Scan barcode
A review by bleadenreads
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
This was an utterly brilliant retelling of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens set in the 90s. I read this in Corfu in late September and I honestly struggled to put it down or stop gasping or stop talking about.
Demon's journey from birth to adulthood was one of the most heartbreaking stories I've ever read. I knew enough about the plot of David Copperfield to know what was going to happen, but this made it all the more emotional, as you got heavily invested in each character & dreaded their eventual fate/death. I desperately wanted Demon to be happy & secure & found it much easier to warm to his character over the original David Copperfield.
I cannot believe that I had never read any Barbara Kingsolver before! The way she unflinchingly wrote about the opioid crisis was heartbreaking - a balance of ruthless & sensitive. In the author's note at the end Kingsolver references how she was inspired by Dickens' impassioned way of writing about institutional poverty & state neglect of children, & that is so so clear in her writing, it feels like she is writing an expose on American society.
I particularly thought Tommy (the real hero of the story!) & 'Fast Forward' were written incredibly well. Dori was retold brilliantly, she still had the tragic & helpless vibe about her, but without the Victorian criticism of her lack of womanly skills.
I know it's a long book at 500ish pages, but honestly it was so worth it, never felt like a Dickens tome but like a true bildungsroman filled with honesty, tragedy & family (or lack of). This book will stay with me for a long time,
Demon's journey from birth to adulthood was one of the most heartbreaking stories I've ever read. I knew enough about the plot of David Copperfield to know what was going to happen, but this made it all the more emotional, as you got heavily invested in each character & dreaded their eventual fate/death. I desperately wanted Demon to be happy & secure & found it much easier to warm to his character over the original David Copperfield.
I cannot believe that I had never read any Barbara Kingsolver before! The way she unflinchingly wrote about the opioid crisis was heartbreaking - a balance of ruthless & sensitive. In the author's note at the end Kingsolver references how she was inspired by Dickens' impassioned way of writing about institutional poverty & state neglect of children, & that is so so clear in her writing, it feels like she is writing an expose on American society.
I particularly thought Tommy (the real hero of the story!) & 'Fast Forward' were written incredibly well. Dori was retold brilliantly, she still had the tragic & helpless vibe about her, but without the Victorian criticism of her lack of womanly skills.
I know it's a long book at 500ish pages, but honestly it was so worth it, never felt like a Dickens tome but like a true bildungsroman filled with honesty, tragedy & family (or lack of). This book will stay with me for a long time,