Demon Copperhead

A Novel

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Charlie Thurston

Length: 21 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

WINNER OF THE 2023 PULITZER PRIZE • WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

A New York Times "Ten Best Books of 2022" • An Oprah’s Book Club Selection • An Instant New York Times Bestseller • An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller • A #1 Washington Post Bestseller

"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 2022. . . . 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, 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

Best book I’ve read in years

Barbara Kingsolver’s greatest book to date, which is quite an achievement for an author who consistently treats her readers to beautifully-written tales of people and nature. Demon Copperhead manages to surpass Poisonwood Bible in its breadth, wisdom, compelling characters and (no doubt) the most research on a dizzying number of topics, historical and contemporary. Kingsolver is an American literary giant. The audible version add an extra level of enjoyment. The narration is perfect. It adds flavor to the book that, unless you’re from Appalachia, you’d miss. I’m glad I listened to this book. I’m sorry it ended. It’s beautiful and violent, horrifying and tender. You can’t help but fall in love with the protagonist (written in first person), a young boy experiencing the worst kinds of life, from poor orphan in abusive foster care systems to an athletic star until he can’t play anymore and is criminally fed the most addictive opioids until he sinks as low as he can and fights his way back into life. When you finish this book, you’ll have a new appreciation to the mountain rednecks and you’ll be furious at the system that has abused them, then turned them into the butt of the national jokes. I could go on. I could write a book about this book. It needs to be read, then studied, and absolutely earn a Pulitzer or a Nobel. Or both. It should be required reading in high school English AP classes and in universities. Stop me before I start gushing.

Narration was perfect

The narrator was made for this book! He did such a great job and I don’t think I would’ve liked the book half as much of I had read it on my own. There were parts that were really sad and hard to hear- I cried, I laughed, and I really enjoyed it all around.

My oh my

Extraordinary story, masterful storytelling, insightful on a powerful level. And the ending… I cried with joy.

Exquisite Story Telling

What a painful, emotional listen. The characters are so well written they leap from the story and filter into your dreams. The story breaks your heart at every turn, even knowing its the Copperfield legend and what is likely to follow, I needed to take frequent breaks from the story to let my soul mend. This one should be required reading. Kingsolver is such a talent. This book certainly continues her legacy. Deserving of the Pulitzer.

The Narration could not have been better. Just outstanding.

Excellent writing and more true to life than you want to believe

The audible was the best I have EVER listened to. This book will stay with me for a long long time!

Brilliant in every way

Brilliant story & social observation
I loved every word and listened almost continuously to finish - narrator was superb

So sad I finished it!

Wonderful, poignant story told by a narrator whose voice I will miss on a daily basis now that I've finished the book. I highly recommend!

A novel about an orphaned hillbilly boy.

This was a great novel. It was about a hillbilly boy who was placed in a foster care system after his drug addicted mom ODs.

It has an abusive stepdad. Foster care homes that make the kids work like mules. Others that demand he pay rent at 11.

There is one family that shows him some compassion and another that shows him compassion as the result of his football skills.

How this boy weaves through the obstacles of injury leading to drug addiction to become a man is a great story.

It allowed me to relate to him with some shared experiences. It made me compassionate for those who grow up poor in Appalachia.

Eloquent narrative

Kingsolver is pure joy to read. Her diction, wit, and keen perspective radiate beautifully through this tale.
I am enthralled by her literary aplomb, but at times it clashes with the main character's stage in life. I questioned whether I was guilty of the "dumb hick" stereotype she so carefully exposes. However, she created a character who in several incidences dismisses expressing himself through words in favor of his talents as a visual artist. I don't care though, I'm waiting to hear what awaits Demon Copperhead at the beach!

great book! so beautifully drawn.

It took me a few chapters to get hooked but then I did and I surprised myself by listening to the whole thing in under a week. it's well read and beautiful and left me missing the characters when I finished it.