Aegis 2013 The town is unevenly split into two different parts that each want different outcomes for the the Fields, the outlying part of town that houses the poor working class (the majority of which happen to be drug and alcohol abusers). One side would like to see the Fields cleared out and restored while the other part would like to see the inhabitants of the Fields get adequate help and support. The adults who campaign for each side are at war with one another and are so wrapped up in the issue that they seem to cause wars with their children. These teenagers who are so hurt, literally and figuratively, by their parents decide to take matters into their own hands and cause destruction for their parents and ultimately for themselves. The novel moves at a pace that sometimes seems sluggish, with all the social commentary on the politics of the town making it a bit dry, but quickly picks up and leaves one winded and exhausted. The Casual Vacancy is littered with humor, although be it dark and incongruous. On several occasions I found myself so aghast at what I was reading and at the actions of the characters, my jaw dropped and momentarily lost its function. The novel does create an unsettling feeling and leaves the reader pondering. Rowling is not one to just skim the surface of heavy topics and The Casual Vacancy does not shy away from hushed topics such as: suicide, drug abuse, self injury, domestic violence, sexual exploits, or vulgarity. The ending of the novel is harsh and abrupt, concluding with death, just as the beginning had done. After some thinking, it seems only fitting that Rowling would choose such an ending and it is one that is necessary for the characters within the story. J.K. Rowling always seems to instill her novels with meaning and her understanding of the human condition flows throughout the novel. I do exercise a cautionary warning to those who quickly pick up the novel, expecting to find the same J.K. Rowling of the Harry Potter novels. The Casual Vacancy is definitely a departure from Rowling’s previous work but, and should not be, cast aside without attempting to be read with an open mind. Although quite a divergence from the Rowling I grew up and fell in love with, her latest novel, The Casual Vacancy, is an achievement. I recommend the novel to anyone wishing to expose themselves to literary eloquence, intelligence, and the captivating reality that is human existence.
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