Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Demon Copperhead

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

1541 reviews

brennerson's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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: Yes

I loved Demon, and I don’t have a profound take, but I’ve never read a book about Appalachia’s opioid crisis. Barbara Kingsolver’s knowledge of that region is vast (which makes sense since she’s from there). I learned a lot and was left with lots of empathy for the area and the characters

Content Warnings

beestuart5's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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: Complicated

Demon Copperhead was exceptional. Think a coming-of-age modern Greek epic combined with important and interesting socio-political themes. This story hooked my heart from the very first page, and pulled me ever deeper into its impeccably crafted world. The rich characters formed fully fledged in my mind and I was rooting for everyone of them in different ways. The pacing was perfect, despite the novel's length and level of detail, because I wanted to learn of every element, to be privy to every side-quest. One thing I do want to mention is the refreshing levity and humour that Kingsolver manages to uphold in light of the heavy subject matter. That is inspiring message she, and the book's protagonist, upholds: that life can be beautiful and terrible at the same time. Obviously, I balled my eyes out at the end but isn't it great when a book makes you feel the feels? Read it!

Content Warnings

uncreative_username's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Easy five stars, but I’m knocking .25 because it left me wanting more at the end. Which is a good thing, in a way. If you’ve read the book, you likely know what I mean. Not trying to ruin it for those who haven’t read it yet, as this is definitely one I would recommend to others. Kicking myself for taking so long to get around to it myself.

Being from south-central Virginia, this book made me a bit nostalgic in a way I can’t properly describe. Not for all the bad things that happen to the main character, but for a place that no longer exists. For a place devastated by NAFTA and the opioid crisis. For a place stripped of its resources and left for dead, all in the name of profit. A place full of resilience and good if you just look hard enough. I must be homesick because I’ve read a couple of books that hit close to home in a literal sense lately. Not exactly on purpose, as my library holds just happened to come in around the same time; but it definitely makes me miss the place that no longer exists.

Seeing a life that is familiar to me from the eyes of an experience that isn’t, was quite eye-opening. I may have come from a similar area, but I found myself on a more privileged side of the tracks. Not as far as being rich, but just in respect to not having the background that the main character and many others in these small towns find themselves born into. That in itself is privilege enough when you see where the other road may lead. Seeing just how quick and easy that road can take a sharp turn is both shocking and not surprising all at once. It gives you a bit more empathy on topics so many are quick to pass judgement and turn their noses up to. For those of us who haven’t had to walk in these shoes, it’s easy to think this is a personal flaw of the individuals and not of the larger system behind it. Which, underneath it all, we know that to be the truth, but it’s easy to lose sight of the facts when confronted with the aftermath the system has left behind. Bless the Aunt Junes and Annies and Mr. Armstrongs that choose to keep fighting the good fights in places that were left behind. And those who follow in their footsteps when many would rather turn their backs and forget these places and people even exist. Damon’s story is proof that you can make it as long as you have at least one person in your corner. For all of the bad that he encountered, he also stumbled upon a lot of good. There’s something to be said for that and for those who continue to be the good in these areas.

The book seemed well-written without being overly complicated. There is probably even more detail and connection I missed in my rush to read it all. I will likely reread this someday and take more time to appreciate the effort put into it. It really is that good. Obviously, I may be a bit biased given that it hit a little closer to home for me, but I found it to be a good story regardless.

Content Warnings

globefish21's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

lyndsyn's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

spamdunc's review against another edition

5.0

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

Easily one of the best characters ever written. A tragedy that I couldn't give up on. Demon is so real and fully flesh and bone in my mind with a unique voice. Loved the commentary on the opioid epidemic.

Content Warnings