Disappointment in reading a J.K. Rowling book
597223
I found this difficult to read and could not do so without a dictionary beside me, which slowed down the reading process. The story line left me cold regarding the destructive  attitudes of the characters, and the sexual approach to the younger ones. I know that I am naive regarding the youth of today. I have not read any Harry Potter Books but have seen the movies, and I find the violence in todays movies aimed at the youth is overwhelming. e.g. The hunger games.  It is no wonder we are going to hell in a hand basket.
p.s. I consider myself well read and educated but a lot of the words eluded me and when I learnt their meaning could not work out how I would use them in my conversations.
4259771
If you've read a Harry Potter book, you probably will not enjoy this book. I was not a huge fan. It took me so long to get through this book, that I had trouble even finishing the story. It was not as crazy exciting as the Potter series, and I was expecting so much more from this book. Sadly, I was disappointed and unimpressed by the topics she went over.
3311279
I bought the book because I admire J.K. Rowling's writing.  I LOVED the Harry Potter series.  Rowling is exceptional at characterization and at setting, and at plot! However, in "The Casual Vacancy" only the plot keeps it going.  I had to read to the end, but I suffered.  I didn't care about any of the characters and I saw no need for the intense swearing.  What a disappointment!
3225050
J.K Rowling obviously did not write this book. There were no clever British History inserts, no jokes, none of the plain ole' mischievous Harry that we all know and love. Frankly, I didn't like it at all. Sure it was an OK book, but "OK" doesn't cut it in the Potter fandom. There is no Harry Potter without J.K Rowling, and it showed. To be realistic, I would never recommend this book as a HP Sequel because the only thing it will ever have in common is the fact there's a Potter on the title. I'm still hoping for a real, justified book about HP next gen, (and of course a prequel about our favorite fantastic four, the marauders) one that put very own J.K Rowling writes, because honestly, this was a Cruciatus Curse to my heart.
4257014
I, like many others, didn't look closely enough to see that this book was not written by J.K. Rowling. While I was not put off by the script format (since this is a copy of the script for the stage play rather than a novel), I was very much put off by the unbelievable plot and the frankly ridiculous dialogue. I have nothing against fanfiction (which this so clearly is), but I wish I had known that Rowling had no hand in it AT ALL, and that it had been better written. I've read better fanfictions online for free from authors who only wrote for their pleasure and not for money. Shame on the publisher for subjecting fans to this cash-grab.
2696381
This worthless book only got one star because I had to give it one to submit the review.
Rowlings storytelling skills, so evident in the Potter series, described characters for whom I have no sympathy and no interest. Could not read even the first hundred pages of this dreadful book. I read to enjoy, not to get depressed. If there was some lovely redemption or moral victory, it was lost on me. If I could get a refund on this horrid thing, I would.
96844
I was very disappointed in the book, the language was terrible and the plot thin. I figured out what happened and who did it before I finished the book. Maybe J.K Rowling should stick to writing children books or at least clean up the language in her books she writes for adults.
8921
I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series and felt really let down by this book.  It is so short and feels like hardly any effort was put into it - I read it in an hour and came away feeling like I wasted that hour of my life.  The stories aren't imaginative of interesting at all.  Pretty lame to tell you the truth.  And definitely not for younger kids.  Ugh...I guess Rowling is at the point where she is so rich and famous, that she can publish mediocre (or even worse) work from now on...sad...
1780296
I'm a huge Harry Potter/JK Rowling fan, but this was just terrible.  I wish I had never read it because it almost ruined Harry Potter for me entirely, but luckily I have since been able to compartmentalize in my head the difference between this craptastic bizarre work of fanfic and the REAL Harry Potter series.  So there's that.

I can't go in depth too much about what I hated without giving any spoilers, but I will say I don't think the tone was consistent with Rowling's style of writing at all (yes, I knew it was a play and I know plays read differently, blah, blah, blah. I just feel this way, OK?). I thought the story line was completely absurd (YES EVEN IN A FICTIONAL WORLD OF MAGIC) and the plot relied too much on old played out themes that have already been explored in numerous other works.  Also, just putting this out there, but Harry's son is an insufferable little brat and I hated him as a character so that didn't really help either.

So idk... I guess read it if you're a big HP fan, but just know it will disappoint you.
1412138
J.K. Rowling should stick to Harry Potter type books.  This book dragged on endlessly. The outcome was very predictable and the characters were poorly developed.
1886466
Oy vey--this book is a mess. It is dreadfully dull.  I will slog through it somehow this year, so all is not lost but--I will never believe that Ms. Rowling wrote it.  No way.
2011218
J.K. Rowling is a very talented writer and I enjoyed the way she wrote this story. The characters were similarly unlikeable to the Dursley's in the Harry Potter series. I am very sensitive, so the ending of the book upset me greatly and I could barely finish it. It was depressing, the characters were depressing but probably true to life. Just because my personality has a hard time with tragedies doesn't mean she is less of a writer. I kind of wish I hadn't ever read it...good art always evokes strong feelings
4644313
this is an insult to the world of Harry Potter. I've been a huge fan of the series since the release of the first movie. Which inspired my 7 year old self to love reading. Once you get past the fact that we're getting a "new" story, and that its harry... please... sit down, and think about how out of freaking character everyone is. I wish I hadn't gotten the Kindle edition. I hate it so much I wish I could return it, and get my money back. The fact that JKR even put her name on this is embarrassing.
266834
Quentin is on his way to an interview for Princeton when his life changes dramatically--He finds out that magic is real, and he passes an exam that grants him admission into a special magician's college.  The book then moves through his life at college and afterwards when he discovers the fantasy he's been obsessed with since childhood is actually real.  What happens after that, I have no idea.

I really wanted to like this book!  Really, I did.  I was excited when it became available at my university's library (Yes, I cheated and checked it out at the library).  I got through the first 200 pages of the book and realized that the plot had not really picked up and I was continuing to read only because I was waiting for something to happen.  Once he graduated, I figured something would happen, and it really didn't.  By the time a plot twist happens (referenced above as vaguely as I could so I don't spoil the book), I really did not care anymore.  So I've decided to return the book with the hopes that someone else will read and enjoy, but I'm off to better books.

The Harry Potter parallels are certainly there, and I read a review of this book that referred to it as the perfect book for people who read Harry Potter as children and young adults and wanted to read something similar for an older age group.  The book is certainly for older readers, no doubt about that.  But the comparison to Harry Potter is superficial at best.  If you're thinking about reading this because you miss Harry Potter, you're reading it for the wrong reason and may be sorely disappointed.  This book is more about early adult angst and the struggle to figure out what to do with one's life.  There just wasn't enough in the journey part of the story to keep me interested.
179978
Was this really written by J.K. Rowling?  It didn't feel like it.  Sentimental and awkward.
1465024
This book is not easy to get into like the Harry Potter books. I am really disappointed with this book.
2868945
This play was not what i expecting. I want depth, i want character development, world building and an author who builds a story that captures my attention. This thing was none of them and I'm very disappointed in J.K. Rowling for even thinking this was acceptable. I've read fanfiction that had more depth in its first paragraph than the whole play had.