Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead

By Barbara Kingsolver

  • Release Date: 2022-10-18
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 5,420 Ratings)

Description

WINNER OF THE 2023 PULITZER PRIZE • WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

A New York Times "Ten Best Books of 2022" • An Oprah’s Book Club Selection • An Instant New York Times Bestseller • An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller • A #1 Washington Post Bestseller 

"Demon is a voice for the ages—akin to Huck Finn or Holden Caulfield—only even more resilient.” —Beth Macy, author of Dopesick

"May be the best novel of 2022. . . . Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this is the story of an irrepressible boy nobody wants, but readers will love.” (Ron Charles, Washington Post)

From the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, a brilliant novel that enthralls, compels, and captures the heart as it evokes a young hero’s unforgettable journey to maturity

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.

Reviews

  • Read it

    5
    By Blueshoes57
    Took a little while to get into it, then I couldn’t put it down.
  • Great Great Read! Did not want to put !

    5
    By Redhead's Revenge
    The Story and the depth of the characters!
  • Big love for demon

    5
    By Murphy105
    I love how Barbara zones in on opioid addiction /poverty/foster care using lovable characters, w humility, compassion, sensitivity and a resounding “ but for the grace of God , it could be me or my loved ones” .
  • Fantastic!

    5
    By carocross
    Loved it. Didn’t want it to end. I want a sequel.
  • Demon Copperhead- 2023 favorite

    5
    By D-Gearty
    So impressed with Barbara Kingsolver storytelling. I will be reading all of here books.
  • Dang

    5
    By HoboWalrus
    If that ain’t the greatest book I ever ready I don’t know what is.
  • Survival and Perserverence - Demon Copperhead

    5
    By Sessa Fam
    “Demon Copperhead” masterfully delves into the realities of neglect, poverty and addiction. Demon is an amazingly likable character and his trials and tribulations are eloquently delivered. You feel as if you are on the road with him. Barbara balances the starkness of these difficult issues with amazing moments of human resiliency. A must read.
  • Mesmerizing

    5
    By ScarletFever13
    I was riveted to this story from the first page. There are so many colorful characters and tragic themes to ponder that I can’t stop thinking about it.
  • Beautiful story

    5
    By Dh for cooking
    Just loved this story. I actually could feel the highs and lows as described by the main character. I couldn’t stop reading. For better or worse I had to know how the story ended.
  • Heartbreaking

    5
    By serather
    Couldn’t put it down, even though it broke my heart over and over. So much sadness, and sadly because it does represent so many wrecked lives. Like always, amazing characters that come to life with Kingsolver’s amazing writing.

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