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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
This book was one giant long run-on sentence. Hated it.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a really unique read.
This book follows Demon, a boy that seems to have been doomed by circumstance even before he was born. His mother was a drug addict and he grew up in the foster system, seemingly running into dead ends at every turn.
Kingsolver manages to give Demon, who in this book tells his own story, such a unique voice. I have never read anything like it before, with the narrative voice being quite colloquial, and needed some time to get into it but Demon’s smart mouth really grew on me.
That being said this really was a tough read in the middle parts. It’s like watching a car wreck in slow motion. To me it had some very interesting insights into the US’ systemic poverty and addiction issues but I can also see how some might find it somewhat stereotypical at some points. Apart from that the story slogged for me around the middle but picked back up towards the end.
Definitely will be thinking about this a lot though!
This book follows Demon, a boy that seems to have been doomed by circumstance even before he was born. His mother was a drug addict and he grew up in the foster system, seemingly running into dead ends at every turn.
Kingsolver manages to give Demon, who in this book tells his own story, such a unique voice. I have never read anything like it before, with the narrative voice being quite colloquial, and needed some time to get into it but Demon’s smart mouth really grew on me.
That being said this really was a tough read in the middle parts. It’s like watching a car wreck in slow motion. To me it had some very interesting insights into the US’ systemic poverty and addiction issues but I can also see how some might find it somewhat stereotypical at some points. Apart from that the story slogged for me around the middle but picked back up towards the end.
Definitely will be thinking about this a lot though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Parts of this book absolutely tore me in two, and reading the acknowledgements made me tear up all over again. The Coal Tattoo by Silas House was the second book I read this summer (highly highly recommend), and closing out my summer of reading with this book felt so fitting (I know it is mid-September but this was supposed to be my last book of the summer). “I wondered what would it take to stop me feeling like I had rotten fruit down in me instead of a heart” stuck onto me most.
I need to go read some Wendell Berry now.
I need to go read some Wendell Berry now.
Heart wrenchingly good. Could not put down. Many times I had to stop and remind myself “he’s not real, it’s alright.” Has made my all time favorite book list!