Demon Copperhead
By Barbara Kingsolver
- Release Date: 2022-10-18
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION
New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century • An Oprah’s Book Club Selection • An Instant New York Times Bestseller • An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller • A #1 Washington Post Bestseller • A New York Times "Ten Best Books of the Year"
"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 [the year]. . . . 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 and the recipient of the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, 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
Great book
5By GeriFrazierI love stories about overcoming adversity.Timeless storytelling. Generational voice.
5By Jason Mark GA top of the shelf novel. Something you read. Cherish. Let it break you and let it build you back up to only break you again. The story is wonderfully told and captured me from page one. An absolute all-timer.Demon Copperhead - too good for words
5By Ernie_in_2012I can’t say enough about how great this book is. It’s right at the top of my all time best reads. There’s too much good stuff in it and about it for someone like me to write in this sort of review. It would take an extended essay to just touch on greatness of Demon Copperhead, and Ms. Kingsolver’s writing.Worth it
5By DejfijgrubfhkhgdhbjkfBest book I have read in a long time.Loved this book
5By grsderthI was so involved with Demon, I caught myself praying for a fictional character.Great!
5By Whim1954Truly enjoyed the book. Witty and keeps your brain working overdrive.Amazing
5By NicknamepppppInspired me to start reading after a long break.Self destructing
2By Dakin207To me the book was anti climatic, no real ending in sight. Was mainly about addiction & depression. I had to move over to an audiobook to be able to finish it. A little boring imo.Loved it must read
5By AuroraLopez 74Best book everOne of my new favorites
5By lucaverhereThis book took me awhile to finish, mainly because I kept putting it down for long periods of time. When I was reading it, I felt like I was fully in Demon’s world. I loved his descriptions, kid-like but so detailed, the way someone who is constantly survival mode learns to observe the world around them. I ripped through the second half of this book so fast, just wanting to know what happened to everyone and desperately wanting him to get a break. Will be recommending this to my friends so we can talk about it.Excellent read
5By Caliwild 66A beautifully written story.The people of Lee County will be thought of often.Demon
5By RN DebSo wonderfully written, sometimes hard to read but what a read!Great book!
5By JLW1980Great writing, Demon is a smart, funny kid. Several times found myself laughing at his perspective.Trailer trash
5By PajeotDemon Copperhead. Harlan county, oxycodone, meth and trailer trash. This book drew a picture that made me feel as if I was living there, suffering there and rejoicing in the few victories to be won. A book that should be read and lived by parents, politicians, medical professionals, school guidance counselors and all who care about the growing problem with "legal addiction"and life in communities that are not privileged. A compelling account as real as it is fictional. It will live with me for ages to come.Can Demon beat the odds?
5By JaneFRMPhenomenal! Gorgeous writing about terrible topics. You root for Damon from start to finish, as you wonder how our society can be so blind and cruel.Amazing!!
5By JaroaIt took me a while to get into it because of a reading slump BUT when Demon attached himself to my heart it was over I could not read enough about him.A Toast to those Surviving Fentanyl
4By pablo.pazSomeone wrote this is her best book. I think it may be the second best. But this is an author who has set a pole-vault high standard. From Bean Trees and High Tide in Tucson through her Kentucky garden and orchard series, each book has made us wonder at the mystery and glory of Mother Earth and things that grow out of Her. But Demon is a very different sort of book. Partly it’s an indictment of those who set loose the opioid crisis and a curse on all those who addicted, co-facilitated the suicides of and profited off the supply of high-powered killer addictives like OxyContin to young people, people in pain, athletes and those with cancer, leading to millions of deaths, millions of fractured lives. It’s also a look from the inside at how lives are kicked to the gutter by a society that disvalues its children, exploits their talents and gifts of spirit, while chewing up the adults by refusing to thank them or support them or pay them for all they do offer to the community. At first I took a while dealing with all the sewage that pours into a poor boy’s life. I ran out of shock and pity at once. Then I burnt out on all his bad choices even when the narrative seemed to make excuses for him. Finally when I had nothing left to give him, he had something to give me. I trust he’ll give a gift to you too.Excellent read
5By BIGrebowskiLoved this book. witty yet sad, and thought provoking.Loved it!
4By Be JenI loved Demon Copperhead as a character. Be ready … it’s a long book and it’s sad.
