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

An outstanding read. Hard to stop once started.

Excellent character development and compelling interpersonal relationships move the story forward along multiple lines to converge at an unexpected and emotional finish. I felt such deep empathy for some characters and bordered on hatred of others. Together they create a most excellent and entertaining story. Highly recommended. If you enjoy this I also recommend the writings under her alter ego, Robert Galbraith. The depth and breadth of Jo Rowling's work simply astounds.

Prefer JKR's Petty, small-minded folk to Franzen's

Would you listen to The Casual Vacancy again? Why?

I thoroughly enjoyed my listen, but I don't listen to any audiobooks a second time. I would definitely listen to other audiobooks narrated by Tom Hollander. He was outstanding.

What did you like best about this story?

The way she showed the interconnections between people, the clever dialogue, the realistic portrayal of small town politics and gossip, and the keen insight into the various personality types that lurk behind the facades people erect to fool their family, friends, and neighbors.

Which scene was your favorite?

Andrew's feelings anytime he was around Gaia were finely-drawn. Nobody understands writing about teenagers better than JKR.

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

All politics is local.

Any additional comments?

Fantastic writing. If someone like Eggers or Franzen had written this novel, it would be the toast of literary critics everywhere. The backlash against Rowling for her success and for not writing another Harry Potter--I can't understand if it is jealousy or misogyny. Probably a little of both.

Surprisingly Good

Slow start but a great story. Became teary eyed at the end. I most enjoyed how the characters lives intertwined.

Very Positive Experience

After reading a good few reviews of The Casual Vacancy on Audible I was somewhat hesitant to choose this novel as my first ever audio book. I am extremely happy that I did, however!

For those who prefer very plot-heavy texts (or who are expecting Harry Potter), The Casual Vacancy might disappoint. For those who appreciate beautifully close attention to detail and an in-depth look into characters' psyches, I would recommend this book. I never once found myself bored or felt that the action moved too slowly. Rowling's frequent shifts from one character's point of view to another held my interest and kept the story flowing.

I found myself quite attached to the characters, in a way that I might not have been if I had simply read the book (I think I would have read some of the characters to be more harsh and abrasive)- this speaks to the skills of narrator Tom Hollander. For this reason I would highly recommend getting the audio version of this book rather than the print.

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.