Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

133 reviews

sjanke2's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a challenging book, both in the sense of Demon's stream-of-consciousness voice and the trials he endures. But after 50 pages, one's brain adapts to Kingsolver's writing style. The audiobook narrator helped in developing a stride. Demon goes through so much, and there's a balance of both good and bad influences in the side characters. I also appreciated Kingsolver's strong stance on the war wreaked upon Appalachians by land grabbers, mining companies, and Big Pharma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War

bex4dayz's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

bobbij94's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Mixed feelings about this one...I was very much immersed in this novel and honestly couldn't get enough. I personally enjoy this style of narration. I appreciate that this book sheds light on issues of poverty, trauma, and addiction.
I knock down some stars because something in this gives me the ick. Lots of stereotypes that goes from bad to worse. Very sad story that is the reality of thousands of Americans. 

Sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

sineadlgull's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Enjoyable listen. Slow pace but never found myself bored. Interesting story and great character development of the main character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual violence and Trafficking

kayleajayne's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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

4.0

This was a crap sandwich to read. There’s like a sliver of a pickle of hope at the end, but I have to say, I had to push myself and drudge through to read it. I am not anti-trauma in books. And Kingsolver’s writing is so beautiful and poetic, even when talking about poverty in Appalachia. It is like a punch to my gut memories my from small rural town America that is eaten up by drugs. I knew this story before she wrote it. It’s the story of my best friend who drowned the night she was married because of substances. The story of her mother who turned tricks for speed, and ended up murdered. The story of too many people dying young because the one job in town is the only thing that pays, and they would rather you be uneducated so they can take advantage of you. To deal with the horrible life of poverty, these young people self -medicated. I wanted to escape from this story, but I couldn’t. For all its pain, it needs to be said. It was the story of my generation and how so many things wrecked us, and only a few of us are left with the pieces while big pharma finds a new way to hook and screw people on the daily. If you don’t want truth, don’t read this. If you want to escape, it’s not here. That being said, Kingsolver fully earned her award for this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Gun violence

knittersteph's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

bookworm356's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

corinniebee's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Abortion, and Pregnancy

kaileyhanrath's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jomay2571's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

Just loved it. Loved Demon the main character - he is so flawed and damaged but so insightful. Brilliant. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail