Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

22 reviews

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

hsieh's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

Kingsolver writes a masterpiece here, a pointed critique of how capitalism fails America and its poorest, through the lens of the struggles of its foster children, the opioid crisis, and how so many people stereotype the rural people of America's forgotten heartland. But Kingsolver is never piteous, never condescending: her characters seek only to be met face to face, understood as full people.

Speaking of, Kingsolver writes characters that could jump off the pages. I cherish, hate and mourn for them like they're my own friends. They're so real I had to double check this wasn't an autobiography. I feel empty now without them.

One of the things I appreciate most about this book, however, is that it never feels like tragedy porn -- a trap I felt books like "A Little Life" sometimes fell into. Each tragedy is crushing, but not without hope; there's always characters on the margins rooting for the protagonist, and his community, to succeed. I only wish their analogues in real life could find the same support.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Addiction, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Child death, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Hate crime, Abortion, Homophobia, Murder, Ableism, and Gun violence

macykey's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book was excellent. The writing was gorgeous, the story was engrossing. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but the writing style seemed to change as Demon got older. It made me think the writing was reflecting his aging, which I thought was smart. There were a couple things that didn’t sit right with me or rubbed me the wrong way. I felt the ending was wrapped up too quickly. I saw the interpersonal development coming, but I wish it’d been done sooner. I also felt that some of the traumatic things that happened to Demon were a little more detailed than necessary. And I get people having nicknames, but sometimes they all just got lost in the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Death of parent, and Vomit

Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, and Self harm

Minor: Suicide, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Cancer, and Car accident

zoinkie's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Physical abuse, Addiction, Child abuse, Classism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Trafficking, and Violence

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective 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

‘To be here was to be known.’

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Child death, Death, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Grief, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Murder

ouireads's review

dark reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Minor: Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

superdaintycate's review

challenging dark emotional medium-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

4.0

This is beautifully written and ultimately a poignant story. That said, it's incredibly painful to read a lot of the naked, laid bare depth of trauma experienced by all of the characters. If you can read with a knot in your gut for pretty much the entire book, definitely do it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Addiction, and Abandonment

elizapease's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective 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

Barbara Kingsolver's empathetic and insightful writing about the south, appalachia,  and class divides has yet to disappoint. Demon Copperhead is a deeply poignant, touching, and rich story centered around the foster care system, addiction, and poverty. I was blown away by the way Demon, the main character, was written, and I have yet to read any book with such incredible character development. His childlike, inquisitive nature at the beginning of the book gradually evolves as Demon faces trauma, becomes a pre-teen, experiences loss, goes to high school, undergoes addiction, and continues to evolve into his adulthood. This is the some of the most dynamic writing I have ever read. I fell in love with Demon’s character, and felt like I personally knew and grew up alongside him. I found myself laughing aloud at his snarky and mischievous comments, cheering for his wins, and crying (more like violently sobbing) over his losses. If you are not familiar with Appalachian culture, as I am not, you will appreciate this profound and empathetic look at a part of this country that is often overlooked. In it’s essence, this is a book about humanity. This book, and Demon’s character, will stay with me forever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Death, Classism, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Drug use, and Drug abuse

pigeon_'s review against another edition

emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Child abuse, Grief, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Murder, Racism, Violence, Animal death, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia and Abortion

tigerkind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

A really tough read but worth it. Sucks you right in, punches you in the gut and throws you out on the other side with a whole new set of emotions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Mental illness, Classism, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Gore, Addiction, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Dementia

Minor: Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, War, and Outing