The Casual Vacancy
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Did I read the right book? The "worst forms of humanity"? I thought the characters were pretty much like people you meet in all walks of life. If the reviewer felt this way he/she must have been raised in a bubble.
And here's another:"How a human being could have attempted such a book… without committing suicide before he or she had finished a dozen chapters, is a mystery. It is a compound of vulgar depravity and unnatural horrors."
I've found a couple more in this vein.
While the quoted reviews seem to have gone hyperbolically over the top, I agree the the characters were thoroughly unlikeable. There were parts where I literally wanted to throw the book across the room.It also seemed more concerned with the "issues" it raised about class & society instead of focusing on story and character first.
The only rationale I can think of for the thoroughly unflinching unlikeability of the characters is that our reaction to them is part of Rowling's point: that we prefer to ignore people we don't like or make us uncomfortable, rather than dealing with the issue.
It's easy to empathize with and help "good" people, but it's more difficult to deal with real, complex human beings---a mixed bag of goodness, stupidity, bad choices, regrets, bad luck, circumstances outside our control, generosity, kindness, venality, love, absurdity, etc.
Still and all, it did not make for an enjoyable read.
I gave this book 1 star. My review: I got through this book but I did not enjoy it. The depressing subject was not what I expected. I was neither enlightened nor entertained.I do appreciate your insight, Robert, "...Rowling's point: that we prefer to ignore people we don't like or make us uncomfortable, rather than dealing with the issue." I liken this to living in a State which is nanny to its citizens. This kills philanthropy and so when the State doesn't care about such people, neither do their neighbors, who become similar tortured souls living a greedy life of self-satisfaction among the hopeless and helpless.
That said, I do not seek out depressing books like this that may or may not intend to teach the reality of misery in the world. I appreciate this discussion more than the book, itself.
Um… the review with which this thread started off was actually written in 1848 and published in a journal called The Atlas. The book under discussion was Wuthering Heights, which has gone on to become required reading in high school lit classes around the world and has been the subject for a half-dozen or so filmed versions that have left successive generations of teenaged girls weak in the knees for the young man playing the protagonist. Not sure how the review got here, I guess OP wasn't paying attention to what he was doing?-)
The "nanny state" theory is one, btw, that I seriously doubt the author of CV would support. But that's another story.
I couldn't get past the first 100 pages and gave up in disappointment. I think the main problems were that there wasn't one likable character in the story and the plot wasn't going anywhere.
@Gary: You were talking about Wuthering Heights, right?
Kudos to any author who writes so well that readers loath the characters. Agree with Kimberlibri: these are human beings, at their worst to be sure, but human nonetheless. There's a bit of them in all of us and if you're that uncomfortable with these folks, maybe you need to turn your focus inward?
In contrast, The Hidden Secret, by Donna Tartt, has a great story with well developed characters who become unlikable. I enjoy Donna's style of writing and her plot holds my interest throughout the entire book. The Casual Vacancy just does not do it for me in the same way.
Peter wrote: "Um… the review with which this thread started off was actually written in 1848 and published in a journal called The Atlas. The book under discussion was Wuthering Heights, which has gone on to bec..."Thank you, I knew I'd come across that bit of writing previously but coundn't remember where. You have put my mind at rest.
The other one - about how could someone write this without committing suicide - is also a review of Wuthering Heights. (as it happens, that is the one that stood out to me, because that review was referred to by Tallulah Casey in Withering Tights as being in the study notes section of her copy of Wuthering Heights she has to read for school)
Couldn't get past the first 100 pages either. Disappointed in the book.
I don't agree that it was absolutely horrific in the human natures in the book ... These same types of people live right next door or down the block or hell, even in our own houses! However, I did not like the book. It was fine and had a good story line until about halfway through, and then it's like Rowling got bored and completely abolished her original plot. ...
The ending was lame. It was a simple 'how many lives can I destroy before the book ends' and it had absolutely nothing to do with her original plot of the 'Casual Vacancy' ... these peoples lives were all ruined by their OWN faults, not this stupid election ...
I think she ought to stick with mystical creatures and children's books. She's clearly much better at them.
Well, no, it wasn't the election that ruined people's lives. I don't know what you think it was supposed to be. And, for what it's worth, I would never let myself get hung up on any particular reading of a title in a Rowling book (or book by most any author). "Casual Vacancy" refers to the sudden death of the almost-invisible protagonist, but it's also a pointer to the other vacancies (and what's missing) in people's lives. The theme of the book is the interactions between people, and how *that* effects people's lives, for better or for worse (or, for the worst).As for "she should stick to fantasy"… I hear this a lot. It's the most useless piece of criticism imaginable, and it generally says more about the reader than the author. Rowling is an imaginative writer with a fine sense of plot and characterization. She has written in different genres with considerable success. None of her work is beyond criticism, but she deserves a higher level of critique than mere inanities.
Thank you, Peter. I agree she is a talented writer whose full range is still to be explored. Her success with Harry Potter is not an indicator of her limits but rather the beginning of her bibliography.
Peter wrote: ""We know nothing in the whole range of our fictitional literature that presents such shocking pictures of the worst forms of humanity. There is, in the entire dramatis personae, not a single charac..."I actually did not care for the book, though I thought her prose was fantastic. I actually underlined passages for the writing. Didn't finish it, so i chose not to give it a rating or review. I wish more reviewers would do that. Not fair to the writer to rate it if you didn't finish it.
And much to my surprise, currently in the middle of reading "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith, I learned this is also a pen name for J.K. Rowling. Different, yet again, from HP and the Casual Vacancy.
Although it took a while to get going and it might have been better to have a couple of characters less, I loved the book, especially the characterization of the teenagers in the book. It shows clearly where JK Rowling's heart lies and I think she has small town England and the whole upper / lower class system down to a T. She knows what she is talking about. Loved it.
Peter wrote: "Well, no, it wasn't the election that ruined people's lives. I don't know what you think it was supposed to be. And, for what it's worth, I would never let myself get hung up on any particular read..."Totally agree. If she would stick only to children's books, we would all loose out I'm sure. Give her time.
Jack wrote: "In contrast, The Hidden Secret, by Donna Tartt, has a great story with well developed characters who become unlikable. I enjoy Donna's style of writing and her plot holds my interest throughout th..."Well, I'm in the middle of The Goldfinch, and I can't say that the characters are any more appealing that CV. My Word! talk about a young man making one string of bad decisions after another.
Which doesn't mean I'm not taken by Tartt's writing. I am. But holding her up as some kind of admirable contrast to Rowling just doesn't cut the Coleman's.
Peter wrote: "Jack wrote: "In contrast, The Hidden Secret, by Donna Tartt, has a great story with well developed characters who become unlikable. I enjoy Donna's style of writing and her plot holds my interest ..."I have read Donna Tartt's first two books. I have, yet, to read The Goldfinch. I just did not like the characters in Rowling's CV, Rowling's writing is fine. It's also nice to learn that Rowling writes under other pseudonyms for other genres. I have not read any of those books but it would be interesting to discover if I have the same reaction to any of those stories.
Jack wrote: ..."Chacun à son gout.
Peter wrote: "Jack wrote: ..."Chacun à son gout."
Agreed.
Don't know if I'm qualified to answer, because my rating for Wuthering Heights is as low as for The Casual Vacancy.But both books do contain not only unpleasant people - most of them are actually what you may meet any day - the surprising thing is that they contain no pleasant people at all (let's not count the dead man in Casual Vacancy and the narrators in Wuthering Heights). Is that realistic?..
I've often noticed that people praise a book for realism whenever it is clear that it's not idealistic, but they are not exactly opposite, are they? "Everything and everyone is cruel, cynical, untrustworthy, etc." is no closer to the truth than "everything and everyone is sincere, kind, open and friendly."
Linda wrote: "And much to my surprise, currently in the middle of reading "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith, I learned this is also a pen name for J.K. Rowling. Different, yet again, from HP and the Ca..."Thanks for that info, Linda, I am putting "Galbraith" on my To Read list!
I think this review is a little harsh - but not completely off. This book does show the ugliness that is in everyone. There really was no likable character, but they were all very interesting to me and I had compassion for them because I know that these characters were broken people - just like everyone you meet! I found them to be compelling, deep, and I found it to be a very honest portrayal of what people can be like!
Adam wrote: "I think this review is a little harsh - but not completely off. This book does show the ugliness that is in everyone. There really was no likable character, but they were all very interesting to me..."Of what people CAN be like, not what they are like.
Holly wrote: "Adam wrote: "Of what people CAN be like, not what they are like."Good point. Look at all the charity work JKR herself does.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel that the quote above is unjustified, although it seems it was not initially written with reference to this book! J K Rowling's writing was excellent, so good to read well constructed sentences with great descriptive prose. For me, the plot reflects the ugliness of human nature, but also how easy it is to ignore what is going on under your nose if you are over-concerned with the details of your own existence. Even Krystal's new social worker fails her in the end because Krystal is no longer her client. Sadly, this is the attitude of many people in society to what is going on around them and so human tragedies continue to happen on our doorsteps...that's the message I received loud and clear anyway!
Michelle wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel that the quote above is unjustified, although it seems it was not initially written with reference to this book! J K Rowling's writing was excellent, so goo..."Good review, Michelle. I had a different feeling when I read the book but that's perfectly fine. Your review is well-written and you impart what is significant about the book to you.
I still think about the book from time to time. It has impact because of J K Rowling's writing skills. When I listened to The CV, I was probably ready to read something lighter and not as depressing.
Our differing opinions make the world go around and express an honesty that helps anyone reading our reviews to make a choice with a piqued interest.
I thought this book was enjoyable. It wasn't one of my favorite reads, but the characters were likeable. I do like J.K. Rowling from rags to riches story though. Find a subject that people will want to buy and read and you also can be richer than the queen!!
Your review is helpful to anyone wondering if they should spend the time and, perhaps, money on this book. I, too, like J K Rowling's personal story as well as her Harry Potter series. If her name was not listed as the author of The Casual Vacancy, I probably would not have purchased the book.
I also picked the book up because it was written by J K Rowling and I was interested to read an adult book written by her. I was disappointed. It was a good story, I guess, but way too depressing for me. I like my books to be more of a fantasy get-away from real life. I don't want my books to drag me down and make me depressed.
Holly wrote: "Adam wrote: "I think this review is a little harsh - but not completely off. This book does show the ugliness that is in everyone. There really was no likable character, but they were all very inte..."No...I meant what people ARE like NOT what they CAN be like.. Please do not take the liberty to correct or change what I meant to say. Especially when we are talking about opinions - thank you!
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Is this a fair review of Casual Vacancy?