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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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By Anita · 1 post · 24 views

last updated Sep 01, 2023 08:28AM

The Vaster Wilds - Lauren Groff - 3.5 stars
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last updated Oct 29, 2023 09:15AM

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What Members Thought

Dec 17, 2022 Peacejanz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: completed

This is not Charles Dickens. Neither is it typical Kingsolver. This is a long winded story about poverty, living in the mountains in the Southern US and the stereotypical people who live there. It is also about unemployment, drug addiction, and long-lasting love of family. It is also about guilt. I know about poverty, guilt and long-lasting love of family. I have often read about drug addiction. Kingsolver puts all of this together in a painful story of people (expecially children) who never hav ...more

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Aug 22, 2023 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, drugs, addiction

Another 5 star read from Barbara Kingsolver. Beautifully written and engaging and yet brutal. I had never read David Copperfield, so I did not know what to expect. The amount of heartbreak and devastation this young child endures is incredible - you add to it a system that is designed to keep kids, families, and communities in poverty, in addiction, unable to rise beyond their circumstances, and whose apathy and hopelessness lead them to believe they can't and do not want to. This is where we me ...more

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Feb 01, 2023 Judi Ross rated it it was amazing

WOW. I never read David Copperfield so I was not familiar with that story. It was not necessary in order to appreciate this modern day story that parallels Dickens’ novel. (Although I have added it to my TBR stack.) Kingsolver tells us the story, through the first person narration, of a young boy who’s life has been affected by adults, institutions and policies that have negative influences. It is the story of his resilience and desire to rise above all these obstacles. The way Kingsolver writes ...more

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May 31, 2023 Westcoastsusan rated it it was amazing

I had been avoiding this book because it is inspired by "David Copperfield", not my favorite Dickens work. Not reading this sooner was a big mistake; "Demon Copperhead" is the best thing I have read in years. I urge anyone currently committing my error of delay to pick it up immediately!

It is a compassionate, poetic, heartfelt depiction of people who with nothing more than their own dignity and humanity struggle in desperate circumstances. These rural Appalachians still lean on family first. The ...more

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Aug 29, 2023 Nancy rated it really liked it

Shelves: tried-true-authors, learning-tool, enoyed, recommended

Honest to God, I thought I was darn clever to think it was a current day telling of David Coppersfield; after realizing the book was not going to be about snakes, Depressing from start to (almost) finish but well worth the read. Just me, but I could have done with a few less sick scenes. Sqeemish tummy. Kingsolver research is impeccable, and her scene setting takes the reader there.

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