ASD Book Club: Demon Copperhead

In our post Favorite Spring Reads, one of the books we identified was Demon Copperhead. As it turns out, Harriet and I agreed that it was the most compelling book that we have read in the past few months. So I decided to pick it for the June Book Club which I was hosting. Let me give you a brief synopsis of the story, the reaction of the Book Club members and a little bit about the evening.

Demon Copperhead tells the story of a young man growing up in Southern Appalachia. The author, Barbara Kingsolver, lives in this part of the country, so she has a personal familiarity with the issues plaguing this area. Interestingly she compares the story to Dicken’s David Copperfield, highlighting the fact that thing have not changed much since the time it was published. She writes about the trials that Demon faces growing up: a drug addicted mother who ultimately dies from her addiction, the challenging foster care system, Demon’s own challenges with drug addiction stemming from prescribed oxycodene, and his ultimate triumph. Along the way, you meet other characters who also shed light on the situation being faced in Appalachia. Brilliantly written, Demon Copperhead won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Literature as well as the Women’s 2023 Prize for Fiction.

Full disclosure, the Book Club was very divided on this book. Obviously Harriet and I truly enjoyed it as did several others; however a few in the group did not. It is not an easy read. The difficulties that Demon endures are traumatic and certain points in the read can be somewhat depressing. But I found the writing so compelling, the story relevant to today’s issues in the U.S. and learned so much by reading this book.

Now on to the dinner….

The Tablescape

Peonies are in bloom and create such a beautiful centerpiece.

The Appetizer Board

I created a board that focused on some of my favorite board choices: Bruschetta, cheddar/gruyere cheese, almonds, olives, artichokes and bread sticks.

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Super simple but love the pretty colors of the heirloom tomatoes. Over a bed of arugula and romaine, topped with shaved parmesan and champagne dressing.

The Main Course

Chicken and vegetable skewers, rice and pita make for a perfect combination.

As always, the evening brought lively discussions, lots of opinions, and yummy food to share. If you are up for it, give Demon Copperhead a try. For Harriet and me, it was certainly worth reading.

XO,

Wendy