being absorbed by the characters in Harry Potter and the unprecedented success of the entire series, how difficult was it to write The Casual Vacancy? Did you fall in love with these characters, and do you feel the same about this book as you felt with Harry Potter?


message 1185: by Stefanie (new)

Stefanie Câmara Manoel Did you write any of your personal experiences in this book?


message 1186: by V (new) - rated it 4 stars

V Were there any moments while writing the book, when you missed the world of Harry Potter? Is there anything which appears in both Harry Potter and The Casual Vacancy?


message 1187: by Mickeymouse (new) - added it

Mickeymouse You come up with great plots that readers like me are drawn to the book itself, so I wanted to ask how you're able to create such a vivid imagination❓


message 1188: by Brenda (new)

Brenda How has your writing process changed over the years?


message 1189: by Claire (new) - rated it 5 stars

Claire Baskett Your characters are so real and vivid that I feel like I could sit down over coffee with Krystal and have a decent conversation.

What would you say is your creative process when it comes to creating these four-dimensional characters?


message 1190: by [deleted user] (new)

Through The Casual Vacancy, you have brought to paper a world that is so dystopic, it's almost Orwellian. A universe where petty, bureaucratic politics seeps into the very cappillaries of everyday, common lives. Your use of strikingly stark imagery; Krystal & Fats having sex near a grave, Krystal's younger brother witnessing their copulation, young Patricia watching Maureen give a blowjob to Howard Mollison or even Sukhwinder's masochism; compel the reader to get up and pay attention. You successfully master the art of dissolving the fourth wall (much like Brecht) and force the reader to actively participate in the grand narrative of the book. The question: How important is the employment of these techniques (deliberate or otherwise) in furthering the cause of making the reader recognise the deep malaise that afflicts society today in a manner very different from normal and in doing so does it, in your opinion, enhance your (im)personal commentary of the same?


message 1191: by Annie (new)

Annie Why did you write this book?


message 1192: by Maria (new)

Maria Stanica Was it a relief or a nice change to delve into writing in a new genre of books?


message 1193: by Physics_king101 (new)

Physics_king101 What inspired you to write this book?


message 1194: by Physics_king101 (new)

Physics_king101 What inspired you to write this book?


message 1195: by Mickeymouse (new) - added it

Mickeymouse What is the main idea you had in mind when writing this book❓


message 1196: by alyssa (new)

alyssa J.K. Rowling created a novel no one expected after Harry, and it was just as wonderful. Like Harry Potter, death was significant in The Casual Vacancy. Is death's meaning different in The Casual Vacancy, or are you portraying the same general theme regarding death that was going through Harry Potter?


message 1197: by Misty (new) - rated it 5 stars

Misty You are quit good at writing about characters that people care about, even if they are defective, how did you find inspiration for the characters in "The Casual Vacancy"?


message 1198: by Alison (new) - rated it 4 stars

Alison You have such rich characters in The Casual Vacancy but they all come from different social strata and social backgrounds. Krystal, for example, has very recognizable characteristics of someone with Attachment Disorder and it is a common occurrence with children in her situation so it makes sense. When I read the book, all of the characters felt genuine, as if I could meet them on the street of a tiny town in England. Where and how did you do your research for this book?


message 1199: by S (new) - rated it 5 stars

S You seem to have a passion for portraying teenagers and their lives. Why do you think this theme is so important to you and is it the best way (or tool even) of reflecting the ideas, the messages you want to convey through your works?


message 1200: by [deleted user] (new)

Dear Jo, as a rower, I have to ask you. Why did you choose rowing of all sports as the one for Krystal? Do you like it or was it just a random idea?


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