Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

53 reviews

butlerebecca's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Just fucking masterful

This is exactly how you write stories of trauma - with reflection and compassion, and balanced with a gorgeous prose defined by its fine-tuned attention to detail

Check the trigger warnings because there’s some graphic stuff in this book but if you can stomach it it’s absolutely worth the read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Animal death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Murder, Racism, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Pregnancy and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

lgiery's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

"Betty" draws from the author's mother's childhood, blurring the lines between biography and fiction. Despite this, I found many scenes unbelievable. The characters were flat and lacked depth, and I missed their complexity. 

Additionally, some scenes of abuse, violence, racism, and sexism seemed unnecessary and insensitively executed. There is also so much cruelty packed into this book with very little human complexity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Rape, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Incest

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Homophobia

ashleykhoffman's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.75

This book was beautifully emotional and I'm sure the author felt a sense of power reclaiming so many dark corners of her familial trauma. 

Everything was nice to read, but there was no pressure for me that was keeping me reading. There were LOTS of dramatic moments, but no ongoing pressure or singular thing I was rooting for or hoping for. It just felt like getting slapped in the face every other chapter for 50 chapters. This family was put through the wringer; Betty, too, was put through it, but she seemed to be the lone member of her family who persevered and rose above in the end. 

I've come to realize that memoir-style stories are just not my favorite, but if you're looking for something full of emotions and lots of triggering scenes that will make you gasp and a wicked surprising ending dramatic climax... you'll love this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Incest

Moderate: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship

andrearenee42's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

Beautiful love story to family with beautiful writing, but read the content warnings 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Animal death, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Rape, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Hate crime, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

very graphic depiction of animal torture, specifically kittens

thehikinglawstudent's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

'A girl comes of age against a knife, betty'

MINOR SPOILERS BELOW:
This book truly is a incredibly poignant exploration of childhood and generational trauma and how impactful it can be for the generations affected. The complexity of characters such as the mother and Fraya- two individuals destroyed by actions against them. Truly despise Leland and grandpappy lark. Justice for trustin and flossie- whose unfulfilled dreams just linger on. And landon carpenter, the bond with Betty is truly a remarkable exploration of father- daughter bonds and such a beautiful way of doing it. This book was remarkable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Rape, and Self harm

faythfarrar's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Self harm, Bullying, Death, Incest, Racism, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Rape

Moderate: Ableism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Incest, Pedophilia, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Self harm, Medical content, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Misogyny, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

apairofducks's review

5.0

What a stunningly beautiful book. The prose was magical, and every character hurt. What is there to say about this book except: read this if your heart aches. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Incest, Physical abuse, Death, Racism, Grief, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Child death, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

jco1016's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Death, Child death, Abortion, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Bullying, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

cheyarsen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

This book wrenched my soul from my body. Everything hurts. This book isn’t for the faint of heart, but everyone should read it because the message is important. It’s a coming of age story about a girl who survives so much, told through the eyes of her younger self and her daughter’s writing. Please check the trigger warnings before going into this one, it’s a tough one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Bullying, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Classism, Animal cruelty, Murder, Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts