The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

So J.K. Rowling's writing was pretty good as far as I judge it.  I enjoyed the way she bounced between scenes and kept the story steady with an understated but constant crescendo regarding the climax of the book.  It was thought-provoking in that I became acutely aware of how I treat other people and how I think about them.  I am resolute to be kinder to everyone I come in contact with after reading this novel.

It was very dark and the language was very sad.  I found it unbelievable in the lack of joy the characters had in their lives.  Even their religions seemed empty and meaningless in their portrayals.  I liked and agreed with how Rowling made Krystal, who was portrayed as one of society's most undesirable people into one of the most innocent and the most vile creature, Krystal's mother Terri, was actually just dealing with the life she had and could have used help in order to survive.  I enjoyed the way that Rowling described these characters and once we understood the descriptions made our decisions regarding them as, perhaps, one of the citizens in the town would have.  As the novel unfolds, we understand that things are not what they may have seemed and perceptions very likely have changed in most readers' minds regarding the characters we were getting to know.  Maybe some readers or all do not feel Krystal and Terri were innocent victims to the circumstances they faced in life, and I do not mean to say I think they should not be responsible for their actions and that they had no other options but the choices they made; I think the characters could have made far better choices, but the ones that were made were totally understandable to me considering their backgrounds.

Basically, I was made to realize that meanness to fellow humans is not usually the right choice to make regardless of who you are.  I think that is good.

The swearing is very bad.  I can't believe most people talk like this.  It seemed disingenuous for the characters to speak with such improper grammar so constantly and use such copious amounts of vulgarity and profanity.  The drudgery that was life seemed overdone in that there was no happiness that any of these characters experienced.  Too unbelievable to me.  I don't know if I'm just that off in my own reality and happy for no reason or if my perception is like most peoples'.  I've had super horrible things happen in my life, but in the center of it, I am happy and experience many joyful events.  These people are portrayed (all of them) as miserable entities of wretched existence, including the teenagers.

I also find certain aspects of British culture very unenjoyable and Rowlings captured the essence of whatever it is (I don't know what it is I don't like) in this novel.  I felt like I was watching an episode of Downtown Abby or Doc Martin, both of which I can't stand.

I would give this book a 5/10 and I would be cautious about reading another of J.K. Rowlings' adult books.  I am sure this book is good for other people though.

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

I thought this book was very good in terms of learning about the history of China and America and the relations the two countries had.  It is shameful the awful way in which people treat each other and hopefully from this novel we can be more aware of it and more respectful of differences.

This book is about two female sisters and their lives together from childhood to adult.  Two sisters lived in Shanghai to a moderately wealthy family and then all was lost.  When war broke out the sisters ended up living in the United States.  What life was like in China in the 1930s and what life was like in the United States for Chinese people in the 1940s and 50s in California is described.  How a Chinese person may have felt is recorded as well as a glimpse of Chinese and Chinese/American culture.

I enjoyed the book.  The story was very sad.  I would give this book a 7/10.