Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a very long very sad book. I didn’t love it.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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
This book is a slog. Half way through I kept checking to see if I was closer to the finish than I really was. What this book does do well, since I live in the very area this book takes place, is show that the US does not have a racism problem, it has a poverty problem. The drug problem is real, read Empire of pain and you will understand it completely. I got really sick of the language, constant sexual quips, the VERY slow middle, and for good measure, throw in LGBTQ+ to top it off. Disappointing.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Demon Copperhead is a remarkable, devastating novel. Barbara Kingsolver takes the framework of Dickens’ David Copperfield and reimagines it in modern-day Appalachia, weaving a story of poverty, resilience, and the opioid crisis. Even without having read the original, I was drawn into Demon’s voice and perspective from the start — raw, vulnerable, and often darkly funny.
This book taught me a great deal about Appalachia and the systemic forces that trap people in cycles of despair. It is a powerful work of social commentary, but also an intimate character study that left me feeling deeply for Demon and those around him.
At the same time, this was not an easy read. It left me sad and uncomfortable, which I believe was part of the point. Kingsolver forces the reader to witness realities that are often ignored, and while that can be painful, it makes the story unforgettable.
For me, it’s a solid five-star read — brilliantly written, ambitious, and deeply moving — even though it broke my heart along the way.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lit summer reading
Loved it - his voice and like humor made the story really engaging
Loved it - his voice and like humor made the story really engaging
A new book to add to my favorites! I really love this story! It reads like a better, modern, more relatable Oliver Twist. Especially in the beginning. I totally just adore the main character, Demon, and his voice is so distinct! I really appreciate the ending too, it could’ve been a few different things and I’m very happy with what it was. Definitely read this book if you have any interest.