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Slow,
Gloomy,
Boring

26 reviews

The Casual Vacancy
by J. K. Rowling

Published: 2013-07-23
Paperback : 512 pages
81 members reading this now
94 clubs reading this now
38 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 7 of 26 members
A big novel about a small town...

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the 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 ...
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Introduction

A big novel about a small town...

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the 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 first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish 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?

A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

Why do you think J.K. Rowling decided to start the novel with the last hours of Barry Fairbrother? Besides leaving the empty council seat, what effect does his death have on Pagford?
Was there any character in the book that you related to and/or felt bad for? Was there anyone you liked? Anyone you hated? Why?
The song "Umbrella" by Rhianna bookend the novel. Discuss how this song can be considered the theme song of the novel. How does it apply to the situation that the people of Pagford and the Fields live in?
by RockinRenee (see profile) 06/10/13

How drugs can affect everyone around you.
Did you feel like you would like to get out of there?
Did you find any solutions for the Fields residents?
by judejudy (see profile) 03/06/13

The signifigance of Krystal's name is important. She is a prism through which other characters' negative and positive characteristics are revealed. How did this effect the book's ending?
by Teamvargo (see profile) 11/14/12

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Use a character map!
by AmyStamper (see profile) 02/10/14
There are a lot of inter-related characters and it can be hard to keep them straight, especially at the beginning. Some members had better luck with the audiobook version.
Too boring for me
by lnavarette (see profile) 12/15/13
Everyone has to decide for themselves.
Listen to the Song "Umbrella" by Rhianna.
by RockinRenee (see profile) 06/10/13
Listen to the lyrics of the song especially, and try to see the beauty and meaning behind one of the most popular songs of the last decade.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Kate D. (see profile) 05/01/23

 
by Rebecca D. (see profile) 01/12/18

 
  "The Casual Vacancy"by Alex R. (see profile) 09/24/15

Dark, graphic & gritty. What real life can be like in a small town behind closed doors. Things are not always what they seem ....

 
  "The Casual Vacancy"by Amy S. (see profile) 02/10/14

This is a complex book about a very insular group of flawed people. The characters are very-well drawn but not very likable for the most part. I enjoyed this book but a lot of people I know did not.

 
  "The Casual Vacancy"by Maria U. (see profile) 01/06/14

This would be great for character discussions as the author allows the reader to become quite familiar with the many characters in the book. Although the setting and characters are not in an... (read more)

 
  "Too Boring"by Lora N. (see profile) 12/15/13

This book was very boring, there were too many characters, and I found it hard to follow.

 
  "A Realistic Book by a Fantastic Writer"by Nicole A. (see profile) 06/10/13

Overall, this is a really good novel. It was a little slow going at first because she has to take time to introduce the many different characters, but once it started moving I couldn't put it down. This... (read more)

 
  "Expected more."by Gaylynn M. (see profile) 05/28/13

 
  "Couldn't even finish the book"by Stacie S. (see profile) 05/21/13

This is one of the few books that I just stopped reading. I ended up paying the maximum fine at the library & just returning it without even finishing the book. It was so boring! It was also filled with... (read more)

 
  "Go back to Harry Potter, JK! You were good at that."by Rebecca A. (see profile) 04/08/13

Nothing to speak of. If it weren't for her name, I doubt it would ever have been published. Unremarkable.

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