Thoroughly enjoyable made more so by the excellent narrator who nailed the regional accent, Charlie Thurston. A story that parallels David Copperfield but I think is more of a modern-day Huckleberry Finn. ( )

Born on the wrong side of the tracks, contained within the amniotic sac, on the bathroom floor of a single-wide, surrounded by junk and pill bottles, to a teenage alcoholic and addict mum, Demon Copperhead’s introduction to life isn’t the best. Yet babies born ‘in the caul’ are so rare they are considered to be lucky, super special, born survivors.

“According to Mrs Peggot there is one good piece of luck that comes with the baggie birth: it’s this promise from God that you’ll never drown.”

I love his voice, his turn of phrase, his way with words. Demon’s description of his life is so raw, nuanced and real that it reads like a true autobiography rather than a work of fiction.

The breath-taking beauty of the Appalachian mountains as a backdrop to unemployment and poverty, moonshine and mental health, discrimination and hopelessness. The bad guys, the sad guys and the good guys. The failures of the social care system. The pushing and peddling of Oxycontin. From Prom King to nothing. Football hero. Cartoonist extraordinaire. Silver snake bracelets and tobacco flower wreaths. The pull of the ocean, the desire to please, the capacity to love and be loved. Demon Copperfield is an absolute epic where every single word counts.

“I’m grateful to Charles Dickens for writing David Copperfield, his impassioned critique of institutional poverty and its damaging effects on children in his society.”

I’m grateful to Charles Dickens for being the inspiration behind this brilliant, heart-breaking, shocking and thought-provoking book. ( )

I lost interest in this story very quickly to my dismay since it is on so many rave lists. Just not my cup of moonshine.

Demon Copperhead is the nickname of a young man who has a hard life living in a modern Virginia coal town. This wasn't the easiest book I've ever read, from an emotional point of view, but it all rings true, unfortunately. I know the Appalachians in that part of the country very well, and I can tell you that all of the things that Demon has to live through can and often do definitely happen. The drug crisis there is very real and is incredibly devastating. I appreciate Kingsolver's telling this story in all its harsh realities. She doesn't sugarcoat the issues but brings them to the forefront. The writing is truly exceptional. While the book was a tough read psychologically, the writing was a pure joy. ( )

I don't think I've ever called a book “powerful” before, but this book is powerful. I've also never read anything by Barbara Kingsolver before. I love the first person voice this is written in, kind of a vernacular but maybe that's not the word I'm looking for. Beautiful book. Parts of it really hit close to home, other parts had me appreciating everything I've had and still have. Looking forward so much to reading more of her work. ( )