“The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between.”–Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead
I generally read books that are on the clean side–mild language, sex, etc. This book does not fit that description, so if those things bother you, this is not the book for you. That being said, this 2023 Pulitzer Prize Winner by Barbara Kingsolver is masterful and enlightening. It is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, set in 1990s southern Appalachia. Our hero, Demon Copperhead, was born to a teenaged single mother and his life doesn’t get any easier as he grows up. His home life is rough, particularly when his mom marries. He finds himself in less than ideal foster home situations and because he looks much older than he is, is treated more as an adult than a child. He is a gifted artist and a talented athlete. When he reaches high school, football appears to be his ticket to a better life. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned. This is a story of devastating loss, adversity, coming of age, connection, and resilience.
Just as Dickens’ novel brought attention to the plight of children trapped in generational poverty during the Victorian Era, Kingsolver reminds us that our systems have largely failed many of our communities that still face challenges of poverty, crime, violence, and drug use. I read this book not long after reading Empire of Pain, which describes the toll the opioid epidemic has taken on our communities. This book dovetails well with Empire of Pain as it too illustrates the nefarious and greedy practices that led to so many unnecessary and devastating addictions.
You don’t need to be familiar with David Copperfield to enjoy Demon Copperhead, but it is especially interesting if you are. Kudos to Kingsolver for an engaging, smart, and impactful novel. It is deserving of its Pulitzer Prize.
Content Advisory: Language, vulgarity, references to sex, sex, drug abuse, violence, domestic abuse, abandonment, death