--- product_id: 106658230 title: "The Casual Vacancy" price: "¥2092" currency: JPY in_stock: false reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/106658230-the-casual-vacancy store_origin: JP region: Japan --- # The Casual Vacancy **Price:** ¥2092 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Casual Vacancy - **How much does it cost?** ¥2092 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/106658230-the-casual-vacancy) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little 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 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 town’s 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? Photo credit: © Wall to Wall Media Ltd. Photographer: Andrew Montgomery. Review: A brilliant and powerful novel that is incredibly difficult to read - Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's new adult book The Casual Vacancy is a brilliant and powerful novel that is incredibly difficult to read. Rowling proves in this book what a skillful writer she is. She is able to create characters so complex, so multi-faceted, that it's hard to remember they aren't real. Contrary to what the publisher promised in its promotional materials, The Casual Vacancy is not a "black comedy." It is a grim, honest, realistic slice of life, populated by troubled, deep, and interesting people. There are a lot of important characters in The Casual Vacancy. It takes determination and patience to learn about each one and keep them straight. Despite the grim and depressing circumstances outlined for so many of the characters, I could feel myself drawn into the world of Pagford, the small town in England that serves as the book's setting. It didn't seem that different in many ways from the city in which I live. The themes are relevant to life in the United States as well as England. Some of the people of Pagford resent the people who live in a place referred to as the Fields. It lies between Pagford and the larger city of Yarvil. Yarvil pays for the provision of many services to the Fields, but Pagford bears part of the burden. To their dismay, this includes allowing children of the Fields to attend their school, which they feared "would be overrun and swamped by the offspring of scroungers, addicts, and mothers whose children had all been fathered by different men." Some of the arguments are depressingly familiar. At one point two characters are discussing whether the addiction clinic does any good, and the subject turns to "principles." "Yes, well, principles are sometimes the problem, if you ask me," said Miles. "Often what's needed is a bit of common sense." "Which is the name people usually give to their prejudices," rejoined Kat. Rowling has a great talent for making her readers care for the characters she creates. In this novel, there is no main character. Instead, we are inside the heads of many people through a narrator. Rowling will introduce a character in such a way as to provoke a negative reaction, and then let us see the character's life from a different standpoint and stir up great sympathy. She first introduces a promiscuous, ignorant, and belligerent girl through the eyes of a teenaged boy and a school administrator; later we see the girl skipping school to clean up her filthy home in desperate hopes of persuading a social worker not to take her little brother from her addict mother. Another teenaged girl is being bullied, and at one point I was reluctant to read ahead because I was afraid the bully would not be the obvious candidate but another character, and I really did not want that other character to be a bully. The plot is relatively straightforward, but it moves steadily toward a terrific and terrible climax. Even though I wasn't able to predict what was coming, I felt a mounting sense of dread over the last fifth of the book. I am not easily moved to tears, but I cried at the end of The Casual Vacancy. I keep thinking about the events in the book and how they could have been changed for the better through action by some of the characters, and I marvel at how I feel real grief. I wonder how the characters are getting on; then I have to remind myself that they aren't real people. In the end, my sadness is not only for the unfortunate characters in the book but for the many real people whose lives are just as unfortunate. I'm guessing that was one of Rowling's objectives. I will not say that I enjoyed this complex and heartbreaking book. It's too grim and real. But I am very glad that I read it, and I highly recommend The Casual Vacancy to any reader who likes realistic fiction, exceptionally well-drawn characters, and excellent writing. Review: What? - Ok, maybe it is because I have been really tired when I am trying to read this. Maybe it is because a lot of the stuff in this book is in reference to what I assume is and are English places and things. But, I can not comprehend this book at all. I mean, I read a chapter and instantly forget everything I've read. No, I do remember key parts. But the rest just leaps from my mind. I got to page 30 or so and decided to start over. She spends a lot of time telling things about characters right away. Just little things. I just have not gotten into it yet. I guess I need a dictionary. My eyes kind of pop out. I will try again though. I mean, it's on my iPad, so I own it for good. I get the feeling that it is written well, just a lot of stuff that is above me, words, phrases, places and things. I just read another chapter of this book. What the hell? I mean, it just seems to ramble on with pointless information again and again. It tells you so much about so many characters. Are they main parts of the story? Hell if I know. There are so many things happening that really have nothing to do with each other, that it makes it even harder to follow the story (if their is one.) All these characters, by the time I've read 8 chapters, I have forgotten who the hell the people are. A name comes up and I think to myself who the heck is that? This book is a mess. I was going to rewrite the entire book in a language that I understood. But that would take far to long. I wish they would re release this book for the American audience. It's just so confusing. I said this a bit ago, but maybe it's because she tells so much about random things that happen. When doing so, she gives SO much personal detail, which it may turn out really isn't that personal at all. It's like I'm reading the diary of a 15 year old girl who is in an English class. No matter how hard I try, I just can not get into or follow this story at all. But I will continue until I am finished the book. Obviously, there are people who can follow and like this book. I wish I knew them so they could read the damn thing to me. I feel like I'm reading a book that is teaching me french. I'm just lost. The last chapter or two I read were fine, then the one I just read, about the boy at school with his teacher telling the school about something that happened, was a loss for me. I have no clue what I just read. Come on publisher, fix this thing. I just switched this from a 3 to a 1 out of 5. This book is awful. You get SO many pointless details about something in every chapter, that is makes it almost impossible to remember the important things. When I read and finish a chapter, the only way I can have any clue what is going on is to sum up what I've read. Like 8 pages and I will say to myself "the boy wants to be honest and genuine." That is all I can do for this book to make any sense. She spends to much time rambling on about nothing. Not every character needs to tell their life story. I will finish the book, but it is awful. I am conflicted with what to give this book. I gave it a 3, then a 1 and now I am just going to give it a 4. Confused? Yes, as am I. While the books has far to much going on for it's own good and it is hard to remember stuff like peoples names and stuff people have done, I can not wait to read the next chapter. I get so excited when I am about to read it. As far as I know, that means it is a good book. So, a 4 out of 5 it is. Knowing that this book has so many things happening, I was thinking about it yesterday, I think this story would make a good mini series. Theres a lot happening and seeing it all on TV would make it even more interesting. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #89,974 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #455 in British & Irish Literary Fiction #628 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction #777 in Small Town & Rural Fiction (Books) | ## Images ![The Casual Vacancy - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91-t4hxD5KL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A brilliant and powerful novel that is incredibly difficult to read *by J***Y on October 17, 2012* Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's new adult book The Casual Vacancy is a brilliant and powerful novel that is incredibly difficult to read. Rowling proves in this book what a skillful writer she is. She is able to create characters so complex, so multi-faceted, that it's hard to remember they aren't real. Contrary to what the publisher promised in its promotional materials, The Casual Vacancy is not a "black comedy." It is a grim, honest, realistic slice of life, populated by troubled, deep, and interesting people. There are a lot of important characters in The Casual Vacancy. It takes determination and patience to learn about each one and keep them straight. Despite the grim and depressing circumstances outlined for so many of the characters, I could feel myself drawn into the world of Pagford, the small town in England that serves as the book's setting. It didn't seem that different in many ways from the city in which I live. The themes are relevant to life in the United States as well as England. Some of the people of Pagford resent the people who live in a place referred to as the Fields. It lies between Pagford and the larger city of Yarvil. Yarvil pays for the provision of many services to the Fields, but Pagford bears part of the burden. To their dismay, this includes allowing children of the Fields to attend their school, which they feared "would be overrun and swamped by the offspring of scroungers, addicts, and mothers whose children had all been fathered by different men." Some of the arguments are depressingly familiar. At one point two characters are discussing whether the addiction clinic does any good, and the subject turns to "principles." "Yes, well, principles are sometimes the problem, if you ask me," said Miles. "Often what's needed is a bit of common sense." "Which is the name people usually give to their prejudices," rejoined Kat. Rowling has a great talent for making her readers care for the characters she creates. In this novel, there is no main character. Instead, we are inside the heads of many people through a narrator. Rowling will introduce a character in such a way as to provoke a negative reaction, and then let us see the character's life from a different standpoint and stir up great sympathy. She first introduces a promiscuous, ignorant, and belligerent girl through the eyes of a teenaged boy and a school administrator; later we see the girl skipping school to clean up her filthy home in desperate hopes of persuading a social worker not to take her little brother from her addict mother. Another teenaged girl is being bullied, and at one point I was reluctant to read ahead because I was afraid the bully would not be the obvious candidate but another character, and I really did not want that other character to be a bully. The plot is relatively straightforward, but it moves steadily toward a terrific and terrible climax. Even though I wasn't able to predict what was coming, I felt a mounting sense of dread over the last fifth of the book. I am not easily moved to tears, but I cried at the end of The Casual Vacancy. I keep thinking about the events in the book and how they could have been changed for the better through action by some of the characters, and I marvel at how I feel real grief. I wonder how the characters are getting on; then I have to remind myself that they aren't real people. In the end, my sadness is not only for the unfortunate characters in the book but for the many real people whose lives are just as unfortunate. I'm guessing that was one of Rowling's objectives. I will not say that I enjoyed this complex and heartbreaking book. It's too grim and real. But I am very glad that I read it, and I highly recommend The Casual Vacancy to any reader who likes realistic fiction, exceptionally well-drawn characters, and excellent writing. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ What? *by J***I on October 11, 2012* Ok, maybe it is because I have been really tired when I am trying to read this. Maybe it is because a lot of the stuff in this book is in reference to what I assume is and are English places and things. But, I can not comprehend this book at all. I mean, I read a chapter and instantly forget everything I've read. No, I do remember key parts. But the rest just leaps from my mind. I got to page 30 or so and decided to start over. She spends a lot of time telling things about characters right away. Just little things. I just have not gotten into it yet. I guess I need a dictionary. My eyes kind of pop out. I will try again though. I mean, it's on my iPad, so I own it for good. I get the feeling that it is written well, just a lot of stuff that is above me, words, phrases, places and things. I just read another chapter of this book. What the hell? I mean, it just seems to ramble on with pointless information again and again. It tells you so much about so many characters. Are they main parts of the story? Hell if I know. There are so many things happening that really have nothing to do with each other, that it makes it even harder to follow the story (if their is one.) All these characters, by the time I've read 8 chapters, I have forgotten who the hell the people are. A name comes up and I think to myself who the heck is that? This book is a mess. I was going to rewrite the entire book in a language that I understood. But that would take far to long. I wish they would re release this book for the American audience. It's just so confusing. I said this a bit ago, but maybe it's because she tells so much about random things that happen. When doing so, she gives SO much personal detail, which it may turn out really isn't that personal at all. It's like I'm reading the diary of a 15 year old girl who is in an English class. No matter how hard I try, I just can not get into or follow this story at all. But I will continue until I am finished the book. Obviously, there are people who can follow and like this book. I wish I knew them so they could read the damn thing to me. I feel like I'm reading a book that is teaching me french. I'm just lost. The last chapter or two I read were fine, then the one I just read, about the boy at school with his teacher telling the school about something that happened, was a loss for me. I have no clue what I just read. Come on publisher, fix this thing. I just switched this from a 3 to a 1 out of 5. This book is awful. You get SO many pointless details about something in every chapter, that is makes it almost impossible to remember the important things. When I read and finish a chapter, the only way I can have any clue what is going on is to sum up what I've read. Like 8 pages and I will say to myself "the boy wants to be honest and genuine." That is all I can do for this book to make any sense. She spends to much time rambling on about nothing. Not every character needs to tell their life story. I will finish the book, but it is awful. I am conflicted with what to give this book. I gave it a 3, then a 1 and now I am just going to give it a 4. Confused? Yes, as am I. While the books has far to much going on for it's own good and it is hard to remember stuff like peoples names and stuff people have done, I can not wait to read the next chapter. I get so excited when I am about to read it. As far as I know, that means it is a good book. So, a 4 out of 5 it is. Knowing that this book has so many things happening, I was thinking about it yesterday, I think this story would make a good mini series. Theres a lot happening and seeing it all on TV would make it even more interesting. ### ⭐⭐⭐ "You think reality is up for negotiation, that we think it's whatever you say it is...You must accept that you are not God." *by M***E on September 29, 2012* (2.5 stars) Focusing on life in the very small community of Pagford, perhaps similar to the small communities Rowling herself knew as a child in Gloucestershire, Rowling emphasizes the pettiness, the rivalries, the back-biting, and the cruelties of "ordinary" life as people try to cope with the messiness of existence as it unfolds. There is no magic here to offer any hope of change, no wizard to sweep down and offer aid, either to the characters or to the reader, and as the action progresses, with its focus on the unpleasant and often violent aspects of many lives, the reader is forced to examine the elements of chance which can devastate everything that one might dream of. Barry Fairbrother, a banker in his early forties, dies of an undiagnosed aneurism at the outset of the novel, a victim of a genetic defect. He leaves behind a wife and four children- and creates a "casual vacancy" on the Parish Council, which governs the community. Sixteen Council members deal with a variety of community issues, including the proposal to separate an area of Pagford called the Fields from the rest of this picturesque community and make it the responsibility of Yarvil, the more industrialized community which is its neighbor. A second issue involves the closure of a drug rehab facility located near the Fields, from which most of its clients are drawn. These clients are a financial and social burden for Pagford, since they vandalize bus stations, streetlights, footpaths and public seating, all of which must be maintained by Pagford. Inhabiting low-cost housing, these residents are also viewed as belonging to a completely different social class - lower economic level, less education, less sense of social responsibility, and somehow less worthy of the efforts by Pagford's citizens. Rowling introduces over thirty characters in the first fifty pages of the book, providing enough brief but specific descriptions for each character to participate in the plot, which quickly unfolds on several levels of simultaneous conflict. Husbands and wives fight, spouses fight with their lovers, children and parents fight, teenagers fight with each other (sometimes resorting to bullying on the internet), teenagers fight with teachers, and two children fight simply for survival. The issues relating to the "casual vacancy" on the Council create even more conflict. The style which was so effective for Rowling when she was writing Harry Potter is less effective in this "adult" novel. Some characters are memorable for some aspects of their characters without being unique, while on the level of plot, the conflicts and crises, based on real life, are already familiar to devoted readers of contemporary fiction and often feel trite. At five hundred pages, this novel gave Rowling many opportunities to introduce broad themes and develop them with sophistication and attention to universal values. Instead, she gives us a long novel which is sometimes exciting on the limited level of plot, but which remains on that limited level, never soaring into broader realms of wider scope. The characters here sometimes feel like paper dolls, limited by their rather stereotyped depictions, while their sheer numbers prevent the author from developing subtleties that make them come alive. What starts in Pagford stays in Pagford, unfortunately. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.jp/products/106658230-the-casual-vacancy](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/106658230-the-casual-vacancy) --- *Product available on Desertcart Japan* *Store origin: JP* *Last updated: 2026-08-15*