J.K. Rowling’s new novel The Casual Vacancy is out – are you interested?
I don’t know if I’m allowed to post the book description here, so I will post a link from Amazon and note only that it is described as “blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising.”
It’s getting middling reviews so far, possibly because people are disappointed that it’s not Harry Potter.
I will probably not buy it, but I will get it from the library after the rush has died down. I’m actually quite interested to read it; I’ve seen some early good reviews. (The reviewer who spoke of it in the most glowing terms was impressed that it was nothing like Harry Potter, so I think you may be right about people disliking it because it’s a departure.)
Edit: I’ll mark the poll “yes”.
I’ve heard that it is only so-so but actually has some naughty parts.
I’ll probably read it at some point, but I’m in no rush. I’m definitely curious.
Yeah, some of those poor Amazon reviews do seem to be from people who say they weren’t expecting “Harry Potter”, and then got disappointed anyway, because it wasn’t Harry Potter.
Nah. I read the first Potter book. Saw some of the films. I think they were fine as young-adult fiction, and will let its popularity speak for itself.
However, from the limited amount of what I have read from her, and saw from her fiction, I don’t find her wit very impressive, so in that context, the premise of this book sounds pretty dull.
I’ll pass.
Never read any of the books nor saw any of the movies. Reviewers whom I trust indicate that they wouldn’t be to my taste. I’m not a hater; I’m not boycotting them. Just have other things I’d rather read.
Not sure if I will get buy it or borrow from the library, but I’ll read it. I am intrigued after hearing her interview on NPR this morning.
“Undecided” wasn’t an option :).
Yes, I like Harry Potter.
Not at that price. If I hear enough good things about it, I’ll buy (cheap) or borrow it eventually.
Just for the record, I loved Harry Potter and have read all seven at least twice through. I have been reading sci-fi for 62 years, so maybe that explains it, but I found it well-written, well plotted, with well-developed characters. Well in Wednesday’s NY Times, Michiko Kakitani described as Little Wingeing (the town where Harry’s aunt and uncle live) meets Peyton Place. She absolutely hated it. So unless I read something to the contrary, I won’t bother.
I will not, as the subject matter does not interest me. The last novel I read was about superheroes and supervillains (Soon I Will Be Invincible) and the next, fingers crossed, will be my own.
Yes. She writes well. Will buy it.
The reviews sound interesting, so I’ll borrow it from the library. I am cutting down on the number of paper books that I own, so I won’t be buying it.
only read nonfiction
There’s a good article on Rowling and “The Casual Vacancy” in the New Yorker by the way:
Thread moved from IMHO to Café Society.
Nope. Reading the description on Amazon leaves me with zero interest in this book.
(FTR: HP was OK… a little dumb and repetative IMHO)
I’ve never bought or read a single thing she’s written, so I’m unlikely to start now.
Well, she’s essentially written one thing, so you’re describing a somewhat limited set. 
The article in *The New Yorker *was rather amusing. I was unaware that a gun was fired during negotiations involving the theft of a copy of the firth book in the HP saga.
But, with that much money involved, who knows what people might do.