2nd June 2024
The Reading Corner
David or Demon\
Welcome back to the Reading Corner. We have been a while in the Cerebral Pantry and I wanted to finally make good on my promise. Last time when we discussed all things Brownies, I said we would be discussing two Titans of Literature, one Classic, the other a modern writer. Today’s reviews are dedicated to my Fabulous Aunty Barbara and my wonderful Mum. They both gave me the idea of comparing these two novels against each other. Thanks my lovelies.
Before we get to that though I wanted to let you know that I had my explorative surgery on the 24th May. As far as I know all has gone well. Mr. Wek has done the X-rays, and given me the nerve blocker. It must be working because I am hardly in pain. Sometimes, of course it catches me out if I sit funny, or don’t move for ages. However, I feel I am in some sort of dream because I haven’t had to take barely any medication. It’s bliss. I just want to thank everyone I have had the pleasure to meet at Dorset County Hospital for their time and support and the kindness and continuous support of my amazing PA Nicki that day and night. It means a lot.
In fact thank you to every one of my PA Angels for helping me find joy in the painful times. Thank you for making me smile and helping me laugh and cry tears of happiness that might have started off as tears of sadness. It’s been a tough year, but we are coming out on the other side. I promise.
I can enjoy my Summer. I can’t wait to tell you all about going to Claire’s Place in Devon next time we see each other! I can’t wait to spend some time with my friend Cory there too. It’s going to be so fun.
When we go to the Pantry again I will tell you about seeing Gavin & Stacey writer and actress Ruth Jones, as Mother Superior, in Sister Act! Although I went in May I don’t think it fits in with today’s reads! Oh Lord! Roll on Summer!!!!
Anyway, enough of that. Let’s look at today’s reads. The title of today’s chat could even be a question; do you prefer the fabulous Classic, David Copperfield (1850) by the Master that is Charles Dickens, or the modern retelling, Demon Copperhead (2022) by the Power House of an author, Barbara Kingsolver?
‘I don’t know?’ You say.
Okay Let’s see what happens if you put them and their novels next to each other.
Let us turn the page and see what I made of David Copperfield.
Author: Charles Dickens
Publication Date: 1st November 1850
Book: David Copperfield
Publishing House: Penguin Books
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Date I started reading: 5th May 2024
Date I finished reading: 29th May 2024
Review
Whist I LIKE Barbara Kingsolver’s modern retelling of this Classic I will always prefer Charles Dickens’s David to Demon. I think each author brings out something in their main character that the other just touches on. For instance, when David is experiencing tough times, he seeks support from his fellow characters. For example, when he loses his Mother passes, Peggotty becomes his leading light, later this role is taken over by Agnes, and Aunt Betsy.
I really enjoyed Dickens, description of Peggotty near the start of the novel. This is where David thinks she is cross with him.
‘I really thought she was, she had been so short with me; but I was quite mistaken: for she laid aside her work, (which was a stocking of her own) and opening her arms wide, took my curly head within them, and gave it a good squeeze. I know it was a good squeeze, because, being very plump, when she made any little exertion after she was dressed, some of the buttons on the back of her gown flew off. And I recollect two bursting to the opposite side of the parlour, while she was hugging me.’
I want a Peggotty hug!
Peggotty from 1999 BBC David Copperfield
Dickens does not make David into a drug addict to cope with the hardships in his life. In Demon Copperhead I can see that Kingsolver seems to isolate her central hero. This makes the characters just pass him by. When Demon draws he is crying out for help.
Charles Dickens will always, for me, be a Master of illustrating his characters, so that I want to interact with them in the street. They are so colourful and well rounded. Although, I never EVER want to meet Uriah Heap. If he did try and engage me in conversation it would probably be about how ‘umble’ he isn’t. I wouldn’t want to touch his hand and would run a mile if he wanted to get me to sign my life away.
Let’s meet Uriah Heap for the first time and you’ll see what I mean.
‘When the pony-chaise stopped at the door, and my eyes were intentup on the house, I saw a cadaverous face appear at a small window on the ground floor (in a little round tower that formed one side of the house) and quickly disappear. The low arched door then opened, and the face came out. It was quite as cadaverous as it had looked in the window, though in the grain of it there was that tinge of red which is sometimes to be observed in the skins of red-haired people. It belonged to a red-haired person – a youth of fifteen, as I take it now, but looking much older – whose hair was cropped as close as the closest stubble; who had had hardly any eyebrows,, and no eyelashes, and eyes of a red-brown; so unsheltered and unsshaded, that I remember wondering how he went to sleep. He was high-shouldered and bony; dressed in decent black with a white wisp of a neckcloth; buttoned up to the throat; and had a long lank, skeleton hand, which particularly attracted my attention, as he stood at the pony’s head, rubbing his chin with it, and looking up at us in the chaise.’
Charles Dickens is also Master of the long sentence paragraph.
Uriah Heap
Such well described characters are something that I found lacking with Kingsolver. She only changes the names so I can draw links between David’s world and Demon’s modern landscape.
One of the things Kingsolver does do well though, is to bring place and setting into centre stage so that it plays a more vital role than in Dickens’s text. At the end of Demon Copperhead she makes more of her characters (Fast Forward and Hammer’s) deaths then the original author does for Steerforth and Ham. The shipwreck is kind of forgotten about in favour of David Copperfield’s emotions. Whereas for Demon, he almost pulls me to it by constantly eluding to Devil’s Bathtub. Now, I will explore Demon Copperhead a little further and see more of what Barbara Kingsolver chooses to show her audience
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
Publication Date: 18th October 2022
Book: Demon Copperhead
Publishing House: Faber & Faber Limited
Date I started reading: 14th March 2024
Date I finished reading: 26th March 2024
Review
I enjoyed this book for many different reasons. I think it is worth mentioning that I read this re imaging first. Playing Match the Character was fun for me to do but also sometimes annoying. Who, for example in the world of Dickens is Maggot? I loved some of her character name choices though; McCobbs/Micawber, Angus/Agnes, Dori/Dora and my absolute fav U-Haul/Uriah Heap!
Kingsolver, as hinted at above is Mistress of setting, place and it’s relation to theme. Demon uses his imagination and a pad with colouring pens to draw himself a better life. Using bright colour she brings his world to life to battle loneliness. David uses his characters and the power of words to escape what haunts him.
Kingsolver uses water in a very haunting and beautiful way This can been seen whenever Demon is near it.. It has a power over him that stops him in his tracks. This is like the soothing effect of Yarmouth for David. It reminds him of Peggotty.
‘The aquarium turned to be the best day of my life. If I ever get to see the real ocean and it turns out better than the Undersea Wonders in Gatlinburg. I’ll be amazed. You name it, they they had it: seahorses, octopus, jellyfish that swam upside down. Shallow tanks you could reach in and touch stuff. The main attraction was the Shark Tunnel, where you walked under a giant tank with the bigger individuals: sharks, ray, turtles. But turtles the size of a Honda. A Saw Fish, which is like a shark except sticking out of its face is something like a chain saw. I kid you not.’
Both Demon and David feel protected by water. I find this disturbing for Demon but comfortable for David. I think it’s because Dickens allows David to find peace when he is near the ocean, but for Demon it brings out something bleak and cold at times. It is calming yet chaotic in the modern twist. I also don’t understand Kingsolver’s decision to put Demon slap bang in the middle of a world of Class A. Is it meant to represent the fact that he is constantly to hold on to hope, but it slips through his fingers like water? I am simply not sure.
In conclusion I think Charles Dickens is an author of feelings and Barbara Kingsolver is the queen of backstory for her hero. Each narrative is powerful in it’s own right. They stand alone but come together in places, It was a nice challenge for me, as a reader, to put these two titans alongside each other and share what I found. I can’t believe there is almost 200 years between the two novels and when they were written. It’s amazing!
If you enjoyed this let me know. See you soon in the Cerebral Pantry.
Next I see you we make an interesting Carrot Cake.
Bye for now.
Xxx
Hatty’s Reading Corner 
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