A review by leahgustafson
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

I had been looking forward to reading this one for SO long, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! I’m really glad I read David Copperfield before reading this one. While it would be completely fine reading to this one on its own, I think reading them together is a really unique reading experience. I felt so much excitement when I was introduced to formerly beloved characters in a new capacity. I loved comparing the connections and nuances of characters between both books, and the details were really thoughtful and creative. The setting Kingsolver chose for this retelling is a genius way to demonstrate that the same issues Dickens wrote about are still prevalent today. 
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While there are similarities, Demon is a stronger narrator than David, and I absolutely fell in love with him as both a narrator and storyteller. I rooted for him while he simultaneously made me laugh out loud and broke my heart. Demon walks the reader through some really dark and heavy realities in such a unique and beautiful way. While you may have some background on the opioid crisis or know some statistics, the reality told through stories is extremely powerful. 
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I flipped back and forth between the print and audio versions (as usual). I think the audio version is phenomenal—if you’re looking for a good listen, this would be a great pick!
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Check out what I’m reading next on a Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
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