Compelling. Colourful. Engrossing.

"Demon Copperhead", written by Barbara Kingsolver, is a modern take on Charles Dickens's “David Copperfield”.

Haven’t read it? DW neither have I – it won’t stop you from enjoying this read!

Set in a rural America wrestling with poverty and opioid addiction, we follow Damon Fields aka ‘Demon’ as he tries to survive against the odds.

It’s a powerful novel that makes some not-so-subtle comments on social issues like poverty and rural dispossession, and flaws in the American public education system, health care and child-welfare agencies.

A big part of the narrative also criticises Purdue Pharma, a company that heavily contributed to the opioid crisis with its aggressive marketing of OxyContin. Netflix’s ‘Painkiller’, anyone?

I’ll be honest if you’re after a light-hearted read – this ain’t it. Kingsolver takes us to some pretty dark and depressing places. With a smattering of humour and

But I was engrossed in the vivid storytelling and Kingsolver’s ability to comment on heavy material while managing to weave in heartwarming moments of humour, hope and beauty.