Review: The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling

I started reading The Casual Vacancy about 2 years ago on my e-reader. It was during this book that I realized I didn't like to read digitally. I love holding a book, seeing how far along I am, and turning the pages. I never wanted to pick up the book I was reading digitally and I never enjoyed my reading experience. So I put down my e-reader as well as this book. (I do read ebooks on my phone if they are only available in that format). The book didn't help the reading experience at the time. I was really thrown off by the horrible characters and I didn't look forward to going into this world.

I asked for a physical copy of this book for Christmas and I received it from my lovely aunt. When I heard it was going to be a mini-series on HBO, I figured now would be the best time to read it. I had got about 120 pages in the last time so I did a quick refresh and jumped in that point. It definitely took some time to get into the book and I thought I was going to fall into the group of people who really dislike this book. I had heard so many negative things that I expected to hate it and was only reading it because it was J.K. Rowling. However, I am very happy to say that I am so so glad I picked this one back up.

I realized I needed to read the story in large chunks and not dip in and out. Once I actually sat down to read more than five pages, I became immersed in this world. The book follows a group of people who live in a small town near London and their relationships and interactions with each other. The book begins with Barry Fairbrother, a member of the Parish Council, dying unexpectedly, and the town trying to fill his seat. Politics, family dynamics, small town issues all play a part in the story, but the character development is what shines through. These characters are despicable at times and dislikable all the time and there isn't anyone you can trust to be a truly good person. Rowling is a master at making me care about these characters. I hated them and would never ever want to meet them but I really fell for them. I found myself thinking about them when I wasn't reading the book which, to me, is a sign of something remarkable. The writing is stunning and solidifies me reading everything Rowling produces.

This is definitely not a book for everyone and even if you liked Harry Potter, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this novel. If you enjoy unlikable characters, family issues, fantastic writing, and character-driven stories then give this a go and read through 150 pages or so before making any judgements. I am so happy I picked this one back up and ended up really enjoying it.

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