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Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver

Start date: September 13, 2023

Finish date: September 20, 2023

Discussion: September 2023: Literary Fiction

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September 2023: Literary Fiction

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What Members Thought

Feb 22, 2024 Lori Elliott rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

“The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between.”― Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead

This was heavy. Demon is the Rocky Balboa of life. No matter how many times he got punched he kept getting up fighting. I think that is one of the great mysteries of life… how do some people survive the life burning down around them and some don’t? Is it chance? Is it some inborn trait? Or is it simply having at least one person in your life that cares enoug ...more

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Sep 28, 2024 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, literary-fiction, pulitzer, virginia, concierge, strong-women, orphans, library, social-commentary, retelling

Book on CD performed by Charlie Thurston.

Kingsolver’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel is a re-telling of Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield set in Appalachia. Like the original, the book explores the effects of poverty, especially on children.

Damon Fields, known as Demon Copperhead, is the son of an unwed teen mother and a deceased teen father. While his mother struggles with self-doubt, poor decision making, lack of education and drug and alcohol addiction, Demon is left to basically raise h ...more

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Dec 16, 2023 Shelly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, bookclub, big-books-500, pulitzer-winner, my-2023, trim-2023

I did have the opportunity to hear Kingsolver speak about this book when it was first published. She lives in and loves Appalachia as much as Demon and felt compelled to write this book. Although she writes of the beauty of Lee County, VA, she focuses on the targeted abuse and oppression of the people of Appalachia by the coal mines and then by Purdue Pharma. I knew I would be reading it this month for my F2F book club, so I read Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty a few mo ...more

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Dec 06, 2022 Kristina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, re-telling-of-a-classic, fiction-books, about-the-opiod-crisis

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful professor who engaged us in a reading of David Copperfield that made me forever appreciate the writing of Dickens and his most autobiographical character. 'Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.'

That being said, Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, a masterful updating and retelling of Copperfield, dares to make major female characters more nuanced and well-reali ...more

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Apr 12, 2024 Insperia rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

From the first page, I was pulled into Demon Copperhead's world, a world painted in shades of hardship and resilience. Kingsolver's prose is both beautiful and unflinching, capturing the harsh realities of poverty and addiction in rural America with a raw honesty that left me breathless.

Through the eyes of Damon, nicknamed Demon Copperhead, we witness the harsh realities of poverty, addiction, and the foster care system in rural America. His journey, mirroring that of Dickens' classic David Cop From the first page, I was pulled into Demon Copperhead's world, a world painted in shades of hardship and resilience. Kingsolver's prose is both beautiful and unflinching, capturing the harsh realities of poverty and addiction in rural America with a raw honesty that left me breathless.

Through the eyes of Damon, nicknamed Demon Copperhead, we witness the harsh realities of poverty, addiction, and the foster care system in rural America. His journey, mirroring that of Dickens' classic David Copperfield, is fraught with challenges, loss, and moments of fleeting joy. Kingsolver's brilliance lies in capturing the nuances of Demon's world, from the camaraderie forged in hardship to the crushing loneliness of feeling invisible and unwanted.

The characters, like pieces of a shattered mirror, reflect the complexities of a community grappling with its demons. We meet the Peggots, a family bound by love and tradition, offering a haven amidst the storm. There's Angus, Demon's unlikely ally and confidante, whose sharp wit and fierce loyalty challenge his perceptions of family and belonging. And then there's Dori, the girl who captures his heart, whose vulnerability and tragic circumstances mirror his own. Each character, flawed and real, adds depth and texture to the narrative, leaving an indelible mark on the reader.

Kingsolver masterfully portrays the impact of the opioid crisis, exposing the dark underbelly of a system that preys on vulnerable communities, as well as the isolation and quiet resentment that fester within a child robbed of their childhood. We witness the desperation, the cycle of addiction and recovery, and the devastating consequences of a generation lost to the allure of escape. Yet, amidst the darkness, glimmers of hope emerge.

While some plotlines, like the Angus/U-Haul drama, felt somewhat forced, they ultimately served as catalysts for Demon's growth and self-discovery. The book's ending, bittersweet yet hopeful, offered a sense of closure while acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced by those grappling with addiction and the scars of a difficult past.

Demon Copperhead isn't just a story about addiction and poverty; it's a story about resilience, the search for identity, and the doggedness of the human spirit. It challenges our preconceived notions about rural America, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths while celebrating the strength and compassion that bind communities together.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Want to delve deeper into amazing books whether as an individual reader or for a book club? You can find more book club resources here: Reading Resources. Here you'd find various book club discussion questions, quotes, word search puzzles, Icebreaker questions and so much more to create an unforgettable reading experience. ...more

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Dec 28, 2022 Ted Magnuson rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 26, 2023 scherzo♫ rated it liked it

Shelves: mundane-fic

Too much heavy-handed, repetitive (word for word) messaging for me.

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Jan 04, 2023 Faith_Bookluvr rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 B rating

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Mar 24, 2023 Bonnie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This book is important and true. Hard to read at times. I actually had to skim/skip some parts that hurt too much until I knew things went better, then go back and re-read them. LOVED Demon and his growth.

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