Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Starts with a death and ends with a funeral. (The Casual Vacancy book review)


Fortysomething  Pagford parish councilor, Barry Fairbrother passes away suddenly from an aneurysm.   Almost immediately, Pagford citizen's  begin to consider what the dead man’s empty seat means.  Some see it as opportunity for Pagford to finally rid itself of the Fields (a downscale neighbourhood), and a chance to shut down the local methadone clinic, used by numerous Fields residents.
The Casual Vacancy is riddled with racism, personal vendettas, corruption, whistle blowing and personal grudges that soon pushes the election into the backdrop and brings forth the hatred the villages of Pagford house for one another.  Teenagers are at war with their parents, neighbors are at war with each other, the haves are at war with the have nots.
The first hundred pages were hard for me, there are a lot of seemingly unrelated characters, and it felt like a lot of jumping around.  But by page two hundred, I was hooked! 
The Casual Vacancy is everything Harry Potter is not - drugs, swearing, self-harming, having casual sex, and singing along to Rihanna.  I still think its magical in its own way.

20 comments:

  1. It's getting panned on Amazon, but this is the second good review I've read from a blogger buddy this week.

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    1. I'm a small town girl - probally like it for that reason

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  2. I'm still on the edge about getting it.

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  3. I'm thinking about it...

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  4. I'll have to get a library card and borrow this. Not sure I wanna invest.

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  5. Hey, I never liked the Harry Potter books and had decided I wouldn't like this one, either, but because you say it's completely different, I may give it a shot. Thanks for the review!

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    1. the first 100 pages didn't appeal to me, but soon I was hooked

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  6. hmmm saw this the other day....just not sure wehether to buy it!

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    1. keep in mind its nothing like Potter. if you are expecting Potter you will be disappointed

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  7. As soon as I get the chance I'm going to buy this book to see what all the hype is about although it sounds like JK's maybe trying way too hard to be controversial and as adult as possible with methadone involved and everything but it still could be worth the read, thanks for the review Bay Girl.

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    1. I was very pleased she didn't go the 50 shades route :)

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  8. You are the first who liked it, I am not sure!

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  9. was waiting for a review of this! sounds like a british soap! pg 100? hmmm
    thanks for the info!

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  10. Chocolates and magazines arrived today....OMG those chocolates are fabulous. Thank you so much.

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  11. It is so good to finally read a review of this one. I had no intention of reading it until I read your review.
    Have a great day, Dawn.

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  12. I waited to read this post until after I'd read the book.

    I loved it. And I totally agree. This book has a magic all its own. JK Rowling is incredible.

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  13. Thanks for this. I've been wanting to know and now I do. Guess I better check it out.

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