Demon Copperhead

by Barbara Kingsolver

“It’s in vain to recall the past, unless it works some influence upon the present.” Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

First, I got myself born.

People love to believe in danger, as long as it’s you in harm’s way, and them saying bless your heart.

At the time, I thought my life couldn’t get any worse. Here’s some advice: Don’t ever think that.

Everybody warns about bad influences, but it’s these things already inside you that are going to take you down. The restlessness in your gut, like tomcats gone stupid with their blood feuds, prowling around in the moon-dead dark.

Give me a view, pretty as a picture, I’m still pissed that I’ll never get to see the ocean.

You can’t choose your family, but a partner is your shot at a decent do-over.

The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between.