The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling: REVIEW

Behold cause it may contain spoiler. And don't be happy, cause this book doesn't have any connection with Harry Potter series. And that is probably the good news. New side of J.K. Rowling that we're able to see!

*standing applause*

This book has so many plot twists, which I love! And I finally get to finish this book right after reading I Was Here by Gayle Forman which I rated with one star. The feeling is indescribable because The Casual Vacancy offers you a lot of characters with each one of their backgrounds becoming the root of the conflicts. 

It is indeed, a big novel about people living in a small town, called Pagford. It is the city in West with some families whose behaviors become the main idea of this story. 

I understand the pride that English men possess, like since Victorian era, where girls were prohibited in doing affairs and stuff, it apparently still becomes such issue in this book. Clean heir, as well as name/title is the main idea of this book, in my opinion. I like it better since it really shows the differences between American literary works and English ones per se.

It is all started when Barry Fairbrother is found dead on his way to celebrate his anniversary with her wife. He's got aneurysm, apparently. Then this little small town talks about his sudden death. And I can tell the characters are divided into two groups: pro-Barry and anti-Barry. He is one of Parish Councilor who struggles to keep Bellchapel and people from The Fields from closing down and getting abandoned by Howard Mollison and his wife, Shirley. He struggled to keep them open cause yeah, Barry Fairbrother is the only protagonist in this book. He is a good guy with a good heart. Before his sudden leaving, he has written an article about Krystal Weedon, a troubled lass who is seeking for help from her junkie mother and the image of founding her anonymous father dead in her bathroom when she was a kid. Then all of these two groups try to fill in the casual vacancy left by Barry. 

All I can say from the very first page of this book is what the fuck, is this book about politics? Well, I can say yes, partly. But it is covered with the faces from the families highlighted in this book, namely The Parminders, The Mollisons, The Fairbrothers, The Prices, The Walls, and the last one is Gaia and her mother Kay, people from London who move in to follow her stupid mother's boyfriend, Gavin who secretly in love with Mary Fairbrother. Their pasts and behaviors as well as the tragedy from each family are provided in this book. They seem to do anything they could do to replace the chair of Parish Council left by Barry Fairbrother.

This is a sick book (in positive way) with tragic endings for The Weedons and happy ones to The Parminders, Walls, and Prices. 

Hint: Barry is THE ONLY protagonist character in this book.


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