Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

21 reviews

sactownraces's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was a gut punch from start to finish. Having not read David Copperfield, which this book is a retelling of, I did not know what to expect. As Barbara Kingsolver discusses briefly in the acknowledgement, it is a look into the institutional poverty of the Appalachian region of the United States, and how coal and opiates have effectively ruined any chance for rural communities to thrive. Throughout every step of Demon's journey I wanted only the best for him, and to tell him everything would be okay, despite his self destructive actions reinforced by the world he's living in. 

I would highly recommend this book to better understand, as a city folk, how the 'other half' live so we can better influence the discussion at a national level.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abandonment, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

staceyinthesticks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Mental illness, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, and Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Gun violence, and Suicidal thoughts

lolo_lew's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-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

3.75

Incredibly well-written, tackles tough and complex topics in an approachable and meaningful way. Highly recommend but contains content that might be sensitive to some.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Classism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Vomit, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Abortion, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence

lyndle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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

5.0

Long list of content warnings but GOD it’s so good. You won’t believe a happy ending is possible but you’ll get there. The way Kingsolver writes through the mouth of Demon is masterful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Addiction

Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Violence, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

nreyno's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

laisant's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Death, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

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

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

gabriellejon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

Growing up in Appalacia meant seeing the truth written in this book with my own two eyes.

The pill mills, the overdoses, the kids in and out of foster care, the abuse, growing up too fast. This is a viceral book, with a happy ending. I cried many times. I had my own Dori. He died the same way she did. I miss him. I lost him 6 years ago and the pain never goes away. I have the same anger in my chest as Demon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Abortion, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Grief, Drug use, Child death, Addiction, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Cursing, Death, Toxic friendship, Classism, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Physical abuse

abscott's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Death, Cursing, Bullying, Violence, Physical abuse, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Sexual violence, Racism, Self harm, Trafficking, Abortion, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Grief, and Gun violence

kola10981928's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Grief, Violence, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Animal death

Minor: Cursing, Car accident, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Blood, Hate crime, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness