Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

77 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

rosiecotton_dancing's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-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: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Vomit

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

Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

dua_liepard's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative 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: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Classism, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Gore, Racism, Pregnancy, Medical content, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

cityiguana's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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

4.5

This book is very good but honestly pretty tough to read.

Thank god it had a happy ending or I would have needed to up my Prozac prescription

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Abandonment, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death

Minor: Racism, Medical content, and Racial slurs

b3cavic's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

Minor: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

I would have liked this book much more, but drug abuse is very challenging for me and I frequently find it difficult to consume in any form of media. I recognize the centrality of this to the storyline and specifically the way that big pharma targeted communities like the one in Demon Copperhead. Nonetheless, some of the graphic content made me need to put the book down at points

katrinarose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

I struggle to rate this book, because I loved the writing style and the voice of Demon was so incredibly strong and authentic and believable, but I also wasn’t that excited to pick this book up, and it took me a while to finish. I thought the theme of the overlooked rural parts of the U.S. was interesting and thought-provoking, but at times almost turned into more of a history/sociopolitical lesson that felt out of context and forced. I wish the author had explained these concepts a little less and given the reader some more credit for being able to read in between the lines/use the story as a jumping off point for more of their own research. Overall it was a really good book just not one that sucked me in and made me love it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Classism, Drug abuse, Grief, Drug use, Medical trauma, and Death

Moderate: Cursing and Misogyny

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Racism, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

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

rmlknisely's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Racism, Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse

stinky_phytoseiid's review against another edition

emotional informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit, Violence, and Abortion

ellieswilliams's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Drug use, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Drug abuse

Minor: Car accident, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Racism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Self harm, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Violence