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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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last updated Sep 01, 2023 08:28AM

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What Members Thought

Sep 20, 2023 Barbara M rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, favorites, addiction, appalachian-region, coming-of-age, foster-children, poverty, pulitzer-prize, virginia, football

This audio was amazing, great narrator. His voice/accent just felt perfect for Demon.

I saw somewhere that this was inspired by David Copperfield. Since I haven't read that novel by Dickens, I am considering giving it a try. I have loved most of Kingsolver's books and this is going right up there with my favorites. It will definitely be among my favorites of 2023. The only Kingsolver I didn't like, and I'm alone in this, was The Poisonwood Bible which also won a Pulitzer. Maybe it was my mood at ...more

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Aug 31, 2023 Rachel Hopkins rated it it was amazing

Depressing but she is an amazing writer.

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Sep 10, 2024 Olivermagnus rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, favorites, 2024, zsep-24, sad

If there were two highly acclaimed books that I had no desire to read, they would be Tom Lake and Demon Copperhead. After reading them both this year, I have no doubt they will be among my favorites.

Damon Fields was born in southwest Virginia in the late 1980s to a teenage mother who equipped herself for childbirth with gin, amphetamines and Vicodin. His bad attitude soon earns him the nickname “Demon.” His hair color explains “Copperhead.” When his mother overdoses, Demon becomes a ward of the ...more

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Mar 12, 2024 Linda C rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, cultural

I have mixed feelings about this book. The idea of retelling David Copperfield was intriguing and although I never read that book I did read a synopsis before starting this. I liked the beginning of this and Demon's snarky internal asides to many of his situations. However, I felt that much of the action was stereotypical of any story of addiction, this just built around the opioid crisis.

I remember reading an interview about the way the Appalachian people are depicted in society and how she wa I have mixed feelings about this book. The idea of retelling David Copperfield was intriguing and although I never read that book I did read a synopsis before starting this. I liked the beginning of this and Demon's snarky internal asides to many of his situations. However, I felt that much of the action was stereotypical of any story of addiction, this just built around the opioid crisis.

I remember reading an interview about the way the Appalachian people are depicted in society and how she wanted to give a broader picture of the people and the country. I did not see that. All the people Demon interacted with were caricatures: addicted Mom, abusive step-father, 2 different but lousy foster families, several people who mouthed sincerity but did not follow through and a set up to get him exposed to the opioids (although Demon was on his way even without them). His lack of self-esteem had him turning from the few who could make a difference. The story was sad and hard to read at times, but not what I expected from her comments. Only a few times did Demon drive through the countryside rhapsodizing on the land. Several characters said they couldn't stay away from the hills and hated the city but only stated negatives about the city not what drew them back to the land. There needed to be someone in here that brought that alive.

On the positive side there were characters like Tommy, Angus, and Mr. Dick that were unique and developed well. They had a solid core that kept them true to themselves despite what happened around them. I particularly would have liked to have had Demon's father more of an on screen character. He could have been a role model for Demon to judge others against as he faced his problems. I don't understand why he had to be such a mystery until the end.

I'm glad I read this book despite its limitations because I always learn things from her books. In this case it was the Melungeon people. I had to step outside the book and look up info on that before continuing. I like when that happens. ...more

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Jan 31, 2023 Sharon Umbaugh rated it liked it · review of another edition

DNF

Too long to keep reading about a boy in poverty. Plus her details were off. Descriptive details like chiclets gum and an etch-a-sketch belong in the 50s, not 90s. And vicodins were not around in the 90s either.

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Apr 08, 2023 Ferris Mx rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

Full of heart about the land-rich money-poor economy of Appalachia and how destructive the opioid epidemic has been. No more fictional than Vance but much more relatable, accepting, open, and less judgmental.

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May 10, 2023 Kim rated it it was amazing

The best book I’ve read all year. Demon is a character that will stick with me for a long time. Every character in this book is memorable. This book drives home the tragedy of the opioid epidemic nation wide, but especially in rural Appalachia. Read. This. Book.

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