Demon Copperhead

A Novel

De: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrado por: Charlie Thurston

READ BY ACTOR 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 readers 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.

Sooooo good.

A masterpiece to rival The Poisonwood Bible. David Copperfield retold in Appalachia, with foster care and the opioid crisis as antagonists. Kingsolver’s reimagining is vividly alive and brilliantly imaginative. The humor and pathos are perfectly matched.

The book is even better for the narrator, who is a perfect fit for Demon’s fresh voice. A perfect choice.

Delightful

This was a great story, so well presented. I didn’t feel it was a difficult listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the presenter.

Long listen, but it ended too soon. Spoiler Alert

Barbara Kingsolver is my favorite literary fiction writer. In this novel, built on the template of Dicken's David Copperfield, she explores the situation of a born-in-caul orphan in rural Virginia coal country. The comparison of rural U.S. 20th century poverty with urban U.K. 19th century poverty is haunting. OxyContin has replaced Gin and web comics have replaced serial novels. Good companion reading for this book (besides David Copperfield) is Friday Night Lights and Dreamland (Quinones). In her usual manner, Kingsolver has meticulously researched every detail from the popular adolescent video games, to the techniques for drug use.

Strong recommendation. Book of the Year. Thank you Barbara.

A Powerful Story and a brilliant performance.

I’ve never read a book by this author before - but I will be reading everything Barbara has written after this. Such humility, humor, sadness and accuracy and wit - I enjoyed every minute and the narrator was one of the best I’ve ever heard - a truly memorable and enjoyable book - bravo!!!

Audio book version

I listened to the audio book version. The narration was excellent, and the accent was perfect for the storyline. I had a lot of emotions listening to this. It was sad, pitiful, ugly, humorous, heartwarming and hopeful. Kingsolver’s writing was excellent as expected of her. I’m glad I read it even though the topics in the story were not pleasant.