[biffyclyro27]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17693206

"The story is centred on the death of Barry Fairweather, whose unexpected passing shocks the local villagers of Pagford.

Publishers Little, Brown & Co said: "Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty facade is a town at war."

What are your thoughts on this? I'm not sure it will be all that great. I think she created a fantastic and imaginative world with HP, but I don't think she is that great a writer. I think she will sell a lot, purely off the back of her reputation. But It sounds a little dull to be honest...

Still, I'll give it a fair chance.

[CharmQuark]

They say quit while you're ahead. I think it's playing safe my creating a book targeted at a different audience so people can't contrast or criticise as much.
I agree, she can write but, there was nothing special in the narrative that captures you, it was the idea of the world she created that was special. Nobody quotes famous lines from the books however there are references to characters and themes all the time in everyday life.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, she needs a pretty darn good idea to carry this through. Her book will be a success due to her history and is probably the reason she was published this time. But who am I to judge? I haven't read it yet.

[seanfromtheblock]

I don't think it's fair to dismiss her, this is a book for adults (which could potentially make a big difference) in a completely different genre, and she's had a good amount of writing experience since writing the first harry potter book.

It's unlikely to be a masterpiece, but it could quite conceivably be a good read.

[Julii92]

Even if she sells loads due to her "reputation" and nothing else, she's still earned that reputation.

[blueray]

I still think it would be great if she said "You know what?! I was joking about everything! I will be continuing Harry Potter!!

Fooled you fans didn't I?! You all know you can't live without Harry Potter!"

If only that were true.. *sobbing HP fan*


Why are you negging a harry potter fan! You hater! HATERZ GONNA HATE!

[CJM13]

Not to be rude to to Rowling, but the premise seems unbearably dull. It doesn't immediately grab me.

[biffyclyro27]

(Original post by CJM13)
Not to be rude to to Rowling, but the premise seems unbearably dull. It doesn't immediately grab me.

My thoughts exactly... Fairplay for trying something new, but it doesn't sound particularly amazing. Just another run of the mill book.

[Ra Ra Ra]

Everyone else is saying it...

Hot Fuzz?

[onthejubileeline]

Barry? Too close to Harry for my liking

[tasha96]

(Original post by Ra Ra Ra)
Everyone else is saying it...

Hot Fuzz?

So true! I hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out but it fits!

[James82]

Sounds better than Harry Potter anyway.

[JCC-MGS]

Sounds like a Midsomer Murders novel

[mrs_bellamy]

It doesn't sound particularly exciting, and I wouldn't consider buying a book with that description by any normal writer. However, it is unlikely she could write anything that lives up to expectations, as they are so ridiculously high, and I definitely think it's worth a read. I will pre-order it and give it a go. I think she is not a brilliant writer as such, as someone else mentioned people don't quote lines of HP, because they are very well written, rather than beautifully written. She is a hard working writer, and I think HP was so good because she put so much thought in to every detail of the story. There were no gaps in the plot, everything made sense, she had thought of every little detail about the characters, and even if these details were not in the book, it showed that she had thought of them. The story is not particularly original and the writing is not amazing, but it is still such a fantastic series of books. She has had quite a lot of time since HP, so if she has put a similar amount of time, thought and effort in to her adults book, it could be pretty good. I do feel slightly sorry for her having so much pressure on her for the next book. I hope people don't rip it apart too much. I am looking forward to reading it in September, when it will probably arrive by surprise as I will have forgotten that I pre-ordered it!

[lauraaimee]

I have my fingers crossed that this will be a pretty good book.
If you've read the harry potter books, you'll understand when I say that she has developed as a writer massively, and that is completely obvious that her writing style changed and grew as the books went on.
I was about 11 when the first book came out, so they grew with me.
Like everyone else, I expect big things from her future novels, and don't think I'll be disappointed (hopefully lol)

[AnnaChristina]

Echoing everyone else's views here - I personally wasn't keen on hearing that she was writing another book. And think that (for her own reputation's sake) think perhaps she should have written under another name. People WILL buy it just for her notoriety, but I have a horrible feeling some of the shine will come off her image, which is a shame because Harry Potter was such an achievement - she got people who had never read a thing before hooked on her books and had hoards of people queuing up at midnight for the next instalment - quite a feat!
Having said that, if writing is a passion of hers (as it clearly seems to be) then she should be more than entitled to publish anything - under whatever name she wants.
Not sure if I will read it - as someone else said, it sounds a little reminiscent of 'Hot Fuzz' but I hope for Rowling's sake that it's good.

[mel_1991]

It sounds interesting. I'll probably read it although I reckon people will compare it to Harry Potter's success.

[Daydreamer18]

I may read it out of curiosity. I'm not a JK Rowling fan particularly - I only read the first three Harry Potter books and wasn't quite under the spell everyone else is (excuse the pun) but I'd still be interested to see how this one turns out.

[Bobifier]

I think this book will sell as well as the Harry Potter books, and it will be her last big seller.

[Tweak6]

I am one of those ridiculously obsessed HP geeks, so I know I will definetly read the book.
Looking at the summary though, it's not something I would have picked up off the shelf if she hadn't written it, but it is also an adult book and not my usual genre. I think she is a fantastic writer, and it is partly the genre of HP that causes people to think she isn't. The reason quotes from her books don't go down in history is because they were written for teens! The same themes and morals are there as all other great writers, she just doen't need to sum it up in one statement.
So ya, I'm slightly disappointed with the summary but I think it will still be a great book!!!

[twinlensreflex]

Ditto all the 'meh' responses...

I love(d) HP, but I was a kid when I started reading them. I'm rereading a few now, and her writing style is really stilted. Seriously, I've read fan fiction that's better phrased than some of it. But it's the idea behind it that really fascinated me, I kinda didn't care about her writing ability...

New stuff sounds inexplicably dull though. -_-