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downtown_kb 's review for:
Demon Copperhead
by Barbara Kingsolver
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
"Living in a holler, the sun gets around to you late in the day, and leaves you early."
As someone who lives in southern Appalachia and works closely with the very poor and disabled, I understand why this won a Pulitzer.
Several reviews seem to think this is just a dumping of trauma on the main character, giving him every cliche to struggle against. Those people really do not understand how poor the poor can be. I didn't get it until I saw it myself. This paints a very clear picture of what life is like for a lot of people in Appalachia. I could easily see someone experience everything Demon does in a life lived here.
"This is what I would say if I could, to all smart people of the world with their dumb hillbilly jokes: We are right here in the stall. We can actually hear you."
This book gave me Catcher in the Rye vibes more than anything because I have never read David Copperfield. But Dickens has a reputation for being very wordy. This book is also very wordy. It dragged in the middle for me but I still can't stand to give it less than 5 stars. If you approach this book knowing it is going to be long and slow paced and settle into it, it really is a book not to be missed.
"OxyContin, God’s gift for the laid-off deep-hole man with his back and neck bones grinding like bags of gravel. For the bent-over lady pulling double shifts at Dollar General with her shot knees and ADHD grandkids to raise by herself. For every football player with some of this or that torn up, and the whole world riding on his getting back in the game. This was our deliverance. The tree was shaken and yes, we did eat of the apple."
As someone who lives in southern Appalachia and works closely with the very poor and disabled, I understand why this won a Pulitzer.
Several reviews seem to think this is just a dumping of trauma on the main character, giving him every cliche to struggle against. Those people really do not understand how poor the poor can be. I didn't get it until I saw it myself. This paints a very clear picture of what life is like for a lot of people in Appalachia. I could easily see someone experience everything Demon does in a life lived here.
"This is what I would say if I could, to all smart people of the world with their dumb hillbilly jokes: We are right here in the stall. We can actually hear you."
This book gave me Catcher in the Rye vibes more than anything because I have never read David Copperfield. But Dickens has a reputation for being very wordy. This book is also very wordy. It dragged in the middle for me but I still can't stand to give it less than 5 stars. If you approach this book knowing it is going to be long and slow paced and settle into it, it really is a book not to be missed.
"OxyContin, God’s gift for the laid-off deep-hole man with his back and neck bones grinding like bags of gravel. For the bent-over lady pulling double shifts at Dollar General with her shot knees and ADHD grandkids to raise by herself. For every football player with some of this or that torn up, and the whole world riding on his getting back in the game. This was our deliverance. The tree was shaken and yes, we did eat of the apple."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Abortion