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On June 30, 1997 the world changed for millions of children and adults worldwide. On this date we were introduced to a literary character by the name of Harry Potter, the boy who lived. The creator of this character seemed to be endowed with the very same magical powers as our hero, or at least she was armed with one of the magical quills from her books. In the Harry Potter series, muggles everywhere were amazed and mesmerized by the rich and detailed world of wizards and witches. Ms. Rowling kept us satisfied with 6 more books and annual big budget Hollywood spectacles. Everything associated with Harry Potter was pure magic, and the queen of it all was J.K. Rowling. Amazingly, there were publishers who turned down her first Harry Potter book. One wonders what those people are doing for a living now.

Well one thing is for sure, when Ms. Rowling wrote her first post-Harry Potter novel entitled The Casual Vacancy, no one would ever turn her down again. In this novel, Ms. Rowling seems to have drawn on her personal story of how she grew up. The story is a tale that reminds us that the "Haves" have some responsibility for the "Have-Nots". What's interesting to note is that had J.K. written this book as her first novel, she may never have been published and the world may have never been introduced to the world of Hogwarts. I am sure this is the case in some alternate universe.

The Casual Vacancy is a story of a middle class town in England called Pagford which would be a perfect place to live and raise a family were it not for the housing project on its outskirts called "the Fields". It seems that housing projects in England are afflicted with the same social ills as in New York or any other American city.

The story centers on what to do about "the Fields" and the political posturing of members of the parish council, the governing body of Pagford. A kind-hearted man and champion for the less fortunate, Barry Fairbrother, dies in the beginning of the book.

His death affects the tormented assistant school principal with a difficult son, a Sikh woman doctor on the parish council, and, most central - Krystal Weedon. A tough girl from a tough background, but has great athletic talent for rowing.

The story is a character driven story of people trying to fill Barry's seat on the council and their interpersonal relationship.

This book will not enjoy the success of the Harry Potter series, but what would?