tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post2505892659609578657..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: The Casual Vacancy (a book review post)Andrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-70262062754540512452014-03-01T15:02:08.918-08:002014-03-01T15:02:08.918-08:00Lisa: It seems like she's moving more and more...Lisa: It seems like she's moving more and more back to Harry, which I find kind of sad.<br /><br />Sally: It's interesting you would say that, about it being kind, because it's in the same vein as my other negative reviews, which are usually viewed as me being mean.<br />hehAndrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-44470410848624422222014-03-01T04:25:42.815-08:002014-03-01T04:25:42.815-08:00I think your review was quite kind. I had to give...I think your review was quite kind. I had to give up on this book for many of the reasons you have cited and more.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14090018804016223955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-64515104300179182162014-03-01T02:27:21.913-08:002014-03-01T02:27:21.913-08:00Sounds like JK needs better beta readers for her g...Sounds like JK needs better beta readers for her grown up stories: maybe I won't worry about reading this but I would have a peek at other stuff. <br />She must get pressured to do more Harry Potter stories, and I don't envy her that level of scrutiny. Do admire the success and the daring to be different.Lisa Southardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09711376747848601409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-61005804058459932272014-02-28T18:33:54.321-08:002014-02-28T18:33:54.321-08:00TAS: Yeah, it's hard to know. I mean, she went...TAS: Yeah, it's hard to know. I mean, she went from, "I'm finished with Harry Potter," to, "Well, I might be willing to consider writing more Harry Potter some time in the future," to, "I think I have more Harry Potter stories to tell."Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-13282204809125516952014-02-28T18:17:52.997-08:002014-02-28T18:17:52.997-08:00She seems starved for attention. The whole "...She seems starved for attention. The whole "I really wanted Harry to be with Hermione" thing - why bother throwing that at us at this point except that you just can't stand the idea that we're not talking about you anymore? Sorry to hear the book was disappointing.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-89663588914513427912014-02-28T10:29:01.542-08:002014-02-28T10:29:01.542-08:00Katie: Yeah, it can be tough to keep going when yo...Katie: Yeah, it can be tough to keep going when you don't feel attached to any of the characters.<br />You should try Mary Doria Russell.<br /><br />Trisha: I think the transition can be difficult to manage when everyone has labeled you and stuck you in a box. I need to check out her detective novel.<br /><br />Veronica: I don't think I've seen that one. Or maybe I have? Ah, bah... now, I'm going to have to go check on netflix...<br /><br />Mary Mary: Well, unless you're Shakespeare. He managed to pull off the epic death endings, but I can't think of anyone else since then.<br /><br />Stephanie: The point, I think, was just to show "real" people. That all people are these jealous, petty things. But I don't know a lot of people like the characters in this book. Some, sure, but not on the level she uses them in Vacancy, which seems to say "this is everyone."Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-42416001649200231012014-02-28T09:09:27.039-08:002014-02-28T09:09:27.039-08:00Your observation that it's "great writing...Your observation that it's "great writing at the micro-level" is probably the nicest thing I've heard about this book. I don't mind a lack of likable characters if there's some point to them being that way, but it doesn't sound like there is here.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-77671386778382003162014-02-28T08:41:10.003-08:002014-02-28T08:41:10.003-08:00"Well, it's interesting like a traffic ac..."Well, it's interesting like a traffic accident is interesting."<br /><br />This made me laugh! And, it's kind of sad. I don't think any author wants their book to look like a traffic accident...unfortunately, you probably hit the nail on the head here.<br /><br />I've heard a lot about this book, and your take is pretty similar to other critiques out there. It's too bad Rowling couldn't pull the story together and make something halfway satisfying with it.<br /><br />Sorry, but killing off your characters in the end just to finally wrap the story up doesn't work out with any type of book.Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-49689495573539710472014-02-28T06:57:49.307-08:002014-02-28T06:57:49.307-08:00In some ways the end of this book sounds a bit lik...In some ways the end of this book sounds a bit like the movie IDENTITY with John Cusack and Ray Liotta--in short it's about people at a hotel, trapped, and suddenly they start dropping like flies. It was a great thriller, but I felt cold at the conclusion...<br /><br />It's probably why I shy away from mystery suspense books. I want the warm fuzzies when I read. Not a nightmare-inducing hellscape sure to aggravate my insomnia...<br /><br />Thanks for sharing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18159799725109784001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-42096050328520934962014-02-28T04:44:38.484-08:002014-02-28T04:44:38.484-08:00I haven't read it, but probably will someday. ...I haven't read it, but probably will someday. Got the spoiler, but that's okay. You DID warn me. :D<br /><br />I'll probably have forgotten by the time I get around to the read anyway.<br /><br />Maybe JK will learn to be a bit more subtle in her future adult works!Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-23584221221535999102014-02-28T03:21:06.357-08:002014-02-28T03:21:06.357-08:00I put this book down over a year ago for all the r...I put this book down over a year ago for all the reasons you mention. I guess more than anything my reading is character driven, and if I don't have someone to root for, why bother?Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-75394277393649245132014-02-16T11:54:07.342-08:002014-02-16T11:54:07.342-08:00Lee: That depends on what you mean, I suppose. I c...Lee: That depends on what you mean, I suppose. I can't stress enough that the writing in this was excellent. The actual writing. From that standpoint, her game is fine. More than fine.<br /><br />Jo: I don't think it's the kind of thing you'd like.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-45923536910296949112014-02-16T05:53:01.452-08:002014-02-16T05:53:01.452-08:00I'm just like Lee, no intention of reading it ...I'm just like Lee, no intention of reading it and now will certainly not bother.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-82181060579864647372014-02-15T18:43:52.330-08:002014-02-15T18:43:52.330-08:00I had no plans to read this book and now you'v...I had no plans to read this book and now you've given me a good reason not to. I guess Rowling is going to have to step up her game if she's going to remain successful as an adult author.<br /><br />Lee <br />An A to Z Co-Host <br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-36137992384318062052014-02-14T19:24:52.045-08:002014-02-14T19:24:52.045-08:00M.J.: I'm not even sure if there was someone w...M.J.: I'm not even sure if there was someone we were supposed to be rooting for. Other than the dead guy... who was dead.<br /><br />Alex: It's not quite aimless; it's just... scattered.<br /><br />JeffO: The writing is good. In fact, the -writing- is probably better than in Harry Potter. The story, though... well, it lacks any charm.<br /><br />Pat: So unlikable characters are a problem now? Or you're having unlikable character overload?<br /><br />Briane: It didn't look or feel like symbolism to me other than that the death of one of the characters does bring to a close (and to nothing) the life of the guy that died at the beginning.<br /><br />I do like that she went and did something that was not Harry, and I hope she doesn't go back to Harry as it seems more and more that she will.<br /><br />Rusty: I want to read that one, but I haven't been able to work it into my list, yet.<br /><br />Michael: I'm not sure what you're saying. It sounds like you're saying that because she has money it doesn't matter the quality of the book, to which I would have to disagree.<br /><br />Jeanne: Yeah, I'm not thinking that's it. I have a philosophical disagreement with CPs.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-56768001479398657502014-02-14T15:11:48.291-08:002014-02-14T15:11:48.291-08:00Well, I'll put that one on the "To Miss&q...Well, I'll put that one on the "To Miss" list. Maybe she needs more critique partners.J E Oneilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780097298061829471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-51357249554431145982014-02-14T11:17:36.110-08:002014-02-14T11:17:36.110-08:00Money is all that matters. She's rolling in it...Money is all that matters. She's rolling in it. You are not. Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-6662439999169429402014-02-14T08:26:21.864-08:002014-02-14T08:26:21.864-08:00I heard her Detective novel is pretty good. This s...I heard her Detective novel is pretty good. This sounded like a mess from the blurb alone. I am confident that she can write well, and I guess she's earned the right to do whatever she wants. But I'd like to see her do another multi volume fantasy epic. Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-89901683768500989772014-02-14T07:31:21.479-08:002014-02-14T07:31:21.479-08:00One of my partners was reading this book and she s...One of my partners was reading this book and she said one day "I've been reading that JK Rowling book" in a tone of voice that I would use for "I've been eating this beet sandwich" (which FYI I just found is a thing people sometimes eat, gross), so your review actually UPPED my estimation of the book.<br /><br />Is it possible that Rowling was using all the deaths at the end to bookend the death of the main character at the start? I'm REALLY bad at symbolism and other literary devices, as I almost never (consciously) use them (seriously, I don't: most of my attempts at using a literary device are hamhanded at best), but maybe that was her point?<br /><br />I like that she tried something different, though. She didn't need to write, period; she's a gazillionaire, and could've spent the rest of her life whipping out terrible Harry Potter crap just to milk that market to death, but instead she branched out. It's like your favorite band, U2: they could've just Joshua Treed themselves for 20 years but they tried some different stuff, too. Hard to fault that, even if it didn't work out.<br /><br />Plus, the fact that she had enough skill to keep you reading says a lot about her as a writer. Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-19529022873084659422014-02-14T06:50:31.223-08:002014-02-14T06:50:31.223-08:00Unlikable characters are not usually a problem for...Unlikable characters are not usually a problem for me, but then I watched like six episodes of "House of Cards" last night to prep for the new season on Netflix. And then this morning I started reading "Hollywood" by Charles Bukowski, who does not write likable characters either.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-35327969145247172102014-02-14T03:36:21.684-08:002014-02-14T03:36:21.684-08:00I received this as a Christmas gift but just crack...I received this as a Christmas gift but just cracked into it this week, as I had too many things lined up ahead of it. Because of that, I didn't read beyond your first paragraph.<br /><br />My own thoughts so far are that this is a tough book for me to get into. It's taken a week to get to page 50, though in fairness, I've been busy this week. Still, it's not holding my attention very well so far. What it's lacking right now is the sheer charm that Harry Potter had, though granted it's not supposed to be a charming book.<br /><br />The thing is, I really want to like it. I want it to be good. I want her to be successful in a non-Potter way. Hopefully, I'll be able to get into it more as we go.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-74129148518286753862014-02-14T03:35:31.981-08:002014-02-14T03:35:31.981-08:00Sounds like it just wanders along aimlessly. Yes, ...Sounds like it just wanders along aimlessly. Yes, that is real life, but most of us read to escape real life.<br />Not a fan of third person omniscient, either.<br />This was never a book I wanted to read anyway.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-58326960753779571662014-02-13T22:10:46.034-08:002014-02-13T22:10:46.034-08:00I had a very similar reaction to this novel. It to...I had a very similar reaction to this novel. It took me <i>forever</i> to read it, too, because I wasn't really rooting for anyone.M.J. Fifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626475963328519693noreply@blogger.com