Book Review: Yet To Be Determined
Publisher: Little Brown (September 27, 2012), Print Length: 512 pages, ASIN: B007THA4FI

J. K. Rowlings  new book: The Casual Vacancy, is going to be released on September 27. This book will be something completely different from anything she has previously written, and it is going to be available in a variety of formats. Can she successfully make the move from young adult fantasy to black comedy/adult drama?  Time will only tell, but if the cover is any example, it seems unlikely.  However, you cannot always judge a book by its cover.

J. K. Rowlings is the author of the beloved Harry Potter series.  From these books and movies she has earned millions, so it is surprising that she would want to risk publishing a new novel in a completely different genre.  She certainly doesn’t need the money, but perhaps she just loves to write. I enjoyed her writing and storytelling in the Harry Potter series; faithfully reading all 7 of the books as they were released. I can understand why she would would want to switch genres, perhaps she has written all she has concerning fantasy.

Following are the details about the new book directly from J.K. Rowlings site, http://www.jkrowling.com/en_US/#/the-new-book:

Little, Brown announces details of J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Seemingly an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

Publication date 27th September 2012 (UK & US)

This little snippet sounds interesting, but it also sounds a bit nasty with neighbor at war with neighbor. I guess this is where the black comedy comes into play.  I can also understand the meaning of the book cover, since the story appears to revolve around an election for a seat on the council.  It will be tempting to read and find out who these characters are and whether their lives are worth concern.

However, before I spend my time and money reading this new book I want to obtain more information. I would like to access a preview of the book, but currently none are available. I would love to get a feel for the writing and of course I would also like to read some reviews so if anyone knows of any please let me know.

Interesting enough, as of September 9, this book has been one of Amazon’s top 100 sellers for 79 days and it is currently #9. So it appears that many people are anxiously awaiting this new release.  I am curious to find out if this book has merit.

Questions to ponder:

Can she successfully make the move into a completely different genre?

Should she be attempting something new or should she continue to bask in her previous successes?

Did anyone not enjoy reading the Harry Potter novels, and if not why not?

Please feel free to add your comments and let us know what you think.

 

To Preorder: “The Casual Vacancy” from Amazon, click here or on picture above