Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

125 reviews

dannieblottedink's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Rape, and Abortion

Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug abuse and Death of parent

unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Betty is the semi-biographical story of a half-Cherokee girl who was born to a family plagued with loss, pain, and fear. It is a tribute to the author's mother, and it is the most painstakingly beautiful coming of age story that I have ever had the privilege of reading.

I knew within a dozen pages that this book would take root in my heart, and stay there for a long time to come. I ordered Tiffany McDaniel's other book (The Summer That Melted Everything) as soon as I finished Betty, and ordered a second copy of Betty as a gift before I was even halfway through the book.

This book will claw at you and comfort you. It weaves beauty and goodness with evil and cruelty, creating a densely rich tapestry of human nature. You will finish it cherishing every good relationship with another human being that you have ever had, and knowing that you can survive whatever the world throws at you in the time to come. You will be wrung out and reinvigorated, renewed in the way that only the very best art can achieve.

Every time the tragedies of the Carpenter family seem unbearable, McDaniel lifts the reader, gasping for air, into a moment of sublime beauty. The odes to nature, art, and family throughout this book speak directly from one soul to another. In the beauty of the natural world, the skill of each character's artistry, and the unfathomable capacity of even the most wounded hearts to love, McDaniel reminds us why and how we persevere through times that seem impossible to survive.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough; but please bear in mind that it comes with heavy trigger warnings for violence, sexual abuse, racism, and death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

kylita's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I have been sitting and processing Betty for a few days and I don't know that I will ever be properly prepared to review Betty.

Betty, half Cherokee half white, is the sixth of eight children and is the narrator of her eponymous story. Mixed with stories of her parents' past, Cherokee legends, Betty's poems, and a narrative of her life, Betty is sure to wreck you.

It was the most heart-wrenching book I have ever read and had every form of trauma there ever was. Everyone who knows me I am an emotional person but Betty made me physically ill in two parts of the story. What made it harder to stomach is that it is based, not loosely, on the author's mother.

So why five stars? Betty is lyrically written with a bond between father and daughter so pure, you can't help but want to know how their story ends.

It is ultimately hopeful, but first, you have to trudge through the brutality that is a reality for many people. Please make sure you are in the right headspace before starting this book and give yourself time to breathe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma

elhay03's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Grief

abbie_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

(#gifted @orionbooks) Betty is a story inspired by Tiffany McDaniel's own mother, born to a Cherokee father and a white mother. It tells of her coming-of-age in the Appalachian mountains, which makes for a stunning backdrop to this brutal story. Betty's life is stricken by poverty and violence. This book comes with content warnings for most things you can think of, including rape, incest, racism, animal cruelty/death, suicide/suicidal thoughts and mental illness. It's the furthest thing from an easy read but McDaniel's prose is beautiful which makes it hard to tear your eyes away.

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Although a novel, parts of this story are based on true events in McDaniel's family. It's impossible to know which parts are fictional or have been fictionalised, but for someone to overcome even an ounce of what's within these pages is phenomenal. And Betty is resilient. Despite the horrors she witnesses and faces herself, she takes solace in her pen, using her stories as power. It's a lot to take in, very emotionally taxing, but I'm glad McDaniel was able to get her mother's story out into the world. She wrote a first draft at 18, but could not find a publisher for a story that was 'too dark, too personal and too female.' (Irish Times)

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Betty's relationship with her father Landon is a welcome balm. Together they take care of the land around their house, growing herbs and vegetables, Landon teaching Betty about their Cherokee heritage and traditions, giving her pride in her Cherokee ancestry, about which she is tormented, bullied and abused at her white, conservative school. Their relationship was beautiful and tender. I also loved the dynamic between Betty and her younger brother Lint!

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In another interview, McDaniel states that some agents (the first time she tried to publish Betty) simply did not believe the women in her family could suffer so much abuse. This type of attitude likely contributed, and does contribute, to women and girls feeling shame and guilt around sexual abuse, forcing them into silence and allowing the cycles of abuse to continue. So I'm glad Betty's story is finally out in the world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism