The reporting, particularly in the first history-rich chapters, was excellent. I appreciated the stories of real women struggling in the trenches, particularly under pandemic limitations. What was not effective was the memoir bits. While she is a gifted journalist, the author was unsuccessful connecting with readers through her own story. It was too privileged and worked against her reliability as a narrator which she had established in the other sections. Each time she started saying “I” or “my” I thought..oh, boy…don’t share. Go back to the interviews. It’s like there were two objectives: share my story so I can feel understood, and share the stories of others to create a sense of urgency on all our parts to take actions to reverse the tragic turn of democracy against women..as it has always been. That’s the story we hoped for. There was too much her.

I adored the hell out of it. Marcellus is the best! It was a sci-fi mystery love story about friendship and cold oceans and small towns and grief. I missed it so much after I finished. I still do!

Catcher and the Rye can retire. Holden Caufield can leave the building. However you want to say it, Demon Copperhead is the new coming of age novel GOAT. While he was once very loved by his biological mother, this is not enough to prepare for or shield Demon from the horrific experiences awaiting him over and over. And his wit and self effacing humor, by God, keep us rooting for him and scared for him like he is our own family member. I wanted to reach inside the book and hug him every few pages. Write myself into the story arc so he could have a good few months.. after I managed to unite all the decent people he kept loosely in his orbit. I’ve loved nearly all of Barbara Kingsolver’s books—especially her essays— and I recommend highly reading “Dopesick” and this deservedly Pulitzer Prize winning gorgeous novel together. For deeper context and to remind yourself this is a real, true horror story. No supernatural scary clowns in the sewer drain villains, but a heartlessly devious and highly organized pharmaceutical company, aggressive sales and marketing teams and desperate addicts with nothing to lose. It was horrifying and beautiful. Excruciating and triumphant.