I am halfway through Demon Copperhead. It is not a likeable book, but it is extremely well written. Just as David Copperfield put a face to the ugliness of poverty, this book does the same. While Damon seems to have landed into a good situation, I have a feeling it is not going to last.
It reminds me of the story of Sherman Alexie. I mean, he did it. By virtue of his brains, he got himself out off the reservation. He was a novelist. A screen writer. A film maker. He was married to another native professor. He had two kids. He was living the dream. Until he wasn't. His life imploded. Reading about it, I understood it. He was raised watching people lead self destructive lives. Recklessness, violence, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, overdoses. This repeating pattern lay dormant for a while, and then it raised up once again. Consciously or subconsciously, who can say? But he fell back into the old ways and self destructed.
It's hard to feel worthy when you have a childhood of feeling unworthy. That part I know to be true.
Anyways, he seems to have picked up the pieces and reassembled his life. Good for him. Not everyone can.
So anyways, I'm reading Demon Copperhead. Barbara Kingsolver is such a powerful writer.
Grouted the tile today. Tim did the last receptacle. Now he is back to hooking up the lights. Progress. Ever so slowly, but progress all the same.
Guess who showed up today? Gaza. We seriously haven't seen her for weeks. She's like a wild animal, growled and hissing and spitting. For their parts, the kittens seem to take it in stride. They don't approach her, but we had a nice game of laser tag, and they played unconcerned while their mother yowled like a banshee from the food dish.
Fajitas for supper. I wrote my nightly quota of post cards. To bed early to read some more of my book.
Man. I lead a boring life.
I signed up for postcards on one of the Kamala zooms. I keep hearing they are on their way. I think I signed up for 200 and if they don't get here soon - well, I don't know how I will get them done!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Merry, I was worried also. But my post cards are not supposed to be sent out until October 29th. I signed up for 200 as well, and am doing 10 a night while watching Jeopardy. I'll be done with them September 29th. It gives me a whole month to put the stamps on. I'll bet you are in the last wave. Also note that you will receive an e-mail when they ship them. At least I did.
DeleteYou lead the least boring life! Seriously. Uuuhh.... That book sounds depressing.
ReplyDeleteand yet, it is the hopeless life that some kids are born into.
DeleteShe is a good writer. My fave was Prodigal Summer. It had an ecological motif.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was Flight Behavior. I also liked Unsheltered. She really captures relationship well, doesn't she?
DeleteI haven't read a Kingsolver book in years and I think I'll pass on that one. I can't read depressing books anymore like I used to be able to do. Family traits can be very hard to overcome. You fill your days with productive things and things you enjoy, not boring to read about.
ReplyDeleteYou know, if I hadn't have committed to it for the book club, I don't know that I would have finished it, but it is powerful stuff. Hurts your heart a bit. I keep trying to remind myself that the story is a work of fiction, but the sad fact of it is that this is the reality of a lot of kids stuck in the system.
DeleteI have a boring life too, but I can't decide if that's good or bad. I guess it's not always boring, and I don't like that. I walked the dogs today, baked a couple of cakes, made muffins and thai peanut chicken for supper. I'm reading a good book though, "Coppermine" by Keith Ross Leckie. It's based on a true story from 1916. He's a good writer.
ReplyDeleteI wandered off to have a read about that. It looks like a good one. I'll add it to my list.
DeleteA boring life perhaps, just like the rest of us, but for most of us it is a life we enjoy.
ReplyDeleteToo true. We are fortunate, aren't we?
DeleteA boring life....it made me recall a letter from my uncle who'd just flown back to the USA from England: "We had an uneventful flight" he wrote, "but the last thing I need at 30,000 feet are events!". Yes, there is much to be said for a safe but boring ride through life.
ReplyDeleteYour uncle is hilarious...and correct. And you are right. There a millions in this world who would give anything to be leading a safe but boring life.
DeleteI am glad that work is progressing on your new home. When I think of eventful (e.g. a life with huge problems thrown in), then boring is ok!
ReplyDeleteI am back reading mainly historical fiction again - I love to live in the past.
I've been thinking about that, and I know that you are correct. It just feels like a rut sometimes, and that is my own fault.
DeleteOther people's lives are rarely boring, I find.
ReplyDeleteHow strange that Gaza turned up today. Has she had her kittens, do you think?
You know, I can't tell. But boy is she mean. She was carrying on the whole time that she was here, snarling like a little cougar. She came close to be fed, but would not be touched and acted as if she would take my hand off if I tried.
DeleteI enjoy reading about other bloggers' lives. Not boring at all.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about not being worthy struck a chord with me...little Miss Nobody 😏
Oh, I understand this thinking.
DeleteOh, I don't think your life is boring at all! I think it's a full and well-rounded life, Debby! Your life is like a wonderfully diverse buffet. I tried reading Demon Copperhead and just could not make myself keep going. I dearly loved her "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" and actually thought I could do the same! (Have chickens, grow most of our food, bake bread!) Sadly, no. Too much work at the time, as I was working full time, had a kid at home yet. These cats, mysterious and mercurial, for sure. They are quite lucky to have you.
ReplyDeleteI keep reminding myself that they are wild animals, and despite the fact that they look like cats, they aren't. They just are not.
DeleteYour posts are never dull Debby. Good writer are polymaths. They can write about anything,
ReplyDeleteI can also write about nothing. As proof, I submit this post!
DeleteIsn't the Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times". My day - every day - is boring from certain angles. The angles that have texture and interest are not disclosable for a variety of reasons.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Can I rewrite that? That I live an exciting life in uninteresting times? No?
DeleteIf I had your amount of energy, I would have an exciting life like you! It's not boring; you're building a whole house! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I'm still in my jammies at 10 am!
DeleteI welcome a boring life these days. When things start filling up our social calendar, I begin to panic.
ReplyDeleteI find that the less I get out, the less inclined I am to do so. I've been really pushing myself.
DeleteI used to read all the time...now I can't seem to get into anything fictional.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how Gaza has returned..sans kittens...if she had any you'd reckon she'd pass them into you like the last crew....
Tim saw her in the jingweeds. She began to run away. He called to her, and she stopped and listened. "Come on," he said, and began to walk towards the garage. She raced past him and got there first. It's not exactly trust, because I know that given half a chance, I could have been bitten today. I'm not sure where this is all leading. She was sure hungry though. She ate like a crazed starved creature.
DeleteI completely agree with you about "Demon Copperhead." Another one of her books that I love so much but which doesn't get as much discussion as some of her others, is "The Lacuna." You might like that one.
ReplyDeleteIf your life is boring, mine is completely without substance or meaning.
You know, I thought I read that one, but reading the synopsis, it does not sound familiar. I'll have to give it a go at some point. She's a very good writer.
DeleteIt almost sounds like Gaza may have contracted feline distemper! If she is coming in like that ... be very wary of her!
ReplyDeleteThis is my life: 🥱😴
It did actually occur to me that she might be rabid. Her behavior was soooooo aggressive and 'wild'. Rabies is not rare here. She was gulping her food and choking on it, but she was also growling and squalling at the same time. She seemed awfully hungry. She was not drooling. I did feel that she would tear into me in a second if I did not leave her be. This bears watching.
DeleteIf Gaza continues like that ... contact animal control or set out a baited trap or do both! She could infect the 3 kittens if she were to attack them.
DeleteFrom what I've heard, you described it well as not being likable, but well-written. Our book club read the other Pulitzer winner for that year (Trust), but I still want to read this one at some point.
ReplyDeleteWe also read Sherman Alexie's book for our group and I made the mistake of researching him before I finished it. The events of his life in recent years put a damper on how I felt about it. In some ways it reminded me of Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri. Have you read that one?
If you can trap and spay Gaza and any offspring, please dont hesitate to ask for donation. Very few places offer low cost S/N for feral cats. I am happy to make a $ contribution to S/N of your pack.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad Gaza is back, even if she is in a foul mood! I loved Demon Copperhead. As you said, it's not all pleasant, but the writing and storytelling is beautiful. Perhaps my only objection is that it seemed to incorporate just about every Appalachian cliche into the plot, but perhaps that also reflects reality for a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteYour line, "It's hard to feel worthy when you have a childhood of feeling unworthy. That part I know to be true." really hits home with me as well. Being abandoned by my biological father took me a long time to get over and made me feel like I wasn't worthy of love from others. Take care, Debby.
ReplyDeleteI e had Demon Cooperhead for months now, but haven’t started it yet-
ReplyDeleteI’m a little reluctant since I know it’s not an easy read! But the author is brilliant, so I’ll get there eventually. I’ve ordered a bunch of postcards to send, and hope some of my neighbor woman friends will help me!
And I have to say- your life doesn’t seem boring at all to me! Good luck with the cats!!🐈⬛ xo, Rigmor
I loved Demon Copperhead; I think it's a modern day classic. I'm not always a Kingsolver fan but this one grabbed me completely. I've read some Alexie too and been impressed by his writing.
ReplyDelete