2017 Reading Challenge discussion
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The Casual Vacancy
15/Book with 500+ pages
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The Casual Vanacy by J K Rowling
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Viju
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rated it 3 stars
Mar 05, 2015 01:37AM
A book that lay on my bookshelf for long and I am glad this had just a few pages more than 500 ;-)
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I liked the book well enough, though at times I found myself estalling to finish it. It grew way more interesting by the end, which was a little bit bittersweet. Have yet to start the miniserie!
I started this book and never finished it. I was looking for a protagonist (or just one character that could be the moral center of the book) and I couldn't find one. I am not saying I will only read books with perfect characters or anything. Characters with flaws are a big part of what makes a book interesting. But this book seemed to just be one account of someone who was greedy, selfish, unthinking, etc., after another. It seemed really negative.
Amanda, you could say that, especially with the first part of the book. As to the story over all, it is quite firmly in the camp of the tragedy, although there is redemption in the end. I won't say more as I don't want to spoil anyone's enjoyment (or not, as the case may be). I actually found myself caught up in how these very flawed characters interacted, and how the best of motivations seem to backfire so horribly. In addition, I find the story sticks with me still...Perhaps I will watch the mini-series when it is available here.
Thanks for your comment, Connie. I am happy to know that there is a positive side in the end. I would never tell anyone not to read this book. Likes and dislikes vary from person to person. I know people who read this book and really enjoyed it. It just didn't work for me.
What I liked about this book was the dark undertones to it and the fact that all the characters were very real and believable. I mean, they were all very flawed, and everything that happened to them could happen to anyone.True, the beginning is a little slow, introducing all the characters and their reaction to Barry Fairbrother's death, as well as establishing the life in Pagford and the dynamics of it's inhabitants. But when the book picks up the pace, it's really great and you find yourself interested in the fates of these characters.
