Book review: The casual vacancy

-
The Casual Vacancy is J. K. Rowling's new book for adults.  I have to admit that I started it with very low expectations, mainly reading it because, hey, I'm a librarian and people are going to ask what I think aren't they?

The start was a bit clunky and I wasn't very impressed by her writing, but by the quarter mark I was hooked and Rowling's story telling skill (which frankly is what has got her through Harry Potter) took over.

The book reminded me of a grittier Maeve Binchy.  Set in a small country town in England, Rowling has basically written a social commentary of a town that includes all classes and the tensions that exist between them.  It's not a pretty picture that she paints and none of the people are particularly likeable characters (perhaps the character that dies early on is the nicest person in the book).  It's also all fairly depressing and there are some confronting aspects to it (teenage s*x, drug use, child neglect).

Rowling does teenagers well and they were some of my favourite characters in the book - she gives good insights into the thinking of adolescents.  I guess this skill may be partly what made Harry Potter popular.

I'll be interested to see what others think as more people read it.  But I did feel sad when I finished, having enjoyed my little visit into the mad world of Pagford.

Comments

Miriam said…
Hi Jenny!
I'm in the middle of reading this book now. I am a Harry Potter fan, so naturally was curious to read it - and it was gifted to me at Christmas which was a bonus!

But, I'm actually finding it quite confronting. I wouldn't have said that I'm the most conservative of people, but I'm wondering now whether I am!! I just find the language and s*x a bit hard to take, especially late at night when I want to read for relaxation, and leave myself with a warm fuzzy feeling before drifting off to sleep. :) I'm not wanting to make anyone feel bad for reading this book, or anything similar, but I was just wondering how you deal with it all. You must have to read all kinds of stuff!

I like the idea of reading what's current, just so that I can keep engaging with others, but I'm finding it increasingly hard to do so. Does content ever bother you like this? Is there ever a point where you decide not to finish a book? At what point do we draw the line and be in the world but not of the world, you know?

Just curious to what you think anyway!
January 31, 2013 at 10:54 PM
Jenny said…
Yes,it's true, I do read all sorts of stuff so I'm probably becoming less sensitive than I should be. I did find this book confronting but I also find it helpful sometimes to be reminded of the reality of sin. A book I found unbearable and almost didn't finish (and I know many who didn't) was the Australian book 'The Slap'. Unrelentingingly horrible people and scenarios. I spoke to a friend who isn't a Christian about the book and said 'but this can't be real, I don't know people like this' and she just quietly chuckled and said 'oh you're so naive Jenny'. I was very thankful at that point for God's work in my life and his provision of godly friends.

I would definitely go with your conscience - don't read things just because they're popular. And if you hate it, stop. I've started loads of books that I haven't finished - for all kinds of reasons. I think it can be a good witness to explain to others why you are choosing not to read a book - often people haven't thought about that much and it can be thought provoking for them.
February 1, 2013 at 7:11 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Going grey at 40

-
Image
I have written about this before , but after broaching the subject on facebook a few weeks ago I've been thinking a lot about the whole colouring your hair deal.  On facebook I asked when having natural coloured hair was going to become trendy like other old fashioned things like quilting and growing your veges?  I am quite tired of how time consuming colouring my hair is and how expensive it is. A very interesting conversation resulted with a huge variety of opinions.  Many of the women said they would be going natural, but of course they aren't gray now (and are my age) so I don't think that really counts.  Until you ACTUALLY start going seriously gray/white you can't see how it impacts on the way you look.  I think it is different to be almost white (like myself) at age 40 and agreeing in principle to going natural when it happens to you in the future (when you will be a lot older than I am now!). Just quietly, I'll believe it when I see it (let me throw d
Read more

Confessions of an earl grey addict

-
Image
I have to confess in this public forum that I'm addicted to earl grey tea. I used to like the expensive stuff (Twinings) but because I drink so much of it, over the years I've had to buy the home brand version because I couldn't afford to sustain my habit. On Monday mornings I'd go to playgroup and have a cup of tea.  But one wasn't enough.  I'd have to go back for another. I'd visit a friend and enjoy the first cuppa.  But start to wonder if it too rude to ask for another, an hour into our visit. I don't have milk or sugar with it.  That just wrecks the purity of the experience.  I would branch out sometimes and enjoy Lady Grey or French Earl Grey for a treat.  But for everyday purposes my friend was the 'Earl'. But two weeks ago I went cold turkey.  I just decided that it was time to break the habit.  I have entered the world of herbal teas with all its strange flavours.  Peppermint (toothpaste dissolved in hot water).  Camomile (wee
Read more

Christmas memory creating

-
Image
This is OK I'm sure I've written about this before but every year I struggle with the pressure to be an uber mum and have some kind of Christmas craft decorating the house.  Instead I end up with a leaning Christmas tree that the kids have decorated themselves (certainly not going to make the cut for a Myer catalogue), with lights that drove the husband to distraction to untangle. There's a trend (especially in Christian circles) to create family traditions.  And I'm a total believer.  Good, healthy childhood memories and traditions have been shown to be very significant in developing high levels of security and resilience. But over time the memories/tradition trend seems to have developed into some kind of Pinterest Christmas competition.  No longer is the knitted nativity scene that Aunty Pip bought for us from the Mother's Union stall in 2003 enough.  It needs to be done by me.  And this is how my family will unite, bond and be functional. The problem i
Read more