In
her first adult novel, J. K. Rowling presents the story
of two towns and the housing addition neither of them
wants to claim as part of their city. Pagford
is the current owner of The Fields, a cheap housing
addition between Pagford and its larger neighbor. The
Fields was originally part of the larger city, but they
gave it to Pagford when The Fields became a haven for
drug addicts, dealers, prostitutes and other undesirables.
Though
some in town want to give The Fields back, there are
others who want to keep it so they can keep the drug
clinic open. The clinic and the wellbeing
of the other poor in The Fields is a growing bone of
contention in Pagford. One member of the
council, Barry Fairweather, is all for keeping The Fields. He
is a popular resident and is the coach of the Pagford
girls’ rowing team. He started the
rowing team to get one girl, Crystal Weedon, involved
in something constructive. Her mother is
one who needs that clinic. Pagford, which
looks like a peaceful English village, becomes a town
torn apart when Barry Fairweather dies suddenly. The
battle for his council seat becomes vicious. Secrets
are revealed and reputations are damaged in the process.
The
Casual Vacancyis a hard look at small town politics. Things
are seldom what they seem when you dig below the surface
after the pin holding it all together is removed. It
is well-written, thought-provoking and, in a dark way,
funny. The characters are typical of every
small town in the world. The language is
foul indeed, and I was disturbed by that and the sex
scenes. The abuse dished out is disturbing. Narrator
Thomas Hollander helps the people live for the listener. Listen
to The Casual Vacancy, and take a good look
at your neighbors.
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