The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rowling demonstrates the difficulty of rising above poverty. Krystal tries to take care of Robbie, go to school, and joins the rowing team. In spite of help from Mr. Fairbrother, she was never able to escape the dragging poverty.

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Pagford & Yarvil - adjoining Parishes

Cast of Characters: (in order of appearance, more or less)

Barry Fairbrother - Pagford parish councilor, grew up in the Fields, started girls rowing club.  Dies of ruptured aneurism in parking lot of local golf club. Leaves the "Casual Vacancy" on the council.
Mary Fairbrother - married 19 yrs, has 4 children
Niamh,

Howard Mollison - father of Miles,  owns local deli - chair of local Council
Shirley Mollison - did not like Fairbrother & others on Council, mother of Miles, administers Council website
Miles Mollison - solicitor, partner of Gavin
Samantha Mollison - wife, who runs a lingerie shop


Gavin Hughes - single, dating Kay, solicitor, partner of Miles, Barry is his best friend

Colin Wall - friends of the Fairbrothers, asst principal of school, plagued by obscene thoughts, "Cubby"
Tessa Wall
Stuart Wall - nicknames Fats, Fatboy, friends with Andrew "Arf" Price

Ruth Price - wife of  Simon, mother of
Simon Price - bully & thief
Paul Price - younger brother of Andrew
Andrew Price - peanut allergy, "Arf", friend of

Dr. Vikram Jawanda - cardiac surgeon
Dr. Parminder Jawanda - G.P., another Councillor, secretly in love with Barry?
Jaswant, Sukhvinder and Rajpal Jawanda - children of


Kay - Gaia's mother, social worker
Gaia - new girl in school, Andrew has crush on her

Krystal Weedon - from Fields, sleeps around,

Maureen - business partner of Howard Mollison - the Deli owner

The sudden, casual vacancy, sets in motion an avalanche of conniving by the adults to gain the upper hand in the council.  The two factions are either trying to move the Fields into the neighboring Parish (Yarvil), or keep them in Pagford.  The issues of the poor are represented by Krystal, her addicted mother, and her brother Robbie. In spite of efforts to help them out of their poverty, they fail.

Daily Show interview with J.K. Rowling

Worth reading!