Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

31 reviews

lizsim's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Vomit

Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Gun violence, and Classism

sactownraces's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was a gut punch from start to finish. Having not read David Copperfield, which this book is a retelling of, I did not know what to expect. As Barbara Kingsolver discusses briefly in the acknowledgement, it is a look into the institutional poverty of the Appalachian region of the United States, and how coal and opiates have effectively ruined any chance for rural communities to thrive. Throughout every step of Demon's journey I wanted only the best for him, and to tell him everything would be okay, despite his self destructive actions reinforced by the world he's living in. 

I would highly recommend this book to better understand, as a city folk, how the 'other half' live so we can better influence the discussion at a national level.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

staceyinthesticks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

lolo_lew's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Incredibly well-written, tackles tough and complex topics in an approachable and meaningful way. Highly recommend but contains content that might be sensitive to some.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

lyndle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Long list of content warnings but GOD it’s so good. You won’t believe a happy ending is possible but you’ll get there. The way Kingsolver writes through the mouth of Demon is masterful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Violence, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

nreyno's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

laisant's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism

sjanke2's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a challenging book, both in the sense of Demon's stream-of-consciousness voice and the trials he endures. But after 50 pages, one's brain adapts to Kingsolver's writing style. The audiobook narrator helped in developing a stride. Demon goes through so much, and there's a balance of both good and bad influences in the side characters. I also appreciated Kingsolver's strong stance on the war wreaked upon Appalachians by land grabbers, mining companies, and Big Pharma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War

gabriellejon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Growing up in Appalacia meant seeing the truth written in this book with my own two eyes.

The pill mills, the overdoses, the kids in and out of foster care, the abuse, growing up too fast. This is a viceral book, with a happy ending. I cried many times. I had my own Dori. He died the same way she did. I miss him. I lost him 6 years ago and the pain never goes away. I have the same anger in my chest as Demon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

abscott's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment