Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

61 reviews

katelbr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

4.75

I need to chew on this a little longer. 

My initial reaction is that this is a masterpiece and it’s not for everyone. The themes were so dark at times. I’m glad I read it because it gave me a lot of reasons to reflect on my own bias of Appalachian culture and the opioid epidemic. The slow pace of the story was annoying at times but completely necessary. This is a book with proper character development. All of the events and story lead to developing and exposing the main character rather than to climax a story. 

There were a few times I was acutely aware that a 60 year old woman was writing a teenage boys thoughts. But that would be my only complaint.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Drug abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, Death of parent, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Abortion, and Cursing

erinsca's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Moderate: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, Death, Alcoholism, Abortion, Bullying, and Addiction

scottishhands's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, Trafficking, Abandonment, Addiction, Grief, Rape, and Abortion

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

---

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

accidentalfolklore's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Trafficking, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Rape and Pregnancy

esther_floraa's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Trafficking, Violence, Emotional abuse, Racism, Cancer, Death, Child abuse, Classism, Drug use, Death of parent, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

bmaeus's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault

reneek's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Cursing

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Abortion

amaribph's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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

I truly loved this book. One of Kingsolver's best. It is a brilliant retelling of David Copperfield, but it reads well even if you're not familiar with that classic.

I was very moved by Demon's plight. Even though it was very emotionally difficult to read, I feel grateful to have learned so much through Kingsolver's gorgeous writing about that part of our country, the terrible faultiness of our foster care system, and the opioid crisis.

It was long, but I felt it was well-paced, well-edited, and not at all too complicated or technically challenging. I can't say it's an "easy read" because the subject matter is dark and sad, but the writing itself is very well organized and easy to follow.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Grief, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

maggievictory's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

This book felt trapped in staying true to David Copperfield at times. Even though I also love Dickens, the parts that were original to Demon's story, like the opioid crisis, high school sports culture, and modern foster care, were by far the most compelling aspects of the book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Death

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Rape