Demon Copperhead

A Novel

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Charlie Thurston

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century • An Oprah’s Book Club Selection • An Instant New York Times Bestseller • An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller • A #1 Washington Post Bestseller • A New York Times ""Ten Best Books of the Year""

""Demon is a voice for the ages—akin to Huck Finn or Holden Caulfield—only even more resilient.” —Beth Macy, author of Dopesick

""May be the best novel of [the year]. . . . Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this is the story of an irrepressible boy nobody wants, but readers will love.” —Ron Charles, Washington Post

From the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees and the recipient of the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, a brilliant novel that enthralls, compels, and captures the heart as it evokes a young hero’s unforgettable journey to maturity

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for listeners of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.

©2022 Barbara Kingsolver (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Wow! It’s a Masterpiece

The last few BK books have not been to my taste, so I hesitated on this one. Boy was I wrong! This book is a masterpiece. It’s right up there with Poisonwood Bible. Some people say it’s too sad. What they mean is it’s too realistic. I have family in these mountains. I know this landscape, the physical and emotional. Kingsolver hits both perfectly bringing you the story in a raw but tender way. And this narration is a solid gold 10/10. Kudos to both author and narrator. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. It was everything promised and a lot more.

A Must Read for so many reasons

Because Barbara Kingsolver tells a story with soul and authenticity. Because for most readers this will take them to a world as alien to them as Mars. And because this boy will remain in your heart forever. The narrator is perfection at bringing the characters to life but, especially, Charlie Thurston inhabits Demon. Don’t miss this chance to walk in his shoes. It’s worth the heartache.

Winner!

Mark my words, this book will be slated for Best Book of the Year on Goodreads and Audible. Not only is the story compelling, but the narration is perfect.

And… It flows so beautifully

Barbara Kingsolver - master of storytelling with multiple levels of meaning, multiple voices, generous with detail. Really cares about her characters. The Dickens tie-ins are enriching and fun, too. For me it brings back reading David Copperfield at 14 yrs old… the first book I really fell in love with. These characters resonate.

Great story, great listen

Loved every minute of it. The main character’s courage and innate intelligence carries the listener through thick and thin. This will become a classic.

The harsh reality of Appalachian beauty

Wow! I grew up in this region and watched friends who didn’t leave home fall into this gregarious trap of the capitalistic opioid grinder. I’m lucky I never had to go through the climb out of addiction. The reality of it’s trap has changed the landscape of the place I call home. Kingsolver did not pull punches with this book and I think everyone who reads it will be better for the experience.

What a Book!

This book is a modern epic classic. Strong characters, thought provoking subject matter, plenty of twists and narrated with perfect voice for the story. I couldn’t stop listening.

I bought the hard copy for my library so I’ll always have it.

Engaging

I was as engaged in this book as I was when I read Poisonwood Bible. At times very hard to read, emotionally, but obviously I knew this going in since it is a modern David Copperfield.
I’m taking it as my book club gift exchange book. I highly recommend it.

best I've ever had

performance and content was 1000% the best I've ever heard and I've been listening for a couple decades

Dickens Meets Appalachian Opioid Crisis

If David Copperfield, arguably Dickens’s greatest novel, has a weakness it is the character of the eponymous narrator. Although those around him are among the greatest characters of literature, David is sieve. Barbara Kingsolver corrects that imbalance with her take on the classic. Demon Copperhead is a character for the ages.

Demon is vivid and alive on every page. In the audiobook, Charles Thurston captures Demon with verve, sensitivity, and laugh-out-loud humor. Kingsolver’s title character is very funny and Thurston’s impeccable timing brings the comedy to fully realized life. Even when the book descends into the horror of the opioid crisis in Appalachia, Demon’s personality leaven’s the prose.

Although I recommend Kingsolver’s novel without reservation, I don’t mean to suggest it is as great as the 19th Century literary monument. Then again, few novels not written by Tolstoy have ever reached that level. Kingsolver, however, does a beautiful job translating the novel to the present day.

Characters based on Steerforth, Aunt Betsy, Uriah Heep, and the Micawbers do not come close to the complexity of the originals. Kingsolver does better with Agnes, Mr. Dick, and Tommy. But her greatest achievement is Demon, himself. He’s a character who will endure like so many created by Dickens.