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A review by jennifer_vars
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"a good story doesn't just copy life, it pushes back on it"
For me, this is the best book of 2022.
"Demon Copperhead" was born in a trailer in Southern Appalachia to a drug-using teenage mother. An achievement that of which he says, “That’s like the Eagle Scout of trailer trash.”
The story is a reimagining of Dickens' "David Copperfield" but instead of taking place in 19th Century England, it's set in rural southwest Virginia.
The story is told by Demon (real name Damon). As a foster child, he faces tragedy after tragedy navigating a community that's been plagued with poverty and poisoned by addiction. You can't help but root for him to pull through, even though it doesn't always seem like he will. I imagine, for a lot of people this book will hit close to home, it did with me.
Barbara Kingsolver really knows how to tell a story. I like how she entertwines history here. We learn about the area's involvement in the Civil War, coal miner's sacrifices, whiskey rebellions and the introduction of pharmaceutical companies.
I especially love her way of writing about the land. From the beginning she paints a picture of the young boys playing in creeks on a muddy bed and the end where trails and forests are written about with reverence. "I felt the kindliness of the moss, which is all over everywhere once you get out of the made world. God’s flooring. All the kinds, pillowy, pin-cushiony, shag carpet. Gray sticks of moss with red heads like matchsticks. Some tiny dead part of me woke up to the moss and said, Man. Where you been."
For me, this is the best book of 2022.
"Demon Copperhead" was born in a trailer in Southern Appalachia to a drug-using teenage mother. An achievement that of which he says, “That’s like the Eagle Scout of trailer trash.”
The story is a reimagining of Dickens' "David Copperfield" but instead of taking place in 19th Century England, it's set in rural southwest Virginia.
The story is told by Demon (real name Damon). As a foster child, he faces tragedy after tragedy navigating a community that's been plagued with poverty and poisoned by addiction. You can't help but root for him to pull through, even though it doesn't always seem like he will. I imagine, for a lot of people this book will hit close to home, it did with me.
Barbara Kingsolver really knows how to tell a story. I like how she entertwines history here. We learn about the area's involvement in the Civil War, coal miner's sacrifices, whiskey rebellions and the introduction of pharmaceutical companies.
I especially love her way of writing about the land. From the beginning she paints a picture of the young boys playing in creeks on a muddy bed and the end where trails and forests are written about with reverence. "I felt the kindliness of the moss, which is all over everywhere once you get out of the made world. God’s flooring. All the kinds, pillowy, pin-cushiony, shag carpet. Gray sticks of moss with red heads like matchsticks. Some tiny dead part of me woke up to the moss and said, Man. Where you been."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail