With its clear absence of wizards, house elves, and everything magically related, J.K. Rowling’s new novel “The Casual Vacancy” puts a new and extremely provocative spin on the local politics of a small village.

To be quite frank, this novel was not at all what I was expecting.  Being a fan of the Harry Potter series, I was accustomed to J.K. Rowling’s mystical plots and PG rated language.  “The Casual Vacancy” is not in any way like the Harry Potter series, nor is it a book to be ignored.

Based in the small English town of Pagford, “The Casual Vacancy” displays the intertwined lives of the local community members after the highly publicized death of a government committee member, Barry Fairbrother.  As more and more candidates enter the election to fill Fairbrother’s committee seat, the secrets, the lies, and the drama all unfold and engulf this small town in controversy.

Although dry and extremely dark at some points, Rowling did an admirable job in becoming an all seeing narrator to every character and conflict in the book. She is able to capture the voices of teenagers and senior citizens with authenticity that I can only expect from J.K. Rowling. “The Casual Vacancy” not only contains a dramatic, interesting, and provocative plot, but it also sheds light on the fundamental truth that no one person is ever perfect.

Rowling has succeeded in writing an extremely adult-themed book, complete with strong language, violence, and sexual scenes, and she has once again captured the minds of readers across the world.