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  • The Casual Vacancy

  • By: J.K. Rowling
  • Narrated by: Tom Hollander
  • Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (386 ratings)

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The Casual Vacancy

By: J.K. Rowling
Narrated by: Tom Hollander
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Publisher's Summary

Shortlisted for: UK Author of the year – Specsavers National Book Awards 2012

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early 40s, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty facade 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?

A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other.

©2012 J.K. Rowling (P)2012 Hachette Digital

What listeners say about The Casual Vacancy

Average Customer Ratings
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This book blew me away

I need a debrief after finishing it. What wonderfully powerful characters, I know them so well now and miss them already. Fabulous book. Thank you JKR

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating

I had bought this book and returned it !
Then accidentally bought it again so listened to more and got sucked in !
Tom Hollanders story telling is FABULOUS and I’m sure that is what made this little story so engaging !

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Depressing

Horrible nasty characters. Parents who hate their children and visa versa. I would hate to live in this village. Stuck with the story because I thought it would improve. It didn’t.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Stick with it.

Took about 3 chapters to get into it but found it hard to stop listening. Characters were so well written and the developing story hooked me in. Great listening to Tom Hollander narrate, he has a lovely voice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Full of Surprises

loved how all the characters developed, and all the twists to the story line. Can't wait fir another book

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed

Interesting book, but too many plots intertwined. Would have been better if kept simpler and one main plot.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I just finished listening to this.

J.K Rowling is by far one of the most talented authors on the planet. I am shaking and crying and laughing at the same time - an incredible book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

captures English life so beautifully

loved the array of characters, their flaws and beauty and the delve into the class structure.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

A truly wonderful and nuanced book full of personalities, complex relationships and insightful observations about men, women, children and personal politics.

Excellently narrated and perfectly paced.

Rowling has a keen eye for observing human behaviour and motivation and her writing conveys perfectly her characters humanity and complexity.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant but lots of characters

Excellent story. Listened to it twice now and just as good the second time around. Let’s do characters so requires some focus but totally worth it. Five stars

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