Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

70 reviews

ramseyreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide

bookbih42069's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring 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

This book is excellent. The voice of the narrator is strong and salient, Kingsolver handled complex issues deftly through rich characters who develop over the course of their lives in ways that force us to reflect on similar figures in our own lives. There is so much empathy in this work, it is surely a new American classic. 

The main character is easy to root for, flaws, challenges, and all. As a reader, it is easy to be caught in the wave of events with him with a growth in understanding. I think everything was intentional, which I mention because I read some other reviews before posting this to cover my take on some themes in the reviews. I would say this book is HEAVY so totally get the “not in the mood” notes. The ending felt satisfying, and truthfully I saw the hints dropped throughout the story so I personally think it made perfect sense and I appreciate where things were left. As a reader, you  really get dragged through the harsh events of Damon’s life right along with him. His perspective is the  perspective of the book , so his mentions of past events made sense to me, as people we reflect on  formative moments. Finally, this does cover topics many of us are familiar with intellectually, but the beauty of fiction is the opportunity to insert oneself into a world in a way more geared towards empathy enrichment than what non-fiction can do, or maybe it’s just Kingsolver. 

TL;DR- amazing book you should definitely read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Drug use

Minor: Trafficking and Suicide

terrywho's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

David Copperfield in the time of the Oxy epidemic.

The only way I can think of describing this book is by calling it full of heart. This story was at the same time heartfelt and heartbreaking, and it made you unable to stop reading all the while dreading every new paragraph. 
This is a book about pain, grief and unimaginable hurt and yet it manages to never stew in that pain, even during the longest stretches of it in the narrative. It’s not a sad story for the sake of being sad, but it’s sadness serves a propose and highlights the cruelty of the world in such a way that sticks you even when you’ve closed the book. 

To summarize all my thoughts I’m just going to say that I’ve never read a book quite like it and I’m not sure I ever will.

**Added at the end because if mild spoilers**
A little personal note, and definitely not the most important thing about this book but my favorite part of it: I’m a comic book artist, and seeing the art form I love most in the world made to be the thing that opens up a kid’s words, a life-line that and allows him to see the first glimpse of what life could be, a way to understand a life that seems beyond your understanding, and a universal language to talk about you, your world, your comunity and your history never once failed to make me smile and love comics even more that I already did, which is something I didn’t think possible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Self harm, Death, Addiction, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Alcohol

Moderate: Miscarriage

milanaradic's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Death, Trafficking, Suicide, Grief, and Drug abuse

chudleycannons's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, and Suicide

csoyars's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion and Suicide

kirajohnson6's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I felt uncertain as to how much I “enjoyed” this book as I read it, but now that it is over I keep thinking about it. And I think that is a sign of a well-written book. And it is definitely well-written; Barbara Kingsolver is a remarkably talented writer. This book is H E A V Y and deals with very real issues of foster care, poverty, substance abuse, opioid addictions, and death. It is explicit in language and sexual content. And although it is fictional it tells the story of so many Appalachian Americans. 

What struck me most (what I find myself still thinking about even after finishing) is the question of who created this mess? Is it the people making poor decisions? Or is it the system, offering the vulnerable few choices? Capitalism has some positives, but I think this book clearly shows the very dark negatives. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Drug use, Death of parent, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual content

latashman's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

I couldn't help but cheer for Demon the entire book. This book was heartbreaking. Unfortunately some of the pieces of the story are true or based on truth. I couldn't help but think of all the Demons in the world who we will never know. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Drug use, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Miscarriage, Homophobia, Mental illness, Slavery, and Racial slurs

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

ttreglown's review against another edition

dark 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Drug abuse