Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Co-founder/Editor Tara Huck shares:

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

After three months, I completed Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver recently. It is a 2022 novel that was a co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and won the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

My husband recommended it as a great view into the reality of life in Appalachia. As predicted, the story is sad, which may be why it took me so long to get through it.

It is a 22-hour audiobook; I could only listen for a bit at a time as it is heavy. Although, the narrator is excellent.

Generally, I enjoy listening to audiobooks. It is a great way to keep up with my TBR pile with my busy lifestyle. I tend to listen while driving, while folding laundry, while walking, and while making supper.

However, this book made me pause and mix in lighter reads. That said, the resilience of the main character, Demon, kept bringing me back to it. He was born to a single mother in poverty. His wit and talent for survival kept me rooting for a happy ending.

I am glad to have read it. I was left with an appreciation for the reality of poverty and addiction. It made me again realize the struggle that it takes to overcome these circumstances.

There is much more to survival than pulling up your bootstraps. Demon Copperhead provides a glimpse into this reality with compelling characters that will make their way into your heart. This story will stay with me for many years.