At least one similarity between this and Potter

[S]

Anyone find that Krystal Woodon's wildly dysfunctional house and family somewhat resemble that of Tom Riddle, his pathetic mother, and abusive uncle and grandfather?

[Joana]

S wrote: "Anyone find that Krystal Woodon's wildly dysfunctional house and family somewhat resemble that of Tom Riddle, his pathetic mother, and abusive uncle and grandfather?"

Thought about that too!

[Leslie]

I was disappointed in this book. It seems to me that Rowling does best with the young adult voice. The only characters in this book with heart were the teenagers.

[Juliet]

I enjoyed Rowling's novel, 'The Casual Vacancy'. The characters were dysfunctional, but believable. I've read all of the Harry Potter books. Of course, one should not make a comparison - very different genres. Entering Pagford, the reader learns about the English class distinction and how it functions in the late 20th century.
Juliet C.B. Aharoni

[Kressel]

I didn't make that connection, but you're right. And Barry Fairbrother is sort of Dumbledoresque. But another similarity is foreshadowing, particularly in Shirley's statement about Ruth (Simon's wife, right?) She says something about a wife's blindness to her husband's faults.