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

Two Thumbs Up!!!

At first was a little hard to get into, but by the end I didn't want it to be over!! Amazing how many characters were interwoven into this impactful storyline - definitely going to be a re-listen for years to come.

Gritty British Class Drama.

I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I am keen on local politics and thought that would be the hook for me, but I was totally caught up with the characters. Never before have I found myself listening to a book at 3:30 in the morning, unable to “put it down”.

This is not a Harry Potter grows up book. It is more like a modern Thomas Hardy book. Set in a bucolic English scene, with a harsh underbelly (a picturesque village with an adjoining, socially deprived, housing estate). And in keeping with some of the characters be warned there is lots of strong language (f*** is used frequently as a noun, adjective, verb, etc.)

This book can be bleak, depressing and gritty. There are times I was desperate for a lift to the unrelenting misery. There are some comedic touches, but of a very dark humour. The descriptive passages (and there are lots of them) vary from deft, to heavy, to thought provoking.

The narration was extremely good. I think I would have struggled reading this, especially with some of the colloquial argot, which with Tom Hollander had no problem smoothly narrating.

Extremely clever story and solid performance.

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

I totally enjoy a story where all characters are intertwined. All have problems and secrets and it is so interesting to see how they react to events. Rowling develops her characters with skill and commitment to details.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Casual Vacancy?

Rowling's skillful telling of Crystal's and Robbie's story.

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

He's a master of timing and takes on the personality of each character.

If you could take any character from The Casual Vacancy out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I think there's even more to Samantha.

This is not Harry Potter but I loved it!

If you are looking for Hogwarts you won't find it here! But if you want a change of pace this novel is salacious and gossipy with no hero in sight. However, I found that even without someone to root for I couldn't put it down.

Expect the unexpected

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

Excellent plot. Great narration. Many subplots.

Any additional comments?

JKR completely distances herself from the HP franchise. This book explores nearly every social issue in todays world to include adultery, drug abuse, teenage sex, death, poverty, and the list goes on. I think it's a good book but I am hope that it will not be a series.

JK is All There!

I read this a few weeks ago and so I may be rusty on plot. It's dark--but the Harry Potters got dark, too. But it is timely.

Nice book, nice performance

Would you listen to The Casual Vacancy again? Why?

Yes, I would. The narrator has done an excellent job in bringing to life the little town of Pagford and all its little and big problems.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite characters are Sukvinder Jawanda and Andrew Price. I think the narrator has succeeded in expressing Sukvinder's solitude and Andrew's interior rage. Also the way he has portrayed Andrew's mother, Ruth, is on par with the overall ability of the narrator to bring the characters to life.

Which character – as performed by Tom Hollander – was your favorite?

Probably Parminder Jawanda, and her secret love for Barry Fairbrother. Another character I liked in Hollander's performance is Nana Cath, with all her swearing and her low class English accent!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Barchester Chronicles meet Peyton Place!

Any additional comments?

The story of "A Casual Vacancy" is a nice one, penned to remember people where real courage and strength lie. I'd recommend this book, and the audiobook, to anyone who's in a blue moment to remind them that there are values that are beyond our petty lives and the pettiness of others. While I was reading some parts of the novel, my eyes were moist and the same thing happened while I was listening to the audiobook; that's a clear sign for me that Mr. Hollander has done its job correctly. So, I highly recommend the listening of this audiobook!

Rowling can write!

Rowling proves she can write beyond Harry Potter in this very grownup story! Loved her detailed descriptions of interesting characters, and especially loved the storyline of Terry and her troubled kids Crystal and Donnie. She understands the many layers of poverty and the social ills that go along with it. Very much enjoyed this book!

Well done.

Admittedly. part of my reason for choosing this novel is curiosity. I wondered how Ms. Rowling would do after leaving Harry. I thought this novel got off to a slow start, but it built into a moving and involved plot, with good character development, particularly of the teenagers, as to conclude with great pathos and literary satisfaction.

Worth the read

I was skeptical at first but JK Rowling proved me wrong. Great story, believable characters, completely different than Harry Potter.