Anonymous
Post 11/07/2023 16:59     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:I’m another who hated it, despite loving several of Kingsolver’s other books.

1) I did not find Demon’s voice authentic. What child narrates like an adult? What drug addict sounds so coherent?
2) I felt zero, zip, connection to many of the characters in this book. The Coach? Hardly knew him. The supporting characters were super under developed.
3). Show v tell. It’s one of those books that tells tells tells for hundreds and hundred of pages. I found myself skimming.

I’m sure staying loyal to David Copperfield was a huge challenge and probably prevented her from making better choices. I think it’s one of those books you love or hate. Frankly I think a lot of people like it because it’s Barbara Kingsolver and she’s so respected…she got away with the flaws.


The child of addicts. As one, I can tell you how quickly you become the acting adult. This book was spot on with so many things as the child of an addict.
Anonymous
Post 11/07/2023 16:35     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:I hated A Little Life. I loved Shuggie Bain. The commentary here has me split on if I will enjoy this. My family is from this area of Appalachia and I'm usually really drawn to authors who write about it, so I'm hoping not to be turned off by it!


I hated A Little Life. Stopped reading about 90 pages in (which is really rare for me, i can almost always power through a book even if I don't like it that much). But I LOVED Demon Copperhead. If your family is from Appalachia I'd definitely give it a try.
Anonymous
Post 11/02/2023 13:58     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

I grew up with an addict for a parent and it was very hard to read. That being said, its one of the best books I read all year.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2023 10:14     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:Guys, it’s David Copperfield. The ending had to be the ending because it’s a direct update of David Copperfield.


Ok, but still….
Anonymous
Post 10/18/2023 03:27     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Guys, it’s David Copperfield. The ending had to be the ending because it’s a direct update of David Copperfield.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2023 21:49     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m another who hated it, despite loving several of Kingsolver’s other books.

1) I did not find Demon’s voice authentic. What child narrates like an adult? What drug addict sounds so coherent?
2) I felt zero, zip, connection to many of the characters in this book. The Coach? Hardly knew him. The supporting characters were super under developed.
3). Show v tell. It’s one of those books that tells tells tells for hundreds and hundred of pages. I found myself skimming.

I’m sure staying loyal to David Copperfield was a huge challenge and probably prevented her from making better choices. I think it’s one of those books you love or hate. Frankly I think a lot of people like it because it’s Barbara Kingsolver and she’s so respected…she got away with the flaws.


This is definitely a polarizing book. People seem to love it or hate it. I LOVED it and it was my first BK book, so it wasn't because I love her generally. The narration is in the voice of an adult because it's the story he's telling as a young man, as he looks back on his life. I thought many of the minor characters were very well-developed: his mom, his buddies Maggot and Tommy, Aunt June...I also thought it was a book that showed. Again, though, this book has lovers and haters.

I especially loved the ending, which wasn't dark!


I’m still on the fence about that ending!!
Anonymous
Post 10/06/2023 12:16     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:I’m another who hated it, despite loving several of Kingsolver’s other books.

1) I did not find Demon’s voice authentic. What child narrates like an adult? What drug addict sounds so coherent?
2) I felt zero, zip, connection to many of the characters in this book. The Coach? Hardly knew him. The supporting characters were super under developed.
3). Show v tell. It’s one of those books that tells tells tells for hundreds and hundred of pages. I found myself skimming.

I’m sure staying loyal to David Copperfield was a huge challenge and probably prevented her from making better choices. I think it’s one of those books you love or hate. Frankly I think a lot of people like it because it’s Barbara Kingsolver and she’s so respected…she got away with the flaws.


This is definitely a polarizing book. People seem to love it or hate it. I LOVED it and it was my first BK book, so it wasn't because I love her generally. The narration is in the voice of an adult because it's the story he's telling as a young man, as he looks back on his life. I thought many of the minor characters were very well-developed: his mom, his buddies Maggot and Tommy, Aunt June...I also thought it was a book that showed. Again, though, this book has lovers and haters.

I especially loved the ending, which wasn't dark!
Anonymous
Post 10/02/2023 14:21     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

I’m another who hated it, despite loving several of Kingsolver’s other books.

1) I did not find Demon’s voice authentic. What child narrates like an adult? What drug addict sounds so coherent?
2) I felt zero, zip, connection to many of the characters in this book. The Coach? Hardly knew him. The supporting characters were super under developed.
3). Show v tell. It’s one of those books that tells tells tells for hundreds and hundred of pages. I found myself skimming.

I’m sure staying loyal to David Copperfield was a huge challenge and probably prevented her from making better choices. I think it’s one of those books you love or hate. Frankly I think a lot of people like it because it’s Barbara Kingsolver and she’s so respected…she got away with the flaws.
Anonymous
Post 10/02/2023 14:16     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

I hated A Little Life. I loved Shuggie Bain. The commentary here has me split on if I will enjoy this. My family is from this area of Appalachia and I'm usually really drawn to authors who write about it, so I'm hoping not to be turned off by it!
Anonymous
Post 10/02/2023 14:12     Subject: Re:Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Personally I thought the book was terrible and really overplayed WV stereotypes. I felt like she was an armchair anthropologist telling me what people from there are like.


Kingsolver herself is from rural Kentucky and now chooses to live in SW Va. She’s intimately involved in these communities she’s talking about.

She gave a very interesting podcast with Ezra Klein (maybe?) on living there and “what democrats get wrong about these communities.

I thought it was a wonderfully written book and really enjoyed Demon as a character.


As a democrat and POC, I learned so much about SW Virginia that I had never realized. It gave me great insight and much more empathy than I had previously for these communities. I swear, if only more people realized how the rich and powerful exploit our fears by turning different groups of poor or marginizalized people against one another so we can't come together to fight the real villains....
Anonymous
Post 10/02/2023 14:09     Subject: Re:Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:Personally I thought the book was terrible and really overplayed WV stereotypes. I felt like she was an armchair anthropologist telling me what people from there are like.


Kingsolver herself is from rural Kentucky and now chooses to live in SW Va. She’s intimately involved in these communities she’s talking about.

She gave a very interesting podcast with Ezra Klein (maybe?) on living there and “what democrats get wrong about these communities.

I thought it was a wonderfully written book and really enjoyed Demon as a character.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2023 13:06     Subject: Re:Demon Copperhead question

Anonymous wrote:I think the early scenes are the worst because he's so young, so it's the most heartbreaking. It doesn't get more uplifting, but he gets older so it's (slightly) less disturbing. But I wouldn't say it gets any less bleak.

I liked it overall. It's very similar to Hillbilly Elegy in terms of the content and takeaways, i.e. rural whites and their struggles. If you found HE tiresome (I did, a bit), you may find this a bit tiresome too. But it has a lot more nuance and subtlety.

I enjoyed the fact that it was the David Copperfield story - it's fun to see how she updates the various characters and themes.

It was surprising how much of David Copperfield I remembered as I was listening to the book. Knowing what was coming didn't detract from the story for the reason bolded.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 09:30     Subject: Re:Demon Copperhead question

I wouldn't say I enjoyed it because it seems wrong to enjoy reading about so much tragedy and awfulness. I did finish it in two days by pulling an all-nighter which I haven't done in years for a book so that tells you I found it compelling. It was enlightening and depressing regarding the realities of life in poverty-stricken rural America where the opioid crisis reins.

Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 09:12     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

I just read the part where Demon himself acknowledges Dickens! Very funny!

I love the way the new book works with the old book so well. The idea is genius.

So far my favorite Kingsolver book is The Lacuna b/c I love Khalo and that whole story.
Anonymous
Post 06/28/2023 15:28     Subject: Demon Copperhead question

Yes, I can see where some might find it depressing but it always felt hopeful to me. I was pulling for Demon. I wanted him to prevail.