This retelling of Dickens’ David Copperfield set in Appalachia was a long but brilliant read.
Demon is a likeable character and his resilience in the face of a life-long struggle against the odds makes for an addictive read. I loved his pride in and sense of belonging to his home. I was struck by the anger that he and his mentors felt about how their region had been mistreated, plundered and stigmatised.
And I found it a really clever choice to set this version of the story against the backdrop of the OxyContin scandal and opioid addiction epidemic in the United States, although some sections were heartbreaking.
Thanks to Anna for yet another excellent recommendation.