Literary Fiction

The intended similarity to David Copperfield is what drew me towards this book by Barbara Kingsolver. I usually lack the patience for a weighty 600+ pages book. But such was my ardour to read the modernized version of the classic that I pepped myself to do it.

Demon Copperhead traces the life of the protagonist Damon Fields – from the time of his birth in freakish circumstances, his life as an orphan accentuated by his journey through various foster homes, his adult life, a short lived fame and the unsavoury habits that threaten to ruin his life.

The book starts with a whole lot of promise and keeps you engaged with a vivid and realistic narration of the adversity and challenges faced by little Damon starting with his birth in the most bizarre situation. It brings to light so wonderfully well – the hardships that a child is forced …

French Braid is a story that spans 4 generations of the Garret family. A family saga that intricately takes you through the life of the Garrets, vividly showcasing their extremely varied personalities, the expectations, the disappointments, the responsibilities, the fears, the love and eventually the full circle of life.

To start with, just as a family drama is expected to be, French Braid is dotted with some neatly crafted characters. While you have Mercy coming across as much of a self centered and selfish person, Robin on the other hand is someone who may be socially inept but a loving husband. Alice is a bossy yet protective older sister, Lily – the rebellious one and David the youngest who probably is the most sensitive of all.

The relations between them are quite well pictured as well. A father who treats his son high handed, a son whose expectations of his …