Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

851 reviews

realbooktingz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse

jmdressel's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

an very intriguing story! felt like a glimpse into a fully different culture and region of the united states that i’m not familiar with. ups and downs for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Vomit

melbell016's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a really good retelling of David Copperfield. Granted, I never read it, but the modern themes in this book make this a compelling story. 

It gives a good window into life in Appalachia, into poverty, into an unforgiving world that keeps beating you down. This is truly a modern classic. 

This is a sad and painful read, but it is worth reading. And it’s a good window into

how Purdue really destroyed people’s lives.

I also like the end of the acknowledgments section. Very poetic. “For the kids who wake up hungry in those dark places every day, who’ve lost their families to poverty and pain pills, whose caseworkers keep losing their files, who feel invisible, or wish they were: this book is for you.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Miscarriage and Rape

Minor: Animal death and Racism

ashlynregan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This old white lady does not write like an old white lady. She is very talented. READ THIS BOOK.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

emleyb's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A great read, excruciating storyline at many parts. I loved Demon and found my heart breaking for him again and again. The first half was my favorite, the second half was still great, the content was just very difficult to get through. The whole thing really opened my eyes to the unique culture of Appalachia- I was doing side research the entire read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Death

mackenzieabraham's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

raechrae's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sandro_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have never read Dickens’ David Copperfield which provided the inspiration for this novel so I did not have that as a reference point. But, Kingsolver delivers a tour-de-force with characters who felt so real, I often heard their voices while reading.

It’s a heartbreaking tale of systemic poverty and the opioid crisis in rural Appalachia that grabs you and takes hold. I did not want it to end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

siaeme12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Depressing and frustrating, but realistic like nothing else. You understand the motives and perspectives, both feel sympathy and anger toward demon. An unfortunately raw tale of institutionalized systems designed to perpetuate poverty and disenfranchisement in America. If you like this book , I'd also recommend Dopesick.

Love the ending. A promise of better, recognition finally of the good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

karamojagirl's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was a hard read for me. I learned a lot about a life I’ve never experienced and hope I never do! I’m thankful there was some redemption at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Death of parent