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

Wow.

Would you listen to The Casual Vacancy again? Why?

Yes. Performance was outstanding and I'll love to revisit Pagford.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Krystal, obviously. Her continued ability to push on and try to gain control of her situation was evident right through to the end.

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

Krystal again.

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

No, I listen while driving usually.

Any additional comments?

What a great opportunity for us all to get another chance to live in the mind of JKR. I loved the shocking, funny, traumatic, mundane scene she set. She obviously understands us as a human race far beyond anyone else I've read. Funny that it took a withdrawal from fantasy to let her break the chains of accepted subject matter.

Great insight into today's teenagers

Would you consider the audio edition of The Casual Vacancy to be better than the print version?

The different accents of the characters made it very interesting to listen to it in audio.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All charters were interesting and one doesn't stand out for me.

Have you listened to any of Tom Hollander’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

I Really Tried

In the past, I have just sprinted through my Audible purchases. I get hooked, and I finish the book faster than I anticipated, and go through that existential crisis of losing one world, and looking for another one to immerse myself in. This book didn't do that for me.
Don't get me wrong, it's a good, tragic tale about a small town. We know the people from the story in our everyday lives. There's absolutely nothing extraordinary about them, and that's the point. The story takes forever to pick up, but it does leave you feeling like you could read on, but just like with life and death - it goes on without us. Nothing fantastic or extraordinary, no lasting legacy - it just "is."
This is a good book to read if you're on a long trip somewhere cold and glum. It's something you could probably read while sitting by the pool while everyone else has fun - it's not a bad book.
The narrator is great, but a little monotone, and there's a way that he pronounces the "S" and "T" sounds that jab at my ear drum, so while he was quiet, I couldn't really turn up the volume because of the way the "tuh" hit.
JK is a great writer, but don't go into this thinking it's full of magic and adventure.. it's ordinary small town busybodies and their gossip. It's tragedy without fun life learning anecdotes. It's okay.

Worth the read

If you could sum up The Casual Vacancy in three words, what would they be?

Sprawling social indictment

Any additional comments?

Some of the critics have been overly harsh, in my opinion; while some of the characters are a bit flat, still this is an engaging book that dissects small town life, class

great story

loved listening to this book in my car on my way to and from work!

Dark

You listen to it. And you can't stop. And you can see where Harry Potter was. I don't want to read anymore like this.

A little disappointed

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

It would be hard for me to recomend this book as I felt it was hard to follow until you were into it.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I feel that there were to many different avenues to follow and it really did not lend it self to the title.

What about Tom Hollander’s performance did you like?

The reader was what kept me interested as I knew who was speaking and where they were coming from.

Did The Casual Vacancy inspire you to do anything?

No.

Another great world

What did you love best about The Casual Vacancy?

The characters were all rich and interesting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is Crystal. She is one of the few really good people in the book.

What about Tom Hollander’s performance did you like?

I think that he did a great job creating all the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire ending.

J.K. Rowling is a genius writer

if there were ever any doubt that Rowling might be a "one trick pony" because of her brilliant H.P. series; it must now be forever dispelled!! This book, this story is so profound, has so many differing levels that come alive only because of her talents as a writer. I bought this, not knowing if I'd enjoy it, precisely because I am such a huge H.P. fan. I will forever buy every book she authors, she is that good. Geez Louise, Rowling is in a class all her own!!

Story For Today

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

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

When things did not turn out as planned which was most of the time.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This book had a number of modern day components. The thing I thought was most interesting was the attitudes between the different classes of people. Political process 2012 in a nutshell. Depending on what your experience is dictates how well you are able to deal with differences and challenges. It also dictates how well you sympathize. But when the challenges come closer to home is when compassion begins to surface.