The Casual Vacancy Poll

[author_by_night]

So I wanted to do a poll on what former/current Harry Potter fans think of JK Rowling's new book, The Casual Vacancy, coming out soon. I've heard mixed reactions but would like more of a consensus. I'd also be interested to hear from people who weren't into the Harry Potter books. Obviously I don't personally care what your answers are - just curious. :)[Poll #1865597]

Comments

[chocolatepot.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in reading it, but I'm not going to buy it, probably. Library. A lot of what I liked about HP may not carry over, I won't be horrendously let down if it doesn't work for me.

[bemkah.livejournal.com]

I think what JK has done is quite clever. She had to do something absolutely completely different from Harry or else everyone would just expect it to BE another Harry. Having a book that will be in a completely different genre and that will be written in a completely different voice will be really interesting. I'm sure it will be clever and witty as well.

One thing that has disappointed me is the cover. There is so much they could have done and they went for something I could mock up myself in Paint? Wtf? They could have had a pretty artistic rendering of a quaint British village or cobblestones or I don't bloody know. Something imaginative!

[chthonya]

They could have had a pretty artistic rendering of a quaint British village or cobblestones

Thinking about this, if they'd done that it would have looked like a family saga and probably not reached its audience. I suppose an arty black and white shot of a village would have worked well, but looked too much like the original adult HP covers. I suppose eschewing pictures entirely is a way of distancing it from HP.

[bemkah.livejournal.com]

It didn't have to be what I suggested - those were just random thoughts. I just thought that the cover could have been more thought out in general, or artistic, or a bit more complicated. To be honest, the colours as they are look more like the original covers for HP anyway - they all have large rectangles of bold colour on them. Shrugs.

[secondmezzanine.livejournal.com]

I am excited to read her book simply because I love JK Rowling as a person. I know she's a good writer so I'll probably find her book a good read. That said, it's not a book I'd ever read if it were written by anyone else, so I don't have expectations that it's going to be a favorite book or anything like that. I'm just excited to read a new story by JK.

[doriscrockford2.livejournal.com]

Mixed feelings; I enjoy her writing style but the synopsis was so dull I can't even remember what it said. I'm going to see her speak, though, and am hoping it was just a bad blurb and that the book has some whimsy.

[lukecanwaltz88.livejournal.com]

I wasn't a huge HP fan, but I enjoyed the books. I'll probably see what others have to say about the book and if it sounds like something I may want to try, I'll find it, but I'm not intending to read it right away.

[thecowboycliche.livejournal.com]

I'm a big Harry Potter fan and I'll definitely be reading the book, but I plan on getting it from the library, not purchasing it. I just put it on reserve, actually. I'm trying to go into it with no expectations other than that fact that JKR is a good writer. Comparing this to Harry Potter would be useless, because it's nothing like HP and nothing will ever compare to HP anyway lol. So I'm hoping I enjoy the book as a book. If I don't, no big deal.

[chthonya]

Much as I'm interested in seeing how HP actors come over in other films, I'd like to read this to see what she does. Will probably borrow from library though: I'm more curious than excited.

ETA:
Hmm. Just gone over to my library website and it says I can't reserve it until a copy has arrived. Must remember to do it through the staff interface next time I'm working.

But synopsis sounds interesting to me - probably if it crossed my path and I didn't know the author I'd give it a go regardless. But the way she used humour and mythological references in HP can't possibly work in the same way in a 'Muggle world' novel. I'll be interested to see what the writing style is like.

[chthonya]

Library copy ordered. I'm second in the queue but there are 8ish copies on order, so I should get it fairly quickly. Thanks for making this post and prompting me to do it!

[dragonsally.livejournal.com]

I'm going to borrow it from the library first, and if its a book I have to own, I'll buy it then.

[white-serpent.livejournal.com]

Oh; there's more information about her new book? Wasn't aware. I may or may not go look it up. (That, in itself, is a comment on my interest level.)

[parsimonia.livejournal.com]

Not pre-ordered, but I'll likely get it the day it comes out.

I'm expecting it to be good, but different. I guess curious is the best way to describe how I feel about it.

[trude.livejournal.com]

I don't think it will be a great book and commercially it will be a disappointment if comared to the HP-books, but given that I liked the adult characters* in HP and their interactions quite a bit I think there's a good chance I'll enjoy it.

*In this particular context I mean mostly the Hogwarts staff and occasionally the Weasley's, not MWPP, Snape and the Malfoy's.