I certainly went through an emotional ringer reading this novel. Although it pales in comparison to what Demon has to endure. From the moment of his birth he has to fight to survive. Poverty, addiction and trauma are explored from beginning to end before Demon can find hope for the future.

I love Barbara Kingsolver's writing and her ability to inhabit characters and make them really matter to the reader. This was used to great effect in this book which was desperately sad, but the author managed to make me keep returning for the possibility of a glimmer of hope and maybe even redemption. I hadn't realised until the end that it was a contemporary take on David Copperfield, which made me feel even more sad as, although the books are based in different countries in different centuries, their portrayal of generations of lost children hasn't really changed. Thank you Ms Kingsolver, may those in power hear your truths and act on them Thank you to netgalley and Faber and Faber for an advance copy of this book

A sprawling book with the kind of messy, flawed characters you can’t help but root for with your whole heart. It’s gritty and heartbreaking but also hopeful and beautiful. You could re-read this book a thousand times and gleam something new from it.

I urge everyone to get a copy and absorb every word. This is a spectacular book from an author i had never heard of. It is truly an outstanding piece of writing. I just felt so sad at the end as i became part of demon’s world. How she speaks through the eyes of a young boy and as he grows is remarkable. There are some hilarious one liners….. flushing tablets down a commode……which make you laugh out loud and definitely breaks up the sheer misery of his life. You will never regret taking time out of your life to read this.

I was in a total reading funk until I picked up this book. One of those books you look forward to picking up every time you go to read.