Has anyone read J.K. Rowling's "A Casual Vacancy"?

[Jacksmania]

I'm about a sixth of the way through it and it's really bloody depressing :(
I enjoy her writing so much and I want to keep going to see what happens, but f* me, so far it's just grim.

Bin it (well, delete, I paid $2.50 for the eBook so it wouldn't hurt too much), or keep going?

Spoilers welcome, I just have so little time to read these days, that I want to know I'm not wasting my time. I have the entire Game of Thrones series to switch to if this one's a lemon.

[BaconAndAvocado]

Absolutely loved it.

Her characterisation was so insightful and some of the storylines were heart wrenching.

A superb read, can't wait to read her latest.

I cried at the ending.

A lot of astute social commentary IMO.

Less HP, more adult stories please JK

[Galaxymum]

I was overwhelmed by the ending of this book. I couldn't get into another book for weeks after reading it because the images and characters had stayed with me. I think JK Rowling is very talented at creating complete characters - we saw the characters change in their different relationships and not just 2d characters. The social worker at work, then as a mum, as a partner who knew she was ina doomed relationship, and then meeting different villagers was one who stood out. I also liked the structure as each characters was affected in different ways by the councillor's death, then building up towards that traumatic climax. I loved it!

[southeastdweller]

I see it's only 99p on Kindle, as well as Gone Girl.

[Polpotsbabyteeth]

I loved A casual vacancy. So well-written, so real. JK has such a grip on the human condition. Have no knowledge of HP, and wouldn't read it, but from this I think she's fab.

[AandAmom]

I loved it ! Try "Gone Girl" for a read with twists and turns :) loved that one too :)

[Thisisaeuphemism]

The end was so shocking and powerful- it's stayed with me for months...

It was a relief to get there though!

I think she is massively massively talented and I'm a big fan (some editing down would have been good though)

[Fragglewump]

I love reading but this was like chewing grass. I gave up and sent it to the charity shop.

[char1981]

Hmmm, know it's a hard going read, but I found the end strangely rewarding (and did cry my eyes out)

[LemonMousse]

I'm another who loved it. Yes, it's sad, yes it's bleak but it's the fact that it's real that made it enjoyable for me.

I've just passed it on to my friend to read - I suspect she will hate it but I didn't give her any pointers, just said I'd enjoyed it and that there were no wizards in it.

[Foosyerdoos]

I have just finished this book and I thought it was brilliant. I could not put it down and read it in a couple of days. It is quite bleak and a number of the characters are vile but they seemed so real. It is the first book I have been able to finish in a long time and I would definitely recommend it.
There is an element of redemption for some the characters but no nice tidy happy endings. I think this book will stay with me for a while.
If you liked this book I would recommend 'The King of the Badgers' by Philip Hensher
If anyone could recommend something similar I would be grateful, I have been finding it difficult to find any books that capture my interest

[KettleCHips]

Latecomer me - but just read the book and really liked it. Couldn't put it down - thought very real to life and a big reminder of where we are in Britain. However, don't read it if you want escapism and cheering up!!

[mayaswell]

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this book. Give it a go if you've considered it but something has stopped you.

[JoyceDivision]

Atfirst I wasn't bothered but persevered and I loved it, really drew me in. Some of the characters are grim and depresssing but they were eerily accurate descriptions, sadly.

There is a sentance at the end of one of last chapters that I found so sad and heart wrenching. Don't wantto give any spoilers so can't really say what it is but it was the final sentance in a chapter and I was heartbroken when I read it.

Please don't compare to HP or think characters should pop in... its utterly different to that

[EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin]

I found it incredibly boring but persevered.

And I'm glad i did.

I found the end really powerful, but it wouldn't have had that effect if not for the huge build up at the start.

[Southeastdweller]

Out in paperback now and bought a copy to read soon. Has anyone else read it?

[TwoFourSixOhOne]

I got half way through it, thought I could see where it was headed, googled it to make sure and then stopped reading.

FAR too depressing for me.

[twirlyagogo]

It is overwritten and dated I think - very Ben Elton-ish in stereotypes I think, but I still sort of enjoyed it. I don't care if I don't like characters in books, so that didn't matter; but, the way it was so padded was a bit tiresome, as was the pontificating. I can forgive her anything though for the joy she's brought to kids through HP .

[zebedeethezebra]

Bin it. I only made the first 150 pages and that was only because it was a present. It found it a load of rubbish. Couldn't see where the story was going. Way too many characters, I couldn't keep up with who was who as they were all so superficial and, most importantly, there was nothing to like about the characters, so I didn't care what happened to them.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

I liked it. I thought it was brave of her to take such a strong stand re her politics

[KeepCoolCalmAndCollected]

I am not familiar with HP and listened to this on audibook.
I thought it was brilliantly written and sad when it ended.
I found the different characters to be so real and her insight into human nature so spot on.
I shall definitely be looking out for anything she brings out in the future based on this book alone!

[OneHolyCow]

Totally agree with Bohoec.. the characters were so totally written out, everything described and it left no space.. for anything real to happen?
Horrible book and also think would not have been published as is if it wass written by another less know writer.
Love HP, hated this.

[fromparistoberlin]

i really liked it. the characters were very well drawn, and after a slow start I found it unputdownable

I agree vis a vis stereotyping (Krystal remindeds me of how Jilly Copper characterised chavs in that yukky school book she did)

But Terri's childhood, Robbie, Andrew, Fats, Shuv...she did not shy away from showing the darker side

there was one phase that jarred, at the end she said that Robbie was foul mouthed and noone cared

but he could not talk! and surely he went to nursery and had adult contact there?

I could also understand why SS left him where he was, sadly