JK ROWLING THE CASUAL VACANCY

[vanordinaire]

I'd finished the books I took on holiday during the summer and was desperate for something to read for the last couple of days and this is all I could find in English. I couldn't get into it at all and didn't finish it (I usually finish a book in 1 or 2 days).
Unfortunately my wife put it in my case and I unwittingly brought it home. Not wanting to be beaten,I left it in my car and I've been picking away at it a few minutes at a time waiting for meetings etc just to get it finished.
I've eventually finished it and must say that I found very little to recommend it other than good characterisation and a reasonable attempt to pull all the rambling little sub-plots together at the very end. I hadn't read any of her 'kids' books but had heard they were very good and it left me thinking 'Why would a very rich, and successful author write something so mediocre?'
I've just realised that my question was self answering, it was all about money. A huge chunk of her earnings was from film rights to previous books and, while this book isn't up to much, I'm sure it would make a very successful film...or maybe I'm wrong, maybe I missed something. Can anyone tell who enjoyed it me what I missed?

[vanordinaire]

Thanks for the reply, what you have said really makes sense. The thing that confused me were the number of glowing endorsements the book had including one quoted on the cover from Melvin Bragg, someone who I very much respect as an author and critic. Just made me feel I'd missed something.