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カジュアル・ベイカンシー 突然の空席 1 [Casual Vacancy: Totsuzen no Kūseki 1]
イギリス西部の田舎町・パグフォード。パグフォード地方自治組織議会の議員で、バリー・フェアブラザーが40代の若さで突然亡くなった。彼のの死で、議席に「カジュアル・ベイカンシー=突然の空席」が生じる。その選挙で、住人たちの素顔が次々と明らかになる……。小さな町の大きな物語。稀代のストーリーテラーがなにをおいても描きたかった、社会派ドラマ。
413 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2012
About the author
J.K. Rowling
755 books236k followersSee also: Robert Galbraith
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 25, 2015
Boring as hell. Sorry folks.
May 22, 2015
An interesting character piece which is constantly thought provoking, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.
Pagford truly comes to life through the eyes of Krystal Wheedon who struggles to keep her family together. She’s my favourite character not because she’s pretty or intelligent (because she’s neither), but because she’s the one who suffers most from Fairbrother’s death.
Pagford truly comes to life through the eyes of Krystal Wheedon who struggles to keep her family together. She’s my favourite character not because she’s pretty or intelligent (because she’s neither), but because she’s the one who suffers most from Fairbrother’s death.
June 12, 2015
The novel began with a sharp step off the curb and never regained its footing, staggering on through hundreds of pages of misery, not just for the characters in the book, but also for the eager reader, whose enthusiasm hit rock bottom at about page 100. I only persevered because I am taught not to be a quitter.
It's hard to know where to begin, but it's probably best to start with the many, many characters (the plot doesn't matter - it was as dull as a bowl of oatmeal), not a single one of whom is admirable or even slightly likable. It's not just that they're flawed, because who wants to read a book about perfect, adorable people who always do and say perfect, adorable things? This novel doesn't have one single sympathetic character.
This dystopian novel contains barely a shred of kindness, mercy, selflessness, family solidarity or, I don't know, LOVE. Everyone is locked into miserable relationships, everyone is suffering, everyone is mean, everyone is selfish. This was probably the most depressing book I've ever read and if Rowling thought the sad, anti-climactic ending there at the church with the pink coffin and the little, tiny white coffin in any way shone the light of redemption on the previous four hundred and some pages, she was sadly mistaken. This book was horrible. After a while, it went from being disturbing to just being ludicrous; does any novel have a larger cast of characters, none of whom have any depth other than loathsomeness of one kind or another? It's one of those novels that I wouldn't even want to donate to Goodwill - why would I want to inflict this awful story on anyone else?
This novel was a major disappointment. My recommendation, if you feel you absolutely must read it, is to borrow it from your public library. Do not spend the money on this one.
It's hard to know where to begin, but it's probably best to start with the many, many characters (the plot doesn't matter - it was as dull as a bowl of oatmeal), not a single one of whom is admirable or even slightly likable. It's not just that they're flawed, because who wants to read a book about perfect, adorable people who always do and say perfect, adorable things? This novel doesn't have one single sympathetic character.
This dystopian novel contains barely a shred of kindness, mercy, selflessness, family solidarity or, I don't know, LOVE. Everyone is locked into miserable relationships, everyone is suffering, everyone is mean, everyone is selfish. This was probably the most depressing book I've ever read and if Rowling thought the sad, anti-climactic ending there at the church with the pink coffin and the little, tiny white coffin in any way shone the light of redemption on the previous four hundred and some pages, she was sadly mistaken. This book was horrible. After a while, it went from being disturbing to just being ludicrous; does any novel have a larger cast of characters, none of whom have any depth other than loathsomeness of one kind or another? It's one of those novels that I wouldn't even want to donate to Goodwill - why would I want to inflict this awful story on anyone else?
This novel was a major disappointment. My recommendation, if you feel you absolutely must read it, is to borrow it from your public library. Do not spend the money on this one.
May 7, 2015
This was an excellent book. Sensitive, well structured with a surface simplicity of language which belies its complex undertones. Those drawn to this book because of Harry Potter, please dont expect any of these - Magic, Happy Endings, innocent love. This book is real with real situations and real characters. Its not as much a tragedy as a snapshot of the lives we lead on a daily basis. It really makes you sit back and think for a moment.
Read it.
Read it.
Read
April 17, 2015Well, I'm not reading this in Japanese, but Goodreads doesn't have the edition I am reading, so......
Abandoned at p.273:
Perhaps this book is just to say
Life has caused all the plums in the icebox
To go mouldy
And not a soul has noticed.
Abandoned at p.273:
Perhaps this book is just to say
Life has caused all the plums in the icebox
To go mouldy
And not a soul has noticed.
December 30, 2014
J.K. Rowling once created a world where characters can magically travel from one place to another, take a newly aspired form, and summon light by simply saying “Lumos.” This time, however, she has taken a more challenging task. Setting a plot in an ultra-realistic town of Pagford, where unconventional characters live and interact, Rowling conjures a totally DIFFERENT, yet familiar, world from that of Harry Potter’s.
THE CASUAL VACANCY is a tightly plotted novel, written by an author who knows how to write such literary form. This tele-novelic story builds on characterizations, sub-plots and back stories until the 454th page - that I almost gave up - had it not been for a climax that only Rowling can deliver.
I was glad I did not stop.
Yes, it is unadventurous, putdownable, and mostly a drag, but it is a story, of mostly evil characters, that you’d end up wanting being good.
P.S. This is still far better than the TWILIGHT SERIES.
THE CASUAL VACANCY is a tightly plotted novel, written by an author who knows how to write such literary form. This tele-novelic story builds on characterizations, sub-plots and back stories until the 454th page - that I almost gave up - had it not been for a climax that only Rowling can deliver.
I was glad I did not stop.
Yes, it is unadventurous, putdownable, and mostly a drag, but it is a story, of mostly evil characters, that you’d end up wanting being good.
P.S. This is still far better than the TWILIGHT SERIES.
June 4, 2016
I can see why there have been such mixed reviews of this book - it is a total departure from Harry Potter in so many ways. However, I have to say that, while I didn't finish this book feeling good or satisfied, I couldn't put it down until I finished it and found out what happened to every character.
I couldn't help but wonder if Rowling had faced the same hypocrisy and class/financial divides that she described so scathingly before she published Harry Potter. The overwhelming hopelessness that drives the main characters and the lack of justice in the end was pretty unsatisfying - yet this is most often the reality of many lives. I think it took a lot of courage to write such a departure from a remarkably successful series (HP) and I really commend Rowling for taking the risk.
I couldn't help but wonder if Rowling had faced the same hypocrisy and class/financial divides that she described so scathingly before she published Harry Potter. The overwhelming hopelessness that drives the main characters and the lack of justice in the end was pretty unsatisfying - yet this is most often the reality of many lives. I think it took a lot of courage to write such a departure from a remarkably successful series (HP) and I really commend Rowling for taking the risk.
April 27, 2015
I was torn on how many stars to give this book. It was very well-written, and all of the characters were very well-developed and felt relatable and real. However, I will not be reading this again. It really was a well-written book and plot; the problem for me was that it is just too close to the depressing reality of life to be a book that I would personally want to spend my time reading. If you like books that feel like reality, and that center around drama and british snarky he-said, she-said then you would probably enjoy this book. I personally found it depressing, but I know that some people like these types of books.
June 21, 2015
After hearing many disparaging remarks from my bookclub, and indeed, the book was abandoned by my bookclub, I determined to read the book. (Ok, I confess. I listened to it.) Yes. It is a slow starter. No. Most of the characters are not likeable. I did love how the characters were real, mostly. In my own experience, there are some people just like the ones in this little burg. self-centered, greedy, and overcome with self-importance. However, there are many others who are generous, kind and overflowing with integrity. These people do not show up in this book. The story kept me interested, if not fascinated, and I enjoyed it to the end.
February 9, 2015
I am almost through this book and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. That is, if you can say that about the sad and nasty characters in this book. Touching on trends in society today you get a first class look at the disenfranchised, the smug, the violent and several angry teenagers. Through the characters the book discusses addiction, bullying, domestic violence, self harm. There is black humour thrown in and I think JK Rowling has established herself as a fine writer of fiction.
January 23, 2014
Though I have purchased several of J.K. Rawling's Harry Potter books, I have yet to read any of them---this book makes me wany to start. Rawling certainly has a way with words! Her vivid characters (all 20), adult and teen, are blackly comic, thought provoking, and constantly surprising. She is quite the storyteller!
February 24, 2015
A bit like Trainspotting in its raw description of life (as others see it and how people see themselves). A bit like The Wire in that the "bad guys" aren't all bad, and the "good guys" aren't always so good.
Many characters to sort out, but once you do, it's like watching a story weaving together as you read it.
Many characters to sort out, but once you do, it's like watching a story weaving together as you read it.
May 27, 2015
Small-time politics and distorted domestic lives have a magnified effect on the town teenagers in two small English villages. The connection between the parents' hang-ups and the teenagers' fates is convincing, even if it's developed rather slowly. I wish I had made a list of all the many characters (and their alternate names), starting from the first time they appeared.
June 3, 2015
I enjoyed this book. So many characters all with a life of their own. I would call this book a slice of life, not mine perhaps but all very real and interesting. So much different from Rowlings other books, but just as captivating. And despite what it says on the description of the book on my page I did not read the Japanese version!
April 11, 2015
Well Well. hypocrisy at its best. Casual Vacancy is when a board member of a precious small town Parish council dies. There is somewhat of a detached view of the characters and it's nice to see the various roles playing out. Overall the book makes us laugh about human stupidity and emotions.
May 19, 2015
So slow I couldn't get into it until 50% of the way through. I find it hard to believe this is from the same person who wrote Harry Potter. NOTHING HAPPENS. You root for Krystal all book and... Nope. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2015
Had this for a long time, finally finished it just to finish, kept waiting for it to get better, but it did not. Very dark without much point or hope for humanity.
May 8, 2015
A little too dark.
May 21, 2015
Really a three and a half star book. I liked it much more than I thought I would; very compelling characters, some very sympathetic.
July 7, 2015
Horrible
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews