From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver

Start date: May 15, 2023

Finish date: June 15, 2023

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Ann D

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Reading List

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
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What Members Thought

Mar 20, 2023 Ken rated it it was ok

Shelves: contemporary, finished-in-2023

It’s not often you look forward to Demons, but in this case, I was. All the sterling reviews on Goodreads! The fortuitous link to my favorite Dickens novel (David Copperfield)! The promise of one of my favorite genres, coming-of-age!

Alas, it was not to be. At least not for me.

It fell into that category of book that for some reason bothers me. The plot’s the thing, and we all love a good story. As for Kingsolver, she’s certainly capable of telling it. Trouble is, she told way more than I like. No It’s not often you look forward to Demons, but in this case, I was. All the sterling reviews on Goodreads! The fortuitous link to my favorite Dickens novel (David Copperfield)! The promise of one of my favorite genres, coming-of-age!

Alas, it was not to be. At least not for me.

It fell into that category of book that for some reason bothers me. The plot’s the thing, and we all love a good story. As for Kingsolver, she’s certainly capable of telling it. Trouble is, she told way more than I like. Not many “stop and zoom in” scenes. More "this happened, then that happened." And time rolls on as the narrative years slip by.

Guess I’d rather read a book that covers all of a day or a weekend only. That’s me. These year-jumpers tend to leave characterization in the dust. That is, the characters have no soul, and when they have no soul, I have trouble investing (making the book bankrupt as a Silicon Valley Bank, if you’ll forgive the current event metaphor).

In fairness, you can dismiss this review because I DNF, but I did make it to page 380 or so, and that’s more than halfway, by God, but I struggled to return to it each time I put it down. Instead, I looked at other books on my TBR shelf and they mocked me for pledging my allegiance in such a rote way. Soon I caved to the Sirens of “Life’s Too Short.”

I don't feel that bad. Demon seems to be doing just fine and meeting unusual success and winning over all the girls and facing all the modern troubles (like opioids) David C. didn’t have to and I wish him well. But he really lacked depth. And the surrounding characters didn't sweep me off my feet, either, meaning I was always aware of my surroundings while reading (never a good thing -- consider the movie theater when the same thing happens while viewing!).

So cue the music by the men in Wayfarer sunglasses (“I’m a Soul Man”) and forgive me not joining the Kingsolver parade. I’ll leave the 5-stars and hosannas to others with their marching band reviews.

Instead, I’ll be one of the outsiders giving this a two. Leaving it has hard, but I’m glad I did now that the doing’s done. ...more

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Sep 04, 2023 Rosana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-books, 2023

I realize that this book did not work for everyone, but it worked for me.
Some reviewers talk about cliches in the narrative, but I only saw social problems that are so inherent to our communities that they do become cliches.
At times the narrative became Kafkaesque, to the point that I had to leave the reading for a while, but the characters and story aways drew me back.
I want to push this book on everyone.

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