is J.K. is J.K.

The Casual Vacancy The Casual

512 pp.

13:9780316228534 - J.K. Rowling, 2012 J.K. Rowling, JK Rowling Book Summary The Casual Vacancy Casual The Little, Brown & Company Brown Little, ISBN

The Casual Vacancy Casual The provoking and constantly surprising, provoking and constantly

-

.) From the From publisher passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations? passion, unexpected duplicity and thoughtcomic, Blackly adults. first Rowling's novel for ( and ancient an square a market withcobbled English an idyll, Pagford is, seemingly, at war. towna is the façade pretty behind abbey,but lies what their with at wives parents, war their war with at poor, teenagers Rich at war with seems. Pagford first itpupils.... what is their not with husbands, teachers war at catalyst the for sooncouncil becomes the Barrytown's by on left And the empty seat with fraught election triumph an in the Who has will town seen. the biggest war yet When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town earlyof forties, histhe little diesin unexpectedly When Fairweather Barry shock. inPagford is left

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

it - - Hons Hons

sucking

-

magazine named her Time

Rich List estimated

Children's Book theof Year; British

- Book the of Year.

-

Sunday Times

JK Rowling

ish." Author Background -

delayed train trip from Manchester to London, the idea for a story of - eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007, and -

hour - The Casual Vacancy Casual The Author the of Year; British Book Awards

- Exeter University lives inlives Perthshire, Scotland and London, England. — 3 Nestle 3 Nestle Smarties Awards; British BookAward — Chipping Sodburynear Bristol, England, UK — July 31, 1965 — — year battle with multiple sclerosis, adeath thatheavily affected her writing: she - Birth Where Education Awards Currently Book Awards • • • • • up for 2007 Personits of the Year, noting the social,moral, and political inspiration she has -

. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books. estimated Rowling's worthnet to $1 be billion.The 2008 ranked Rowling as the forty all is character] loosely based on She'sme. a caricature of when me I was eleven, which I'm Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes in 1992. Their child, Isabel Jessica Rowling Arantes (named after Mitford),Jessica was born in 1993 in Portugal. The coupleseparated in November 1993. In December Rowling1993, and her daughter moved to be near her sister in Edinburgh, Scotland. this period During Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression, which brought her the idea Dementors,of soul creatures introduced in the third book. In 1990, while wasshe on a four a young boy attending a school wizardryof "came fullyformed" into her mind. When she had reached her Clapham Junction flat, she began to write immediately. In Decemberof thatyear, same Rowling’s mother died, after a ten introduced much more detail about in Harry's loss the first book, she knewbecause about ithow felt. Rowling then moved to Porto, Portugal to teach English as a foreign language. While there she married - not particularly proud Sean of." friendHarris, her best in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she inspiredsays the one in her books. "Ron Weasley [Harry Potter's bestfriend] a isn't living portrait of Sean, but veryhe really is Sean Rowling read for a BA in French and at Classics the University of Exeter. a After year ofstudy in Paris, Rowling moved to Londonwork as a to researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International. me tellingme her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and fed was strawberries by the rabbit family it. inside Certainly thestory first wroteI ever down (when I was orfive six) was about a rabbit called "Rabbit." He got the measles and visited was by his friends, including a giant called Miss bee Bee." When wasshe a young teenager, her auntgreat her a gave very old copy Mitford's of Jessica autobiography, and Rebels attendedShe secondary school at Wyedean School and where College, hermother, Anne, had worked as a technician in the Science Department. Rowling has said of her adolescence, "Hermione [A bookish, know Rowling was born to James Peter Rowling and Anne Rowling Volant),(nee on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, (16.1 10 miles km) northeast Bristol.of The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling four. was She attended St Michael's Primary School, aschool founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce. (The school's headmaster has suggestedbeen the inspirationas for Harry Potter's Albus Dumbledore). a child,As Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would read "I to sister. canher stillremember Rowling's fortune at £560 million ($798 million), ranking her as the twelfth richestwoman in Britain. Great Forbes as a runner her given fandom. hasShe become a notable philanthropist, supportingsuch charitiesas ComicRelief, One Parent MultipleFamilies, Sclerosis Society ofGreat Britain, and the Children's High LevelGroup. Early years creator theof Harry Potterfantasy series, the ideafor which conceived was while on a train trip from Manchester to Londonin 1990. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, sold more than 400 copies,million and been the basis for a popular of films. series Rowling is perhaps equally famous for her "rags life to riches" story, in which she progressed from living on to welfare multi millionaire status within five years. MarchAs of 2010,when latest its world billionaires listwas published, Forbes Joanne "Jo" Rowling, better known under the pen J.name K. Rowling, is a British author knownas the

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library - -

hour security). -

on an old on manual type-

in 2013. It reached the top of . Although she "thinks it's un- , one of the reasons she wrote

(continued)

A&E Biography dollar billionaire by writing books, the second - The Casual Vacancy

The Cuckoo's Calling

selling selling books in history. series, The totalling 4,195 pages, -

long of course study. beganShe this in course August 1995, JK Rowling - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

century house, estate Killiechassie House, on the banks the of River Tay, - time, time, year

- Rich List named Rowling the 144th richest person in Britain. In 2001, Rowl- Author Background Author Background The Casual Vacancy Casual The

.)

Sunday Times Best Sellers list within weeks.

After After Jessica's birth and the separation fromher husband, Rowling had her left teaching job in Portugal. In order to teachScotland in she would need a postgraduate certificateof education (PGCE), requiring a full after completingher first whilenovel having survived on state welfare support. wrote inShe many cafes, especially Nicolson's Cafe,whenever couldshe get Jessica to fall asleep. she As stated on the American programTV in cafes notwas because her flat had heat, no but takingbecause her baby for awalk out was old daughter of Bloomsbury’s chairman, who given was the first chapter to review by father her and im- - New York Times Adapted from Wikipedia der her own name, she published her first fornovels adults, thatlikely" she will write another Harry Potter, an "encyclopedia" wizarding of along with unpublished notes may be published sometime in the future. the penUsing name "Robert Galbraith," Rowling published the ( mony, she revealed that her maternal French grandfather had the also received Légion d'honneur brav- for his ery during World War I.) According to Matt a formerLatimer, White House administrator for PresidentGeorge W. Bush, Rowling turnedwas down for the Presidential Medal Freedom of because administration officials thatbelieved the Harry Potterseries promoted witchcraft. Subsequent writing Rowling has stated that she plans to continue writing, preferably under pseudonym.a 2012, however,In un- £4.5 million ($9 million) Georgian house in Kensington, West London, (on awith 24 street On 26 December Rowling2001, married Neil Michael Murray (born 30 1971), June an anaesthetist, in a pri- ceremonyvate at her Aberfeldy son home. Their bornwas in 2003 and a daughter in 2005. In the UK, Rowling has received honorary fromdegrees St Andrews University, the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, the University of Exeter and the University of Aberdeen; and in the Harvard. US, from She has been awarded the Légion d'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. (During the Palace Elysée cere- Life afterLife Harry Potter hasForbes named Rowling as the first person to become aU.S. femalerichest entertainer and the 1,062nd person richest in the world. When first listed as a billionaire by inForbes 2004, Rowling disputed the calculations and said she had plenty money,of was notbut a billionaire. In addition, the 2008 ing purchased a luxurious nineteenth near Aberfeldy, in Perth and Scotland. Kinross, Rowling also aowns home in Merchiston, Edinburgh, and a books consecutively have set records the fastest as has been translated, in whole or in part, into 65 languages. HarryThe Potter books have gainedalso recognition for sparking an readingin interest among the young at a whentime childrenwere thought to be abandoningfor computers books and television, although the series' impactoverall on reading children's habits has been questioned. Although Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book, Barry her editor Cunningham that says he advised Rowling to get a day she had job, since chance little makingof money in children’s books. Soon after, in 1997, Rowling anreceived £8000 grant from the Scottish Arts Council to enableher to continue writing. The following spring, an auction was inheld the United for States the rights to publish the andnovel, waswon by Scholastic Inc., for $105,000. Rowling has said she “nearly died” when she heard the news. Harry Potter is now a global brand worth an estimated £7 billion ($15 billion), and lastthe four Harry Potter Harry Potter books In 1995, Rowling finished hermanuscript for writer. bookThe was submitted to publishingtwelve houses, whichall of rejected themanuscript. A lateryear wasshe finally given greenthe light (and a £1500 advance) by Bloomsbury, Britisha small publishing house in London, England. decision The to publish book Rowling's apparently much to owes Alice Newton, the eight year demandedmediately the next. the best way to make her fall asleep.

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library

)

life father; Gavin is her is her Gavin life father; too long at 500+ 500+ pages? too at long -

meet these expectations? these meet

The Casual Vacancy Casual The The Casual Vacancy The Casual JK Rowling Discussion Questions Discussion Questions

The Casual Vacancy Casual The

by Katherine O'Connor of LitLovers http://www.litlovers.com) of LitLovers O'Connor Katherine by

1. Before reading, did you have certain expectations for this book based on the the on bookbased for this expectations have certain you did reading, 1. Before does so, If series? Potter Harry them keeping trouble have you Did characters. main 30 than more has 2. The book order? in storylines and

unanswered? (Questions 7. Before the success of Harry Potter, Rowling had experiences with poverty. Does knowing knowing Does poverty. with experiences had Rowling Potter, Harry of success the 7. Before character? Krystal of the creditability the increase this that it's and book this write" to "had she felt that she states Rowling interviews, many 8. In For life. to her paralled be can experiences and characters Several her. to personal very real estranged her are Price Simon and Mollinson Howard example, in relationships own your of see any Doyou J.K. single young, is a Bawden Kay firsthusband; relationships? your of any examine to you cause story Does the the book? things some leave she does ends or loose up tie Rowling Does satisfying? ending 9. Is the 4. Which storyline with which characters is your favorite and why? Least favorite? Least why? and favorite your is characters which with 4. storyline Which have mean? Some that does What tragedy". a "comic book as the describes 5. Rowling in the display on wit her find you Do of it. the lack described others wit, the talked about book? ground off the get to is slow takes plot that the complain readers and reviewers 6. Many Is think? you do What parts. in some drags and Rowling Is sensational? and is excessive sex and violence profanity, the think you 3. Do plot? the enhance orit does adults for write she can that prove to trying

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library -

or herself.... A A herself.... or

-

page social novel inside inside novel social page - the residents of the Fields, Fields, the of residents the — dies suddenly, the fight gets gets fight the suddenly, dies — nots - immerses the reader in a richly a richly in reader the immerses

is a comedy, but a comedy of the the of a comedy but a comedy, is

class Pagforder class - -anticipated departure from the genre of of genre the from departure -anticipated Reviews -

JK Rowling The Casual Vacancy The Casual

class son of her guidance counselor; the social worker worker social the counselor; guidance her of son class The Casual Vacancy The Casual - grandmother’s doctor was Fairbrother’s closest ally; the ally; the closest Fairbrother’s was doctor grandmother’s - , Rowling’s much , Rowling’s

turner.... turner.... addled mother dates the law partner of the son of the dead man’s man’s dead the of son the of partner law the dates mother addled - - The Casual Vacancy Casual The is a complete joy to read.... A stunning, brilliant, outrageously gripping and and gripping outrageously brilliant, stunning, A read.... to joy a complete is

born in Fields but now a middle now but Fields in born

-jerker we have instead. instead. have we -jerker

) - — Book Review Book

UK ) (

UK (

The Casual Vacancy The Casual has Rowling novel.... protest Victorian the to homage a sprawling is fantasy, children’s has success Her society. modern of ills the about deeply felt and long thought clearly as if it feels though, times, At it.... use to intends she and platform, a her given here, together been thrown has anything about say to wanted ever Rowling everything complement or from detract ideas these all whether determine care to taking without him from a novelist saving involves occasionally Editing another. one page tear page -

human, and while the characters are all well drawn and believable, they aren’t much fun. much aren’t they believable, and drawn well all are characters the while and human, Weekly Publishers the council flats that some want to push off onto a neighboring county council. When Councilor Councilor When council. county a neighboring onto off push to want some that flats council the Fairbrother Barry is everyone alike, poor and rich to caters which school, its at and Pagford, tiny In uglier. working her of member functioning sole the Weedon, Krystal teenager obstreperous connected: middle the with up hooks family, class drug Krystal’s over watching great Krystal’s rival; Council fiercest of friend best the with along together, work worker social the and doctor the of daughters hatreds their and people these all competent: relentlessly is Rowling on. so and hookup; Krystal’s break, and twist relationships revealed, are Secrets together. mixed and established are hopes and books, Potter Harry the As in aplomb. with climax awful, logical its toward rolls book the and by adults, here accompanied cause, a common with together join and mistakes make children depressingly are evil and good though, magic, the Minus failing. yet trying some malicious, some peopled, densely imagined world.... Intelligent, workmanlike, and often funny. often and workmanlike, Intelligent, world.... imagined densely peopled, captures Rowling payoff.... emotional a truly and characters memorable great, with read A vivid sight. a pretty always not is humanity that if even in everyone, humanity the People made that books Potter Harry the from different very is book adult first Rowling’s it, of face the On hack to ability the is wizardry to thing closest the unmagical: resolutely It’s famous. and rich her worldwide for a battle of Instead site. Web Council Parish Pagford amateurish the into title. the of the vacancy Council, that on seat empty suddenly a over fight a there’s domination, Harry’s from different so isn’t Pagford pensieves, and cloaks invisibility of lack the despite Yet have the and haves the between divide massive a There’s world. An insanely compelling page compelling An insanely at dexterous ever proves Rowling pitch.... with drawn and acid with etched sort, blackest when except them entangling never simultaneously, along roar that lines plot multiple launching in down knows She by accident. author bestselling world's the become not did She to. means she pages. the keep turning you make to how her bones Beast The Daily Vacancy The Casual today. society British of evocation entertaining The Mirror inspiration drawing plots, interlocking multiple, and cast a large with life, of provincial A study Eliot.... George and Gaskell Elizabeth from thoughtful edit might have removed many of the stylistic slippages. Rowling is at the height of her of her height the at is Rowling slippages. stylistic the of many removed have might edit thoughtful 300 great, even possibly good, a been have might there powers: creative 500 York New

Book Groups @ Blue Mountains Library