Enjoyable
ctjb44
18-07-2024
Enjoyable, nice character building.
LOVE J.K
jerrii ernirih
25-02-2022
I love this book🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰😍😍🥰🥰😍🥰😍😍🥰😍😍🥰😍😌😘😘😘😘🥰🥰😍😘🥰😍😘😘
Soooo boring
gfthyhyyr
10-08-2020
TRASH TRASH TRASH This is boring I hate this book 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈
Luna
Casual Vacancy
Krystal's friend
26-05-2017
Very dark and gritty but an honest look at the pettiness and hypocrisy of a small town. All about true values and integrity.
JKR's strength lies in her acute observations of the troubled teenage years and societal handling of these issues.
Uncomfortable reading but ultimately perceptive.
JkRs dialogues can be a little unpolished at times but a thoughtprovoking read.
Loved it!
StephW202
31-03-2016
Page turner! Felt like I too was living a village lifestyle. Vivid character descriptions creating great imagery!
Thank you Jo.
Cevb
11-03-2016
Jo your writing gives me joy and an outlet in so many ways. Thank you.
The Casual Vacancy
Deeasy
20-10-2015
After reading this book for a second time its depth, understanding and kindness have moved me deeply. To know Pagford is to know humans.
Gab81143
gab81143
11-02-2014
A difficult read and not very enjoyable. I really had to work hard to finish this book.
Casual Vacancy
JoPugs
31-07-2013
I never read any of the Harry Potter books as I don't like reading about fantasy and witches and wizards but once I started I could not put Casual Vacancy down brilliant in my opinion characters like in a Maeve Binchy book all with a secret but human nature wins out and u sort of feel that the good guys win almost. I loved it and wait for J K Rowlings next adult fiction book fantastic
The Casual Vacancy
janroo2
18-06-2013
Thoroughly enjoyable reading. Amazing portrayal of peoples
fears and prejudices in a small community drawn and divided and need of power play and intimidation as is life !
Worst
Stace62
06-04-2013
Worst book ever. Didn't even finish it and I ALWAYS finish books. Sooooo boring!!! Don't understand the concept. Too many different characters I lost track of who was who. Disappointed.
The Casual Vacancy
Toni gitsham
23-03-2013
Worst book I ever read, TOTALLY BORING!! Certainly won't recommend this one at all, VERY DISAPPOINTING!
The Casual Vacancy
BevoBobby13
22-03-2013
JK captures the British middle class psyche perfectly. Her characterisations are spot on and her scrutiny of British village is well observed and witty.
Beautiful storytelling!
ChezMCG
10-03-2013
I loved this book, a beautiful example of expert storytelling!
The Casual Vacancy
Zannah 1951
31-01-2013
Loved the range of raw emotions. So different from her other books a slow start, but worth persevering with
The Casual Vacancy
Old man in the bush
13-01-2013
Tragic but exhilarating. Understanding precedes hope.
The casual vacancy
Maddyjv
12-01-2013
A great read. Full of interesting characters from small village life in England. Relationships, sexual antics, teenage angst, swearing, small town gossip, drug addiction, child abuse, racism, school life, local politics, families and the vast differences between them.
Easy read, hard to put down. Enjoyed it on my iPad.
Every Solver Lining has a Dark Cloud
Hotdogink
11-01-2013
This is a book of dark secrets set in a pastoral village setting. How can there be so many despicable characters amassed in the same place.
I read this because of the authors reputation of describing the delightful fantasies of Harry Potter but was so disappointed by the way some of the dark realities of troubled souls bound together in a township was revealed.
As there were so many evil or blemished characters it was difficult to keep track of who was who. There were no heroes only villains to a lesser or greater degree. It reminded me of the characters outlined in "The Slap" by Christos Sialkes. Only Rawlings' characters appeared more wooden in their approach to life. There was no central character on which the story was hung thus I become bored and did not care much about what happened next. The story line became insignificant.
Well written yes, but a disappointing read. Rowlings should stick to what she knows best. Fantasy
Mat
Worth sticking to the end
Rayjaze
05-01-2013
I found this book initially hard work; however, it built to a beautiful and intriguing climax. Worth persevering! A great look into the complexities of small town life, hypocrisy and the superficialities and deceptiveness of relationships.
Next time, I'd keep a list of characters beside me so I kept better track of who was who!
Powerful story
inthefullnessoftime
28-12-2012
This story came loaded with the history of the Harry Potter series. I was, at first, disappointed when it clearly proved itself to be completely different: no magic, no wizards, certainly not a children's story. It also took me a while to become immersed in the story however now that I've finished reading it I realize that JK Rowling has told a powerful story, full of pain, hidden secrets, lies, and revenge. It's not often that I'm convinced to read a story that ends with competing emotions; I like happy endings. I must admit I am left wondering about the author's life and what sort of history she has had. Her understanding of social welfare issues and the systems abuse perpetrated against socially disadvantaged people by well meaning social workers indicates first hand knowledge. This is a powerful story that reveals the less liked aspects of each of us. A worthwhile read.
The Casual Vacancy
Burntbear
23-12-2012
I had been reluctant to read this after reading the reviews, but who could turn down another JKR? Fabulous page turner, ended way too soon. Thanks JKR, please give us more...
I don't recommend it
Rob&Kerry
22-12-2012
A very difficult book to get into as it's incredibly slow and skips around a lot, and even more difficult to remain interested in. I'm about halfway through the book and I'm really unsure if I could be bothered to finish it. I purchased the book knowing it would in no way be similar to the Harry Potter series, and how right I was in more ways than I expected, this book is truly the most boring I've ever attempted to read! Fingers crossed that JKR finds another more interesting tale to tell in the future :)
Compelling and puzzling
LifeAndLarder
21-12-2012
A fro foundry sad tale, the well crafted characters show little to redeem themselves, from the junkie mother to the obese councillor.
I wondered why Rowling chose to write such a sad tale, but at the end I felt comforted by he shocking truths and honesty portrayed by her characters.
A sad tale of betrayal, neglect and selfishness
Casual Vacency
Franciscus Henri
18-12-2012
With this book JKR has done penance for all that public school magic wand morality, where the goodies are good , the baddies are bad and justice and truth are triumphant .
I always knew Harry P had an underbelly and here it is.
As keen as a razor she cuts, not unkindly, through the complex layers of each character. Hope and aspirations, love, negotiations,
each character is swept along a harrowing stream not entirely of their own making. The reader becomes entangled in all their complicated struggles and when we become one of them and when we think all should be well, we avert our eyes.
Casual vacancy
Penelope sach
16-12-2012
Loved this book . Great story and wonderfully written
The Casual Vacancy
coey1944
15-12-2012
A very raw story but enjoyable.
Casual Vacancy
Vicki Law
18-11-2012
Hard going at first. Worth ploughing through. Thoroughly enjoyed at the end.
A casual vacancy
Megl
17-11-2012
A gripping read, beautifully written- real quality.
Loved it!
Sioux g
14-11-2012
Loved this new book, kept me hooked page after page. Especially like the layers of characters and the interactions. Looking forward to the next one. Thanks JK
A new Dickens?
OooooC
06-11-2012
It takes a while to lay out the characters with an almost Dickens-like care, but then she suddenly turns the plot and it is on for young and old. So different to Potter, but a modern day British book in the style so successfully developed by Dickens to entertain us and which made us think about poverty and suffering. So enjoyed how she chooses the names of the characters as did Dickens.
Rederrick
Rederrick
06-11-2012
I loved it. For JK to go from a series built on total fantasy to a book that tells a simple story with very real characters and events was a great surprise. It was a brilliant and brave move to change her storyline so much.
Awful
Felikswwwwwwtyyykkl
05-11-2012
The first 800 pages of this book were terrible, boring and hard to follow. None of the characters are likable nor identifiable.
I cannot believe JK Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter masterpieces produced something like this. I have never been more disappointed in an author when I was so excited she had written a new book. Do not waste your money.
Overpriced. Where's the ACCC?
Drace2013
04-11-2012
Way too expensive!
Great writing, of course. A tad slow.
Dankynoodle
02-11-2012
..
Not Harry potter
Jobruce212
31-10-2012
I didn't enjoy it as much as Harry Potter I thought was a bit boring. it was okay.
Permanent vacancy in JK's fan club
Kazblah
28-10-2012
Like many people, I bought this book out of curiosity. It was pretty awful. Dreary plot, no subtlety or nuance to the characters and altogether poorly written. Sorry JK, it was fun while it lasted but I won't be coming back.
The casual vacancy.... Ahhhhh
Nanna 1
27-10-2012
I'm up to page 45 and wish I was finished. It drags on and on. Perhaps stopping when you are on top is a good idea.
Unforgettable
BikkyLover
26-10-2012
I did not want to put this book down. It had me hooked by page 2 and in tears by page 50.
J.K. has proven herself as an excellent author of adult fiction. I thought she would be fabulous but was not expecting such a gritty, raw and challenging read.
The Casual Vacancy
Ludmax
25-10-2012
I enjoyed reading this novel, but you do have to forget that JKRowling was the author. It is so different from the Harry Potter series that it is hard to reconcile the two as being by the same author. The majority of the characters are flawed and unlikeable, and the thought of impending doom is ever present. Nevertheless, as a reader, I was driven to see it though to the end, if only to see how the many issues were resolved.
It gets better keep reading
Jedihouse
21-10-2012
There are a lot of characters which are quite hard to keep up with and it is at times difficult to keep track of who is who. The beginning of the book is very slow and it took me a long time to get into it however the last 100 pages were good and I was finally hooked.
Nothing like harry so don't bother if that is what you are expecting but it is still a good book just keep going it will get there in the end.
Criminally overpriced
Slydog39
21-10-2012
The ACCC really needs to step on Apple for its disgusting pricing for the iTunes Store. J. K. Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy", can be bought for $20 for a physical copy from Big W. To charge more than that for a purely digital copy is inexcusable and something which needs to be stopped.
I now need to go and read something with a happy ending
Fararrii
20-10-2012
Gee, not sure - it made me cry, but really, not enough resolution at the end to make a great read. Just a bit depressing really.
Confronting good read
GadBout
19-10-2012
I couldn't put it down. JKR really knows people and, boy, can she write about them. These characters are so real I feel I will know them in the street. It's a gritty book, a tough story with glimpses of hope for human nature, but only just. It's a damn good story well told, so read it.......
So so boring
Suzie8111
18-10-2012
I was so excited to download her new book but honestly I am almost at 300 pages and it is so boring. I caught myself counting down the pages to see how far I read to check if I've given enough time to open up, but doesn't seem to be happening. The story is too slow. It is well written, but the story is too depressing. not for me.
Excellent read
Parkwood mom
12-10-2012
JK Rowling is a wonderful story teller. The characters at first seem one-dimensional, but just like peeling an onion, Rowling peels away the layers of each memorable character. I really enjoyed this book.
A casual vacancy
applebottom jean
11-10-2012
Wow! I loved this book. Great observation, word crafty and raw.I'm excited to read her next novel.
The casual vacancy
MarkM55555
11-10-2012
The worse book I've ever read. Incredibly boring and a chore to read.
Excellent
Chotoynrfjdeedf
11-10-2012
Sad, but lovely
IMHO
Doodleyyyyyy
09-10-2012
Poisonous, vindictive and depressing. Very well written.
The Casual Vacancy
Lauroonil
08-10-2012
I just finished the book. A very realistic and sad account of the difference between the middle class and the underclass in society.
