tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post213840184633005446..comments2023-10-26T04:53:55.401-05:00Comments on Literary Musings: The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling: A Late Read-Along PostBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-8199339196208136062012-11-08T12:24:31.601-06:002012-11-08T12:24:31.601-06:00An interesting review, especially as Middlemarch i...An interesting review, especially as Middlemarch is an all time favourite of mine.LindyLouMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12282788551449445133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-40049802880182909932012-10-27T15:40:57.643-05:002012-10-27T15:40:57.643-05:00Also, and I know that this is random - I apologize...Also, and I know that this is random - I apologize, you have the most stunningly beautiful banner!Irishttp://irisonbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-31434166354044777062012-10-27T15:40:12.249-05:002012-10-27T15:40:12.249-05:00I think that if I read it (I haven't felt any ...I think that if I read it (I haven't felt any inclination to), I will hopefully go in with such low expectations that the book might actually surprise me. Although I gather that it's actually the fact that it's not so very original and surprising that makes this book a bit of a let down?Irishttp://irisonbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-64556020498474211812012-10-24T12:51:51.935-05:002012-10-24T12:51:51.935-05:00Like Rayna, I too had a much more positive experie...Like Rayna, I too had a much more positive experience with The Casual Vacancy. I thought the mundanity (is that a word? Spell check thinks no, but I am a-usin' it anyway) was compelling, not a detractor; the small-town details that Rowling has created are what made the story so intriguing to me. I think it is because I was reading them both at the same time, but I found it similar to Emma in that regard; the world of gossip and detail and everyday events ARE the events, in the end (though Rowling's end does go a bit outside the "everyday").<br /><br />Thanks for hosting the readalong, and sorry you didn't love this one!Kerry Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10624436758426097032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-87655260185981445282012-10-22T16:52:39.501-05:002012-10-22T16:52:39.501-05:00Rayna, thanks for your thoughtful response. I'...Rayna, thanks for your thoughtful response. I'm off to look at that interview you linked - thank you for sharing!Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-55777805447479887452012-10-22T16:51:35.541-05:002012-10-22T16:51:35.541-05:00Agreed. Agreed. Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-33743031017999586192012-10-22T16:51:28.767-05:002012-10-22T16:51:28.767-05:00I'll look forward to your thoughts!I'll look forward to your thoughts! Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-87450234199923027302012-10-21T09:49:19.355-05:002012-10-21T09:49:19.355-05:00I definitely had a much more positive reaction to ...I definitely had a much more positive reaction to The Casual Vacancy, but I can completely understand why you felt so-so about it. I really loved the way JKR used mundane events and small-town politics to comment on larger worldviews. The ending didn't feel contrived to me (except maaaybe the various characters seeing and ignoring Robbie), but it did feel a bit rushed. <br /><br />Rowling had a really great interview on The Daily Show the other night (although they ended up talking politics more than the book): http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-15-2012/j-k--rowlingRaynahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536910555459674118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-39541844816231181492012-10-19T06:29:20.149-05:002012-10-19T06:29:20.149-05:00I'm about 100 pgs. in so I just skimmed your r...I'm about 100 pgs. in so I just skimmed your review...Rowling's strength is definitely in character development and the descriptions that she creates. Peppermint Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02839146118641977559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-73373172813802725242012-10-19T05:46:44.785-05:002012-10-19T05:46:44.785-05:00Looking forward to trying this one myself.Looking forward to trying this one myself.(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-34413592898751280082012-10-18T17:10:26.470-05:002012-10-18T17:10:26.470-05:00It was a bit of a let down but like I said, I am g...It was a bit of a let down but like I said, I am glad I read it. It just should have been shorter... Looking forward to what you think when you do get around to it!Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-40038075536055470152012-10-18T17:09:34.149-05:002012-10-18T17:09:34.149-05:00You are definitely right that her strengths are in...You are definitely right that her strengths are in setting and characters. I was not disappointed in terms of either of those. I was actually thinking this morning about whether or no I would have picked up this novel based on the premise alone without knowing who wrote it and I really don't think I would have. <br /><br />I really enjoyed your final post! You've got to give yourself more credit! Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-83762515397514771802012-10-18T15:50:15.917-05:002012-10-18T15:50:15.917-05:00I keep reading similar reviews of this book. I thi...I keep reading similar reviews of this book. I think I'm going to wait awhile before I read it. I can't help but have high expectations and maybe it I wait a bit. I think there's no way not to be disappointed after HP. Melissa (Avid Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-8763925365292548112012-10-18T15:45:46.809-05:002012-10-18T15:45:46.809-05:00Brenna,
I agree with everything you've mention...Brenna,<br />I agree with everything you've mentioned. I didn't think the novel was incredibly creative in terms of storyline. It seemed like something that had been done in so many novels before with far more pages. Her strength lies in building a setting and the characters that inhabit it, but doesn't necessarily make it terribly engaging. I felt I had to really push myself to read for most of the book. It wasn't until I was about 150 pages away from finishing that I finally got a groove and polished it off. I'm interested in seeing what she'll publish in years to come, but this wasn't the most exciting novel I've read in years. I've seen people remark that if it weren't for her name, the premise never would've hooked people, which is probably true. You managed to get it all out so eloquently-- a task I struggled with and clearly did not deliver on! It was fun to participate, regardless! Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572049077903171939noreply@blogger.com