floppyleaves's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Rape, Incest, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, Self harm, Grief, Animal cruelty, Racism, Violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Colonisation, Bullying, Animal death, and Abortion
Moderate: Gun violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Body shaming
donutcome4me's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Mental illness, Hate crime, Bullying, Blood, Animal death, Child abuse, Torture, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Child death, Incest, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Self harm, Rape, and Emotional abuse
marigolds_and_lavander's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Incest, Gun violence, Grief, Abortion, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Violence, Self harm, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Sexism, Pregnancy, Injury/injury detail, and Lesbophobia
mstjohn813's review
- 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
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Animal death, Child death, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
emmahamel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
zaracampbell's review
- 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
Grappled with some very dark themes with authenticity and honesty. A testament to the raw and inherent strength of women, even more so in a time period that discredited their power.
I never wanted this book to end. It was one of those books where you want to highlight everything and commit it to memory so you never let the words leave you.
Graphic: Classism, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Racism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Incest, Grief, Physical abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Addiction, and Adult/minor relationship
molliundera_'s review
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Violence
savvylit's review
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
What I didn't like: everything else. This book is incredibly long and yet it is nothing more than a catalog of suffering. Trauma porn, if you will. There is very little plot or characterization that isn't directly connected to something traumatic or awful happening to Betty or one of her family members. Just when it seemed like a character was finally becoming more than two-dimensional, they often (spoilers!!) died instead.
Oddly, even though Betty is clearly the focus of this book that's named after her, she also remained an enigma with a sad lack of characterization. Her purpose in this novel ultimately just seemed to be to suffer and bear witness to the incredible trauma of the rest of her family.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Incest, Injury/injury detail, Sexual violence, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Grief, and Child death
shel_bay11's review
- 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
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death of parent, Incest, Murder, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Domestic abuse
christinacarrie's review
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Violence