David Copperfield is recast to tell the story of a young man trying to grow himself up amidst the indifference and dysfunction of a social world that is collapsing in the face of the Appalachian drug crisis. The protagonist is both participant and commentator in this coming of age tale. The characterizations are both nuanced and deep---she has created characters whose vilanies are all the more awful for their banality. After many struggles and losses, the book ends on a pleasant note, but we know that, while life may be getting a little bit better, it is a hard life.
This is a book on tape and the reader is one of the two best I have ever heard. Truly extraordinary. ( )

An amazing book both on audio and hard copy. Barbara Kingsolver deserved winning the Pulitzer Prize for this! ( )

An excellent book that hits so many topics with nuance and care. The voice of Demon speaks for children of addicted parents, foster kids, opioid addicts, and rural Appalachian people. Barbara Kingsolver nails creating a story with social impact without being preachy. She goes right to the line, but doesn't cross it. A powerful story! ( )

With family from all over Appalachia (northwestern SC, western NC, eastern TN, southwest VA, up to West Virginia and into Ohio), some branches that have been there since the late 1600s, I found Kingsolver's portrayal of the culture there fair and brutally honest. It's an awkward thing to consider that part of my heritage, the forces that propel some people away and keep others stuck fast, the juxtaposition of severe poverty and steadfast loyalty. I'm both drawn to and repelled by the mountains and the culture there, and I get the feeling that Kingsolver is familiar with these conflicting feelings, too. ( )

The Short of It:

Not sure what I expected when I picked this one up but the characters have stayed with me.

The Rest of It:

Demon Copperhead had been on my list for a very long time but it never seemed like the right time to read it. It’s lengthy and deals with some heavy topics but then my book club selected it for April so there I was with my copy, eagerly reading and flipping those pages.

Inspired by a trip Kingsolver took to visit the actual Bleak House of Charles Dicken’s fame, the story of Demon Copperhead unspooled from there. Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon is born to a single, teenaged mother with a drug addiction. They don’t have much. His mother barely makes a living and all they have is the single-wide trailer they call home. The story is peppered with well-meaning neighbors and friends. They are all quite the characters.

Demon’s relentless resilience gets him through many heartaches and challenges, but the need for a home, a real home is what drives him forward and unfortunately in this quest, he is repeatedly disappointed. Disappointed with the people around him, the people in charge of his care, the school system, the labor force. How is a young man supposed to make a living without selling his soul to the Devil?

The setting of this novel hints at destruction at every turn of the page. Appalachia is known for its drug trade and it ‘s hard to not be a party to it when you’re a hungry kid just trying to survive. Demon encounters many people and some of those people he holds dear but the constant need to uproot everything he has to move on the next thing affects his long-term relationships. It’s honestly heartbreaking.

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the characters a lot but it was about 75 pages too long for me. The drug details are very realistic in the telling. I still think it will make my Fave list for the end of the year but it’s not the kind of book you can read alongside others. I found that out the hard way. It’s gritty but in between the grit I did detect hope which is what kept me reading.

Have you read it?

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter. ( )