JK Rowling's new book: The Casual Vacancy

[NeonGenesis]

I agree it's important to look back at your earlier work but I don't think it's really all that necessary to go in a totally opposite direction from your roots either. There are plenty of other successful authors and actors who mostly stick with one genre and have been just as popular as Rowling, if not moreso. Like Stephen King spent almost his whole life writing horror books, Johnny Depp is in every Tim Burton movie ever made basically, and George Lucas made a living off of Star Wars. You can look back at your earlier work without having to go in an opposite direction to make a statement.

[micomator]

I think that even though the story will be different, the styles and themes will be similar. Obviously now that she has been living in the public eye, I think that privacy will be a focal point.

I've actually made a website with it's own forum devoted to this book, that went live yesterday, this is the first place I've linked to it If you feel like having a chat in the forums there, it will be your playground till the other members start signing up

[Wab]

Not beyond the realms of possibility but it depends on whether Little Brown is going to distribute ARCs or will embargo the book like Bloomsbury did with HP.

[Yoana]

Originally Posted by AldeberanBlack

The plot sounds like an episode of "The League Of Gentlemen"

Or Midsomer Murders.

ETA: Someone already said that. Well, I really like Midsomer Murders, so I for one am excited about the description.

[SopophorousBean]

I like that the book is described as being "blackly comic" and from the description it sounds like something I would enjoy, but I read quite a wide range of books anyway so it'd probably have been difficult for me to completely discount reading it altogether. Everywhere I've seen is offering for pre-order at £10 at the moment which seems a very good deal for a newly released hardback.

[TheRemix]

im so excited for the new book

[Wab]

Originally Posted by NeonGenesis

Like Stephen King spent almost his whole life writing horror books

Although King never saw himself as a horror writer.

Stephen King I never thought of myself as a horror writer. That’s what other people think. And I never said jack **** about it...So if the people wanted to say “You're this”, as long as the books sold, that was fine. I thought, I am going to zip my lip and write what I wanted to write. http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2012/0...interview.html

Johnny Depp is in every Tim Burton movie ever made basically

Depp is in fewer than half of Burton's full-length movies (eight out of 17).

[TheRemix]

Originally Posted by micomator

I think that even though the story will be different, the styles and themes will be similar. Obviously now that she has been living in the public eye, I think that privacy will be a focal point.

I've actually made a website with it's own forum devoted to this book, that went live yesterday, this is the first place I've linked to it If you feel like having a chat in the forums there, it will be your playground till the other members start signing up

i joined im excited haha

[SopophorousBean]

http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/TheCasualVacancyCover

The cover's been revealed! Not really sure what to think. It looks kind of vintage doesn't give anything away either, which I wasn't expecting it too but lots of people seem disappointed there's nothing to try and decipher clues from

[Spacecadet]

I was quite underwhelmed by the cover. I get what they are trying to do with the ballot check box but it seems a bit too simple.

[MrSleepyHead]

512 pages! I guess I wasn't expecting that. For some reason - even though I have read all 7 Harry Potter books... - I was expecting a bit smaller scale book. I guess it was the synopsis that seemed to me insufficient to sustain a large book. But clearly JKR has tricks up her sleeves, and knowing her (the author that exceeded children's books accepted length limits with SS/PS!) I am unsurprised. The synopsis still does not leave me too intrigued, but I think the combination of synopsis and length indicates a much more complex and thrilling story than is suggested.

As for the cover art, it is interesting. It seems very retro and simple, but not unpleasant. It is not a cover that draws me in, but perhaps JKR is hoping to draw readers in with the story and reviews (and, of course, her own fame) rather than the cover. And the old adage holds true...

[yorkiedoodle]

Personally I find the fact that they've capitalised her name with the exception of the I very irritating... or should that be iRRiTATiNG?

[RikuStark]

As simple as the cover is, I like it! The colors and the font is what would draw me in if I had no idea about JKR or this book beforehand. Very retro, like MrSleepyHead has said.

[HMN]

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Or at least that is what I'm hoping for here.

I think she'll have created an engaging story, with loads of political commentary. I think it could be really interesting - I just hope she keeps a level of humor through it like she did in HP.

[MrSleepyHead]

Originally Posted by SopophorousBean

It looks kind of vintage doesn't give anything away either, which I wasn't expecting it too but lots of people seem disappointed there's nothing to try and decipher clues from

I would say this is probably a good thing! This book definitely seems to distance JKR from Harry Potter - intentionally or unintentionally - so it is equally fitting that the obsessiveness of JKR's followers is curbed a bit. When I remember the lead up to Pottermore and some fans trying to divine numbers from the squiggles in the desk on the front page art, I am a bit relieved that this cover is simple and (seemingly) innocently plain. But I'm sure some fans will discover some hidden runes or something that will indicate an 8th Harry Potter book!

And I agree with RikuStark: the flamboyancy of the cover is such that it is eye-catching, at the least. If this book were on display at the library or bookstore, I don't know how many would be able to resist investigating. But, then again, some may discount it as overly girly. But as HMN says, don't judge a book by it's cover.

[Yoana]

Originally Posted by HMN

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Or at least that is what I'm hoping for here.

I think she'll have created an engaging story, with loads of political commentary. I think it could be really interesting - I just hope she keeps a level of humor through it like she did in HP.

I'm sure she will. Gentle humour seems to be organic in her writing.

[Schlubalybub]

I actually like the cover

Oh, and my boyfriend preordered the book for me yesterday

[ccollinsmith]

I find the cover ugly. I like the retro concept, but I hate the stark blazing hot colors. And yes, I realize it's just me and not some objective statement about quality.

The cover doesn't matter to me, though... I've still got the book on pre-order and plan to start reading it the day it's released.

[freelantzer]

Meh. I don't love or hate the cover. But I am looking forward to reading this book. I don't really have any expectations, but I do like her writing so I think I'll probably like this, too.

[Moriath]

I'm excited for this!

The cover is a bit meh though. I've seen similar ones, so it isn't exactly novel and original. But then, one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, right?