Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

914 reviews

kb_toys's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a powerful and sad coming-of-age story focusing on the broken foster care system and drug addiction. Although Demon is the main narrator & character, there are so many other stories included. The story was predictable (in a tragic way) but I really enjoyed seeing Demon work through the issues from his POV. Overall, it’s a story about survival and redemption. I definitely liked the writing style and story but towards the end it started to drag a little and felt repetitive - the book could have been 100 pages shorter and still as effective.  Character development was also really good - I didn’t necessarily like all the characters but I was rooting for them. Except Angus and June of course - I loved them both so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Abandonment

dbr3168's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

4.5

What a heavy, well written book about the struggles of being an addict, and how flawed the foster system here the US can be. This book had fantastic world building, and really touches the soul. The ending felt rushed, compared to the pacing in the rest of the book, but otherwise a great read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

annabunce's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Such a great read, but so so sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

caitlin_davis22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt

rainbownarwhal's review against another edition

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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship

ellecam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.5

truly the ending with him and angus tainted the book, annoyingly cliche and dumb

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Classism

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Abortion

fepope's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny inspiring slow-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

5.0

Kingsolver managed to gut-punch me and make me double over laughing every chapter, and her descriptions were both realistic and devastating. I’ve never read David Copperfield, but I enjoyed every bit of Demon Copperhead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

chelseahelton's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Death of parent

yajairat's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Really loved this, an excellent character study from start to finish. Kingsolver established such a distinct and memorable voice through Demon. As someone that is not really knowledgeable in Appalachia's history and contemporary issues (especially the opioid crisis), I learned a lot by reading this and made me reflect on my opinions about rural America.  At times really bleak, but found the ending to be satisfying and left feeling with a sense of hope. 

"It hit me pretty hard how there's no kind of sad in this world that will stop it turning. People will keep on wanting what they want, and you're on your own." 

"you never know the size of hurt that's in people's hearts, or what they're liable to do about it , given the chance"

"and if I die no soul will pity 
me.
And why should they since I
myself
find in myself no pity to 
myself."

"Battle of Blair Mountain, that turned into the biggest war in America ever, other than the civil one. Twenty thousand guys from all over these mountains, fighting in regiments. They worse red bandannas on their necks to show they were all on the same side, working men. Mr. Armstrong said people calling us rednecks, that goes back to the red bandannas." 

"Certain pitiful souls around here see whiteness as their last asset that hasn't been totaled or repossessed."

"You think you know where your own troubles lie, only to stare down the page and realize, no. Not there, It started earlier."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual content

phmillsap's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment