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.
It's getting panned on Amazon, but this is the second good review I've read from a blogger buddy this week.
ReplyDeleteI'm a small town girl - probally like it for that reason
DeleteI'm still on the edge about getting it.
ReplyDeleteLove JK so much I needed it
DeleteI'm thinking about it...
ReplyDeleteI didn't think, just grabbed it :)
DeleteI'll have to get a library card and borrow this. Not sure I wanna invest.
ReplyDeleteyou don't have a library card?
DeleteHey, 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!
ReplyDeletethe first 100 pages didn't appeal to me, but soon I was hooked
Deletehmmm saw this the other day....just not sure wehether to buy it!
ReplyDeletekeep in mind its nothing like Potter. if you are expecting Potter you will be disappointed
DeleteAs 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.
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased she didn't go the 50 shades route :)
DeleteYou are the first who liked it, I am not sure!
ReplyDeletewas waiting for a review of this! sounds like a british soap! pg 100? hmmm
ReplyDeletethanks for the info!
Chocolates and magazines arrived today....OMG those chocolates are fabulous. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to finally read a review of this one. I had no intention of reading it until I read your review.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day, Dawn.
I waited to read this post until after I'd read the book.
ReplyDeleteI loved it. And I totally agree. This book has a magic all its own. JK Rowling is incredible.
Thanks for this. I've been wanting to know and now I do. Guess I better check it out.
ReplyDelete