http://pique.pk/culture/07-Oct-2013/the-cuckoo-s-calling

October, 2013

The Cuckoo’s calling

J.K Rowling

Rabia Ahmed

 

‘The Cuckoo’s Calling,’ J.K Rowling’s second venture into the world of adult muggles, is the first of a promised series featuring Cormorant Strike, a private detective.

Rowling had wished to return to writing via crime fiction, starting with this book but wanted to do so ‘without hype or expectation.’ So, she used the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Unfortunately Galbraith’s real identity did not remain secret for long but Rowling wishes to continue using the pseudonym for the series, perhaps whenever she writes science fiction, just as Agatha Christie used the name Mary Westmacott whenever she wrote romance. 

“It was a fantastic experience,’ Rowling said, speaking of this brief period of anonymity. ‘I only wish it could have gone on a little longer,’ she said. She has filed a lawsuit against the persons who broke her cover.

Whilst the cover existed, the book was turned down by at least one publisher. No publishing house would have refused a known J.K Rowling book, even if she were to write as badly as Rita Skeeter.

On the other hand, when the manuscript was accepted by Sphere Books (a trade name for Little, Brown and Company, the publishers of ‘The Casual Vacancy’) even before she was known as the author, Rowling must have been chuffed. She was published  on her own merit. Not that she, the author of Harry Potter should lack confidence in that regard; which proves her other point, about expectations.

There are similarities between this book and ‘Casual Vacancy.’ Both express Rowling’s personal aversion to the spoilt rich segment of society and her empathy for the struggles of the less well off. She’s obviously been there herself and is able to take her readers there as well. 

Even while it was thought to be the unknown Galbraith’s first book, ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ sold some copies, but when it was exposed as J.K Rowling’s latest effort, sales shot right up on Amazon.

The projected books will continue to star this book’s protagonist Cormorant Strike, an Afghan war veteran, known from now on as the man linked to the investigation into the death of Lula Landry, a supermodel. 

(As an aside, celebrity names are rarely this alliterative nowadays. I wish she’d chosen another name for her famous model).

There are, of course, faults in the book, and the biggest one would have struck me even if I weren’t looking for it: Rowling here is too meticulously descriptive, which she wasn’t before. You wonder at times where a particular description is leading to?, whether it has a bearing on what follows? Will a minutely described object turn out to be a murder weapon? The closely detailed dress incriminating evidence? But no, she’s simply setting every scene very carefully before she starts the action, actually a bit too carefully. It’s only towards the end that she stops projecting the impression of being a creative writing major, doing her careful best to sketch everything as she was taught. Perhaps being less descriptive was a failing she found with her earlier writing.

On the other hand, the descriptions stop short of being tedious, and do help in visualizing the scenes and the characters although they really could have been less stand alone and more woven into the action.

So, did I read this book thinking, ‘Oh, I’m reading a new crime fiction called ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling.’ Or, did I read it as ‘Hey, a new book by J.K Rowling!’

I have to admit it was the latter. You can’t escape it, not if you’re as huge a fan of Harry Potter as I am.

Knowing who the author is increases the challenge Rowling faces: she must make the reader enjoy the book because it is good, not because she wrote it, and generate a wish for sequels.

Did I enjoy the book?

Yes, very much. The story unfolded well. The characters were skillfully drawn; I’d like to maintain their acquaintance, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, which will apparently be released in 2014.

This book is more interesting than ‘The Casual Vacancy.’ The plot grabs you; when everything is about to be resolved at the end, I found myself covering the rest of the page with my hand, so I didn’t see the ending without meaning to.

Still, the only way Rowling can now prove her undoubted skill in this genre is if she succeeds in selling subsequent books in the series as well as this one has sold; and also if she manages to totally eliminate Harry from their pages, and replace him with Strike.

A new hero has been born, a most interesting one.