Reviews

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

kkwf's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kellytan's review

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challenging reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

saville's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I had so much fun doing the Dickens-Kingsolver project and the challenges of slogging through David Copperfield were well worth it for this book. Not only was it amazing to follow how closely the two books were linked, but gave me even more appreciation for how Barbara adapted and improved upon it for a modern retelling. The characters are all so well developed & memorable and the story is heartbreaking and hopeful.

20hmwalldroff23's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

morgan_barkoff's review against another edition

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5.0

Although it was a slow start, I really enjoyed this book. It took me back to my own childhood growing up in the country and visiting family in a town not far from Lee County (where this story takes place)

Demon Copperhead is a compelling coming-of-age tale that does a great job of portraying life in the Appalachian region of Virginia. The novel captures the essence of growing up amidst poverty, substance abuse, and systemic challenges like the lack of adequate education and job opportunities. The narrative also sheds light on the harsh realities of life in Appalachia, from the exploitation by industries like coal and big Pharma, to the perpetuation of harmful “hillbilly”stereotypes in the media.

Amidst these hardships, Demon Copperhead also celebrates the resilience and warmth of Appalachian communities, as well as the beautiful landscapes. The author skillfully depicts the simplicity and closeness of rural life, highlighting the unique sense of belonging and camaraderie found in small rural towns. One of my favorite quotes in the book is “To be here was to be known.”

isanoja's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

bookishwinterwitch's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

butlerebecca's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Beautifully written with an excellent fully realized main character - a bit of a drag plot-wise in the middle but I guess that’s part of the point

Some incredibly beautiful descriptions in there, never felt out of place or flowery just matter fact 

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missnformed's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

biankamaree's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5