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 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.

Charlie Thurston!

I swear I need to actually read this book to know if it’s that good. I LOVE Barbara Kingsolver. I have read/listened to The Poisonwood Bible more times than I can count. I think I’ve read every book she’s written except for the short stories. I was/am in tears at the end of this book and I KNOW a huge part of this is Charlie Thurstons reading. So dang good! Is this guy an actor?!? Barbara should NOT read her books. She got better in Unsheltered. Anyways, Charlie Thurston rocks.

Thank you again BK

Kingsolver is simply an amazing writer. Just like The Bean Trees, Poisonwood Bible, and Flight Behavior among others, I will not forget Demon Copperhead. Yes, your heart will completely break but through humor and her brilliant use of language you will find so much beauty. This is a very harsh story, language and all. I feel she is a teacher and a healer through her stories. The resilience of her characters renews my spirit every time and I feel like a better person having read her books-more compassionate and more aware. Her reverence for the environment is so often a large part of what makes her writing so beautiful. That element is less prominent in DCopperhead but still present. Always looking for her next book.

One of the best

I loved the story and how it wove so many issues (foster care, opioid crisis, poverty) together as is often the case. The imagery and writing was beautiful.
The performance could not have been better!

Amazing

This book was hard to listen and learn from, but so compelling. Each character was given so much careful thought- as a person residing in Asheville I learned a lot about more rural areas. As usual BK’s literary descriptions of the natural world in our region are so spot on. For everyone saying “it’s vulgar or too hard to get through” challenge yourself and you will learn. Vulgarities are authentic to the setting and characters- presumably you are adults too. A really impressive read that I could not put down, you’re crying and you’re laughing- brilliant, BK!

I love this story!

The story rings true from the start. It’s got grit, hardness, hurt along with humor and wonderful characters. Few stories keep me listening non stop, anxiously awaiting the next chapter. Mr. Thurston is my new favorite narrator. Very impressive to say the least.
Now I’m off to find other works by this author and/or narrator. It’s among my new favorites and I’ll probably listen at least once more. I highly recommend this book!