The “Casual Vacancy†is J.K. Rowling’s new novel. Set in a fictional English town named Pagford. The book doesn’t quite measure up to Rowling’s hit series, “Harry Potter,†nor is it appropriate to her normal audience of youngsters as the themes touched upon are drugs, rape and physical abuse.
The novel starts off with the sudden death of Barry Fairbrother, a member of the council in Pagford, which causes a change in the small town and its inhabitants.
After his death, the main problem is whether the town should keep The Fields, a housing project where many financially troubled people live, as part of the town or whether The Fields should be a part of a local town, Yarvil.
Also, his death provides his rivals a chance to get his vacant seat in the council, which causes some of the other candidates’ children to write damaging messages about their parents.
Overall, this book didn’t meet my expectations for Rowling. Her “Harry Potter†series was much better this novel. It wasn’t as action packed and exciting, for one, and two, it was a little more adult than this high schooler was hoping.
