Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

55 reviews

salt_y's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Drug use, Self harm, Abortion, and Sexual assault

mmitch10's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

I really struggled with deciding how to rate and review this book, especially after seeing so many rave reviews. There were elements that were powerful and heartbreaking  so I wanted to love it. Ultimately, I was left somewhat disappointed with the storyline and writing. How the family talked to each other, especially to Betty, felt so unrealistic and even how Betty spoke and acted was completely out of step with reality and her age. 

There was so much potential for strong character development but somehow everyone felt flat. Even the father was so promising and was a great opportunity for hope amid all the pain and trauma, but even he was one-dimensional.

Was he so lost in his own world he didn’t know what was happening in his family or did he know and instead of doing something just chose to talk to Betty? I know trauma and abuse makes people behave in ways that is hard for outsiders to understand, but this just didn’t sit right with me.

In the end it was just one trauma after another with little plot or hope.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Self harm, Racism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

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

---

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. 

---

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.

---

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 

---

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. 

---

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

---

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

---

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 against another edition

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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