BOOK REVIEW: The Casual Vacancy
Note: My reviews are going to be a little on the short side this month, as NaNoWriMo is taking up more time that I 
suspected. I apologize, but it seemed like a better idea than putting the blog on hiatus.
Title: The Casual Vacancy
Author: JK Rowling
The seemingly idyllic village of Pagford is left in shock when one of it's most beloved members, Barry Fairbrother, dies of an aneurysm. As his friends and family wallow in their grief, others look to his now vacant seat on the parish council and see an opportunity. Thus begins a brutal election between three community members where the defining issue is The Fields, the less than idyllic section of town where poverty reigns.
It's so easy for authors nowadays to play it safe, so I applaud those who step out of their comfort zones and try something new. Unfortunately, despite how much we as readers try to be open minded, it's hard for us to forget the type of work that the author used to put out, especially when that author is JK Rowling. Unlike Harry Potter Series, The Casual Vacancy is is not a fantasy novel, not a children's book, and far from a fast read. I did my best to approach The Casual Vacancy with fresh eyes, but there were a few times when I was shocked by how different it was from the Harry Potter Series. Fortunately, once I got into the story, I was able to view it more fairly.
I found The Casual Vacancy to be a good read on a whole, if somewhat overlong. I really admire how JK Rowling has tackled bis issues such as poverty, drug abuse, and teenage sexuality on such a complex and mature level. Ultimately, this book is all about class and the relationship between the rich and the poor, and I really enjoy how JK Rowling didn't stoop to either demonizing or idealizing any party involved. Instead, she has given us a rather rich cast of characters filled with their own personalities and problems (although it sometimes feels like she chose to focus on the most messed up families in town). Unfortunately, I do believe that this book was somewhat weighed down by just how many characters filled it's pages. I often found myself wishing that Rowling had decided to focus on say, ten or an even dozen, instead of jumping into the head of half the village.
Final Thoughts: A Casual Vacancy may be different than Harry Potter, and it isn't a book I would necessarily get excited about rereading again. Still, I thought that JK Rowling handled her subject matter quite well and felt that this was a successful foray into adult fiction. Three and a Half Stars
Next I will be reviewing A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
suspected. I apologize, but it seemed like a better idea than putting the blog on hiatus.
Title: The Casual Vacancy
Author: JK Rowling
The seemingly idyllic village of Pagford is left in shock when one of it's most beloved members, Barry Fairbrother, dies of an aneurysm. As his friends and family wallow in their grief, others look to his now vacant seat on the parish council and see an opportunity. Thus begins a brutal election between three community members where the defining issue is The Fields, the less than idyllic section of town where poverty reigns.
It's so easy for authors nowadays to play it safe, so I applaud those who step out of their comfort zones and try something new. Unfortunately, despite how much we as readers try to be open minded, it's hard for us to forget the type of work that the author used to put out, especially when that author is JK Rowling. Unlike Harry Potter Series, The Casual Vacancy is is not a fantasy novel, not a children's book, and far from a fast read. I did my best to approach The Casual Vacancy with fresh eyes, but there were a few times when I was shocked by how different it was from the Harry Potter Series. Fortunately, once I got into the story, I was able to view it more fairly.
I found The Casual Vacancy to be a good read on a whole, if somewhat overlong. I really admire how JK Rowling has tackled bis issues such as poverty, drug abuse, and teenage sexuality on such a complex and mature level. Ultimately, this book is all about class and the relationship between the rich and the poor, and I really enjoy how JK Rowling didn't stoop to either demonizing or idealizing any party involved. Instead, she has given us a rather rich cast of characters filled with their own personalities and problems (although it sometimes feels like she chose to focus on the most messed up families in town). Unfortunately, I do believe that this book was somewhat weighed down by just how many characters filled it's pages. I often found myself wishing that Rowling had decided to focus on say, ten or an even dozen, instead of jumping into the head of half the village.
Final Thoughts: A Casual Vacancy may be different than Harry Potter, and it isn't a book I would necessarily get excited about rereading again. Still, I thought that JK Rowling handled her subject matter quite well and felt that this was a successful foray into adult fiction. Three and a Half Stars
Next I will be reviewing A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin