The Casual Vacancy

By: J.K. Rowling

Narrated by: Tom Hollander

Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early 40s, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils.... Pagford is not what it at first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity, and unexpected revelations?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking, and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults.

©2012 J.K. Rowling (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Good story, but so depressing.

An interesting story but so sad and depressing. A bit hard to follow the characters in the beginning because there are so many of them. I enjoyed the book, but it is a very depressing story.

I’l

not what I expected

I've always loved JK Rowling . I even listen to her when she wrote under her synonym of Galbrath. Her books are entertaining , however this story was just the biggest downer. Her characters were very true to life . JK Rowling's understanding of human nature is astonishing. but the whole book just depressed me. So many times I just wanted to say forget it. That's all I can say .

Pleasantly Surprised

I am not a big Harry Potter fan, didn't dislike the books, just not a fan, so I was apprehensive about this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. The narration is excellent. The characters in the book are very engaging. I would have like to empathize a little more with some of the characters. It would have been nice to see some redeeming qualities in all of the characters, instead of just some. However, I did love seeing all of their recognizable flaws---pretty sure there was every deadly sin represented. So often I am disappointed with the endings in books, but I even enjoyed the end of this book.

Jo does it again

JK Rowling proves for the umpteenth time that her fame as a writer is no fluke. The Casual Vacancy is sardonic and unapologetically honest. It weaves together the lives of many deeply flawed and highly varied individuals, creating a vivid world of intrigue to house an otherwise inconsequential local election. I found myself both loving and loathing nearly all of the characters in equal measure. Tom Hollander's narration is dramatic and his voice makes for easy listening. I highly recomendar both the book and the audiobook.

Loved this story, loved the reader

Would you listen to The Casual Vacancy again? Why?

Yes, I really enjoyed meeting all the people in this small town. There are a lot of dynamics here and I felt I was really a part of it.

What other book might you compare The Casual Vacancy to and why?

I can compare it to Peter Behren's The O'Briens in that the characters are all involved with one another and there are complex relationships among them. Also, the way the story unfolds is similar.

What does Tom Hollander bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like the English accent very much. If I were reading it in my own head, with my own voice, I don't think I would "know" the characters as they were written.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would if I could!

Any additional comments?

I hope JK Rowling continues to write for adult audiences.

Girl can write

What made the experience of listening to The Casual Vacancy the most enjoyable?

Although the subject matter is pretty heavy and dark, the writing is extremely well done. Her characterization is awesome, I felt I really knew the characters. Her descriptions and settings are spot on. I can see it perfectly, but I'm not bored by pages of scene setting. She is an amazing writer, and I am not so explaining it is difficult. She does a better job of it with her writing.

Definitely Different

What made the experience of listening to The Casual Vacancy the most enjoyable?

Tom Hollander was Great!. Probably the reason why I made it through the first two hours of the book.

What does Tom Hollander bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Helps bring out the true feelings in the characters

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

This was all and all a good book although a bit depressing, but good to read for reality to real life instead of a happily ever after. If you are listening to this the first couple of hours were a bit difficult for me to get through, but after that I just had to know what was going to happen next.

A modern study of the human condition...

poignantly and beautifully written. Ms. Rowling explores the motivations, pettiness, and stubborness we all experiencia at some point in our lives.

Excellent

What did you love best about The Casual Vacancy?

Great story about the intimate inner workings of a small town.

What did you like best about this story?

Characters are real and believeable.

good reading and solid explication of poverty

thank Joanne for another great story. reads like harry potter but a bit of explicit fan fictionesque aspects. quite a good story and tells an incredibly realistic perspective on abuse and poverty.