Let me start off by saying I only read “Casual Vacancy” because the author is J.K. Rowling. That being said, I did not enjoy reading this book at all, with the exception of the final 50 pages. The summary of this book made it seem as though it would be a murder mystery, but the book is not what the summary leads you to believe. I had many expectations for this book and none of them were met. If you’re like me and think it would be good just because of the author, then think again.
The plot revolves around a small, country English town. It jumps from different character’s point of views, and it is basically reactions to the death of the character Barry Potter Fairbrother. That’s it. It’s simple, uninteresting and real. The only redeeming quality about this book is that it is unapologetic about true life. Failed relationships, class and race struggles (sound familiar? Cough cough, mudbloods cough cough), dysfunctional families, marriages taking nose dives, teen sex, drug use, cussing and all around dirty little secrets. This town puts on a front for everyone, but secrets are meant to be unraveled. “Casual Vacancy” is a British “Desperate Housewives.” There are power struggles throughout this book. Struggles in the home, in relationships, in school and the main problem of who is going to get Barry’s empty seat on the town counsel.
I hate that it took a very climatic and traumatic event for any of the characters to start to change or grow. The characters could be strangers off the street because they have no good qualities about them. There is a cougar mom, an abusive father/husband, kids who reject parental authority, crack whores, cheating husbands and aloof wives. It’s actually funny because the characters in this book are probably people I know in my life, but don’t know they’re secrets. The best of this town just so happens to be the man that died.
Even though Rowling doesn’t cover up human nature and lets it all out, I still found this book uninteresting. I had to force myself to read it and started skimming at some points. I guess I’m biased because I like action, drama, maybe a little paranormal activity going on in books, and this book had nothing for me. No excitement was inspired me from page one. Rowling was trying so hard to make people realize that this is NOT a “Harry Potter” book that she over simplified it. I will admit I gasped in shock at the first f-bomb I came across — like I’ve never heard it before. My eyes probably bulged out of my head when I read the first joke referencing a penis. Just not what I expected from Rowling.
If you’re a fan of realistic fiction, you should definitely give this book a shot. If you want to read it because you’re expecting magic, excitement or a mystery, just walk right past this book on the shelves. I give it a star and a half. The half a star because it’s real life with no filter.
