This month has been a slow month for me on the reading front. Partly because I decided to read this book, but mainly because I have an addiction. I'm ashamed to admit it, I have fallen victim, like so many before me to becoming addicted to watching TV episodes, one after the other. The culprits being, Revenge and more recently, The Black List. This addiction has slowly started to take over the bulk of my spare time, this is serious guys! But hey...admission is the first step to recovery right?
But seriously, it's taken me all month to finish this book. Like many others I bought it as soon as J. K. Rowling released it. As a avid lover of all things Harry Potter, I was desperate to get my hands on anything written by J. K. I didn't read it straight away though, mostly because I'm easily distracted. Although, deep down I know that it was because I was afraid that I some how J. K would disappoint me by producing something different. I had heard that she had deliberately written an adult fiction rather than another children's fiction, she wanted to show people that she isn't restricted to one type of writing style. But at the beginning of this month I needed something new to read, and I decided I was ready to delve into this new and unfamiliar territory.
I needn't have worried, this book is so incredibly different when compared to the Harry Potter books, that at times I actually forgot that they were written by the same person. Just a warning, its a little hard to get into. Let me just give you little bit of background to the story and then you will understand why.
The story is set in Pagford, a little town located in England's West Country. Pagford, consists of all the stereotypes you would expect to find in such a town. Everyone knows one another, everyone is linked to one another and nothing remains a secret for long. Following the death of one of the towns most influential inhabitants, we are then led along the path of understanding all of these complex links, the story is written in the third person it switches to and from the perspectives of each of the different characters throughout.
The story is set in Pagford, a little town located in England's West Country. Pagford, consists of all the stereotypes you would expect to find in such a town. Everyone knows one another, everyone is linked to one another and nothing remains a secret for long. Following the death of one of the towns most influential inhabitants, we are then led along the path of understanding all of these complex links, the story is written in the third person it switches to and from the perspectives of each of the different characters throughout.
The reason I felt it difficult to get into at the start was just because this section of the book focused on informing the reader rather than exciting the reader. Now, in hindsight I know that this section is extremely significant, without it the second half of the book would have not have been anywhere near as enticing.
If you like juicy gossip and scandal you will also like this book. It's just like a soap opera, a completely new concept for me. I've never read anything like this story before and although sceptical at the start I can say that I would read the sequel if she ever writes one without hesitation.
I can't go into the main plot, or any of the juicy happenings within story because it would defeat the point and you should go on that journey yourself. But I will say that if you have read the Harry Potter books and you are as fond of them and of J. K for creating them in all their magical glory, as I am. You will be shocked at first by the language she uses in The Casual Vacancy. Let me just say, that this is most definitely an adult novel. Suddenly my mental image of her is no longer of a fluttery sheltered lady who lives in the imaginary magical world she created, in her mansion but instead I see a woman has her eyes open, who is aware of all the hardships life can hand you and also has a deep understanding of social behaviour.
Once you get over the fact that J. K is not afraid to swear constantly in her writing. You actually can't help but be taken in by the different characters and situations being played out by the story.
I'll end with a little fun fact: it is said that the little town of Pagford is very similar to the town of Yate in Gloucester which was J. K. Rowling's birth place. Maybe, just as she used her childhood home as her inspiration for the Dursley's house in Harry Potter, she has used Yate as the basis for Pagford!
Since reading this book I have discovered that the BBC did a three part drama based on the story! I will definitely be watching it... if you are the kind of person who would rather watch the film than read the book. Firstly, shame on you! but maybe you would enjoy the TV adaptation.