Demon Copperhead
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4.4 • 104 Ratings
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- £14.99
Publisher Description
**A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**
A masterful recasting of David Copperfield, narrated by an Appalachian boy whose wise, unwavering voice relates his encounters with poverty, addiction, institutional failures and moral collapse-and his efforts to conquer them. - the Pulitzer
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
TWICE WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR FICTION
THE MULTI-MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR
BOOK AT BEDTIME ON BBC RADIO 4
AN OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK
WITH OVER 29,000 5* REVIEWS
'Extraordinary.' OPRAH
'She means to save us by telling us stories. . . She comes closer than anyone else I know.' ANN PATCHETT
'Electrifying. . . Every sentence here sizzles.' Daily Mail
'It's EPIC. Righteously angry, DEEPLY moving and exquisitely written.' MARIAN KEYES
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Demon Copperhead is a once-in-a-generation novel that breaks and mends your heart in the way only the best fiction can.
Demon's story begins with his traumatic birth to a single mother in a single-wide trailer, looking 'like a little blue prizefighter.' For the life ahead of him he would need all of that fighting spirit, along with buckets of charm, a quick wit, and some unexpected talents, legal and otherwise.
In the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, poverty isn't an idea, it's as natural as the grass grows. For a generation growing up in this world, at the heart of the modern opioid crisis, addiction isn't an abstraction, it's neighbours, parents, and friends. 'Family' could mean love, or reluctant foster care. For Demon, born on the wrong side of luck, the affection and safety he craves is as remote as the ocean he dreams of seeing one day. The wonder is in how far he's willing to travel to try and get there.
Suffused with truth, anger and compassion, Demon Copperhead is an epic tale of love, loss and everything in between.
'Legit about to get an 'I'd rather be reading Demon Copperhead' sticker for my Nissan Murano.' ROB DELANEY
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What readers are saying:
***** 'An amazing, beautifully written story I cannot wait to recommend to everyone I know.'
***** 'Powerful and brilliant. To immerse yourself in a Kingsolver novel is to put yourself in the hands of a master.'
***** 'A must read and heart-opening book.'
***** 'Raw, angry, starkly beautiful. . . Genuinely one of the best books I've ever read.'
***** 'Amazingly complex. . . [Kingsolver] is, by far, one of the greatest living authors'
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
With a hat tip to David Copperfield, Barbara Kingsolver’s brilliant novel portrays a modern-day Appalachia that’s every bit as dangerous and unforgiving as Dickens’ Victorian London. Young Demon was born into an area of rural Tennessee where the only constants are poverty, drugs and a dearth of opportunities. After losing his teen athletic gifts to a knee injury, Demon’s future looks grim. Saddled with a drug-addicted mother, a tragic father and a system that never fails to fail, Demon faces a daunting journey. We love how Kingsolver never diminishes the darkness of Demon’s world, yet still manages to provide points of light like his determined foster sister, Angus, an academic star with big plans to help the entire community. Narrator Charlie Thurston captures Demon’s often-wry voice without losing the weight behind the words. Kingsolver is a staggeringly talented storyteller. She can’t change the real-world hardships that Demon faces, but she can make us see them in a new light.
Customer Reviews
*Harsh Life Lessons*
This was a mammoth book and one that at times broke my heart, made me laugh, cry and so much more. This felt like an experience. It’s a little longwinded to explain so I am going to try to condense it.
Demon, the main character, was born to a young mother who struggled with several addictions. Tragically, his father passed away before he was born, and Demon was named after him.
Sadly, his mother ended up with a man who wasn’t afraid to use his fists on Demon. In her love for her next fix, she failed to protect him. All the while he presented himself as the model citizen.
Demon’s life was a whirlwind of upheaval, and the writing was on the wall as to how it would end. He lacked direction and was forced to deal with the deaths of several close loved ones. His lack of education and stability only made matters worse. Inevitably, he learned lessons the hard way, unable to comprehend the events unfolding before him or how he had ended up in the situations he found himself in.
We see him begin to turn his life around when a kind relative sets him up and prioritises his best interests. He had a talent for drawing and was tall for his age. Just as his sports career started to soar, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery but was instead given pain relief, which ultimately led to dependency. The numerous losses he endured, the unsuitable foster homes, and the one place he loved couldn’t keep him. My heart ached for the countless times he went hungry and was neglected. Despite the hardships, some good people stayed around and never gave up on him. Ultimately, Demon just wanted to find a place where he was truly loved and wanted.
There’s so much more to say, but this book is one to immerse yourself in. Despite all the hardships Demon endured, he had a good sense of humour and he was resilient.
The story is set in the Southern Appalachian mountains of Virginia during a time of extreme poverty. The reader is left wondering what will happen to Demon as the story goes on. Will he ever be able to settle down and truly understand the meaning of love, the answer was hiding in plain sight
I suggest adding the audio version as the narrator Charlie Thurston did a great job.
Loved the audiobook
I absolutely loved this book. Well done Barbara Kingsolver! And the narrator sounded so believable as the main character. It was a long book but I was really sad when it finished.
A story of the human condition in every form
I loved the story line and the characters’ developments as you go through the story. Engaging, bittersweet.