Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

The short review would be to recommend that Ms. Rowling go back to writing children’s books. That would be a cheap shot, just because it is so easily delivered. How to follow up the Harry Potter series? It not only made her fabulously wealthy, but the books have an enduring power to them that is undeniable. I don’t think that writing an adult book was an inherently bad move, but this is really disappointing.

 Do not get me wrong. This is not a bad book, and if she were someone else, I might feel even more generously about it, but she isn’t someone else, and I can’t shake the feeling that she really didn’t end this book in a satisfying way. Other than that it is a solid effort. Rowling has a nice way with words, so it is pleasant to read even if the ending is not all that the rest of the book is cracked up to be.

We are introduced to the British village of Pagford and the seamier side of its inhabitants when the ever likable Barry Fairbrother drops dead unexpectedly, opening up a seat on the parish council—a so called ‘casual vacancy’. After that we get to see all the unhappiness and pettiness of one town unfold, slowly, painfully, and unlikably. The book is not going to increase tourism to quaint English villages. Each person’s past comes bubbling up, with several inconvenient truths emerging left and right. The parish council’s web site is repeatedly hacked and unflattering but accurate stories about various council members and candidates as well are posted. Not very nice.

The only aspect of the story that reflected Rowling’s past novels is her teenaged characters—they are far better fleshed out than most of the adults in the book. She really has a flair for that age group. The book overall is worth reading, and we hope for something better in the future from this very talented story teller.