Restricted Section Book Club discussion

Here's the full thread for The Casual Vacancy discussion! Spoil away!

I would love to know everyone's favorite and least favorite characters! I would have to say Fats is my least favorite. He was much too self absorbed and his constant desire to "be authentic" was not my favorite to read about. Also, Simon was a miserable person. My favorite character was probably Krystal because she felt so genuine. Her love for her brother and her vulnerability was very relatable.


Overall I really enjoyed the book even though, as I think about it, I didn't particularly like any characters too much. I guess Rowling did a good job of making their flaws real.

Nicole wrote: "I would love to know everyone's favorite and least favorite characters! I would have to say Fats is my least favorite. He was much too self absorbed and his constant desire to "be authentic" was no..."

By far my least favorite was Samantha Moulison, to me she was so unrealistic until the end when she got too drunk. My fav was Krystal until she went to trap Fats (Its just to unrealistic that once raped she'd go stark "baby trap" mad). I did like Fats though for some parts - his search for authenticity was in part (or rather in my experience) way beyond his characters age.

Did anyone else have trouble following all the characters names and story lines? For me it made it super hard when JKR addressed the characters from whoevers perspective it was currently in (ex. mr moulision, Howard, the butcher, howard moulision) Not that it was him exactly but often I would be like ummmmm who? then keep reading and it would tip off near the end of the little section.

Matt yes! The point of view would change so suddenly I would get lost for a few lines before I'd realize it.

I agree with Nicole on her opinion about the book, I liked it even though I didn't particurarly liked any of the characters. It was a well written book, I think that made the difference. The character I liked most is the Indian girl (I forgot her name just now... I read the book a long while back). I do think there were a bit too many characters with individual storylines, I would've preferred a more in-depth view of a couple, instead of the shallower stories of all these people. Overall, I'm quite positive about the book.

I actually really liked the abundance of characters. Even though the setting was a small town, having so many characters and complicated relationships showed the small town's intricacies. I almost felt like the town was a character in itself; I was getting to know the town as a whole. I loved the format, and I would love to read more books where I could get to know an entire place rather than just a few people.

Vanya wrote: "I agree with Nicole on her opinion about the book, I liked it even though I didn't particurarly liked any of the characters. It was a well written book, I think that made the difference. The charac..."

I totally agree, it felt like I was new to town and learning all of the histories and connections. Ultimately, I thought it was really enjoyable. Plus, Casual Vacancy is going to be a good one to re-read and catch new things.

I so hated the character of Mary Fairbrother! She is one of the few characters we don't get to know by getting inside their head, which is probably a very good thing - and being Barry's widow in mourning puts her in a position where nobody could possibly judge her; but from her attitude towards Colin Wall - who positively worshipped his husband to the fact that her daughters were afraid of her reaction if ever they decided to attend Krystal's funeral, I found all her reactions and choices appalling.

I also found Kay's behaviour towards Gaia really questionable. She does care for the families she's trying to help, but takes no account of her own daughter's needs and wishes.

My favourite characters were Parminder and Sukhvinder, by far.

I just couldn't keep any of the characters straight, therefore had a hard time following each of the story lines.

I agree with Abby. I had a tough time trying to get through this one. I really wanted to like it but it was a struggle to read, so I'm just going to have to shelf it for now and maybe come back to it later.

I was kinda disappointed with this book, I read it when it first came out and thought JK tried too hard to excessively cynical, as if she was really trying to say "Hey not because I wrote about a teenager who won over the Dark Side doesn't mean I can't write really tragic adult fiction where everyone is an a**hole !"
Cause, as many of you have said it, not one character in this book is likeable. And, honestly, this to me sounds a tiny bit unrealistic. I know that not everyone has the chance to have kind parents, good relationships with their neighbours and what more, but still... Every character in this book is either a complete self-absorbed jack*** or the poor miserable victim of the jack***es. This book had left me with a weird impression, like the Dursleys had taken over the world and become evil in addition to already being stupid and mean.