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

Would give more than five stars if I could

Barbara Kingsolver never disappoints. She is the master of fact-filled fiction. Memorable characters. Brisk pacing. Powerful story line. Addresses issues of child abuse and the opioid epidemic in an insightful compelling way. I’ll remember this exceptional novel for a long time. I highly recommend it. The narrator is exceptional—I confess to being disappointed when I realized Barbara Kingsolver was not narrating, but Charlie Thurston was perfect.

wonderful book

Barbara kingsolver came up with another great book. The characters are developed well. A variety of people with so much depth. Thank you a great book. Well done.

Well rounded story

This is not my usual genre but I took a chance. I truly enjoyed the story. It took me to another place and swept me up.

Mesmerizing

I was fascinated by the story from the very start. The narrator was the best I’ve ever heard. He was Demon Copperhead. Barbara Kingsolver spun a story of people we know but we don’t. Thank you. I could say more but I just finished the book, and I’m stunned.

Intense Suffering With Regular Laugh Out Loud Humor

Well developed characters and storyline take the reader into a world of poverty, lack of opportunities and drug addiction. Rare beacons of help and guidance in the form of teachers, a business owner and a coach, give a lifeline to our main character. The ups and downs are regularly infused with humorous observations and figures of speech that make the reader at least smile if not laugh. Excellent story.

❤

Where has Barbara Kingsolver been all my life.? I can't adequately express how much I loved this book! And the narration is spot on!

This was a phenomenal read

The story is captivating from the start, it is well written and the performance makes it even more engaging.

A Masterpiece of Literature

I adored this book.
Have always lived Kingsolver's stories.
This one should win the Pulitzer.

Too many towns like this

This is such a great sad story of every town in America. The narration was spot on.

A Kingsolver Surprise

This was such a brave story to write. Forget the David Copperfield comparisons, this story takes a tough look at America right now. By crafting this moving story with both humor and tragedy, BK again reveals the depth of her knowledge and compassion about the lives of others. How she could imagine herself in the shoes of Demon is beyond comprehension. I had tears in my eyes at the end. The reader was carefully selected by BK and he was absolutely perfect.