J.K. Rowling Still Bewitching

By Valerie Dunn
Staff Writer

The story of J.K. Rowling’s unsuspecting success has morphed into a modern legend. According to the now world famous author, the idea for the “Harry Potter” series simply fell into her head while on a train to London. After struggling against poverty, single-motherhood, and reluctant publishers, Rowling made literary history and impacted a generation of readers.

In addition to the awards garnered by the books, Rowling herself has won prestigious accolades including the Hans Christen Anderson Award, Freedom of the City of London, and Order of the British Empire. Rowling has risen from children’s author to role-model for budding writers. Her inspiring success awakened a sense of glamor in the novel writing profession. But her largest impact embodies itself in a generation of readers.

Rowling continues her tradition of producing highly readable and engaging work in “The Casual Vacancy”, her first novel for adults. With themes of prejudice, social inequality, and teenage strife, “The Casual Vacancy” witnesses the crisis in the village of Pagford resulting from the death of council chairman Barry Fairbrother.

This time, the idea behind Rowling’s newest novel came to her not by train but by plane. (Rowling herself has admitted a certain gratitude for transportation.) Nevertheless, “The Casual Vacancy” resonates with Rowling’s flair for storytelling and character implication which so engendered millions of readers to “Harry Potter.”

Potential readers should realize, however, that in no way is “The Casual Vacancy” a continuation of the “Harry Potter” regime. Centered around small town council conflicts, “The Casual Vacancy” contains more overtly political themes than does “Harry Potter”. Though Pagford features no Quidditch matches, the village’s cast of characters is perhaps quirkier thank the students of Hogwarts. Rooted firmly in reality, the darkness of “The Casual Vacancy” looms less grandly than the threat of Voldemort.

However, like “Harry Potter,” “The Casual Vacancy” examines the importance of human goodness especially in the absence of it.

Though the book has received mixed reviews, “The Casual Vacancy” is a highly worthwhile book inducing both thought and enjoyment. Rowling knows what she wants to say and says it with precision and intelligence.

Writing for an adult audience, Rowling proves the variety of her vocabulary featuring dictionary delights, dialects, and profanity enough to make Mrs. Weasley blush. Rowling’s is a fearless approach to the ugliest social subjects. Still, she writes without lecture or advocacy because at the heart of her writing is indeed a heart throbbing with sincerity and compassion for all characters.

When Rowling announced her intentions to publish again, both ardent Potter fans and stubborn muggles clamored to see what words waited on the pages to be read. Subsequently, “The Casual Vacancy” debuted at the very top of the New York Times best sellers list and currently sits in second place.

She is a literary landmark to our generation, and more importantly a woman who writes with passion for the craft. Though “The Casual Vacancy” presumably will not inspire young and old to gather in costumes, the book is a reminder that magic still lurks within Rowling’s pen.