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toffeebox's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Heart wrenching and magically written. I loved the lyrical writing and the various folklores that came with Cherokee father. Fantastic usage of symbolism - chocolate bars, thunderstorms, etc.
This book also felt very complete: every theme felt like it was explored thoroughly. A lot of books just toss out a subject matter but leave it undeveloped.
This book also felt very complete: every theme felt like it was explored thoroughly. A lot of books just toss out a subject matter but leave it undeveloped.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Incest, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Abortion
Minor: Suicide attempt
talia1353's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Racism, Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
lashanda's review against another edition
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
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I picked it up because its description seemed intriguing. It was also highly rated for its writing and content. To be an outlier to these raving reviews feels a bit strange, but I hope this helps anyone looking for an honest review.
McDaniel took inspiration from her mother’s family to write this work of fiction, so it straddles memoir/biography. This fact alone is why I find it hard to rate the book. Lots of things I would pick at in a “regular” fiction book, like characterization, plot, etc. I find hard to do here, knowing that this is based on true events. I think ultimately, Betty should have just been a memoir or biography. If it were, my review would not exist, and I would have likely rated the book higher. I think Betty’s overarching issue is its format.
Betty lacks a real plot. I read the first half very quickly, in hopes a plotline would emerge, but by about halfway, I realized there wasn’t one, and intrigue dropped dramatically. I had no real desire to keep reading.
Because of Betty’s lack of plot, the traumas in this book are undigestible and seem to have no real reason. I can’t stress enough how horribly traumatic the book is. Incest, rape, animal abuse, abortion, suicide, drug use, death—if there’s a trigger, it’s in this book. Again, this isn’t entirely a work of fiction, so it is hard to criticize. These horrors are unfortunately probable in real life. But, coupled with zero plot, this just reads as trauma after trauma with no end in sight.
The jacket cover description also talks about how Betty copes with her family's horrors through writing. I was arguably most intrigued by this, but this plotline was almost non-existent.
Landon Carpenter, Betty’s father, is a sweet, caring, if wishful, man. He is absolutely the best character in the book. His hopeful fairy tales and metaphors give a sense of whimsy to the book, which is much needed. However, I found it grating and unrealistic after a while. He essentially has no real idea of the horrors going on in the family and coupled with his overdrawn, fantastical stories, it becomes annoying. Again, this is hard to criticize, as Landon is a real man, and his Cherokee heritage is what influences his storytelling. As a work of fiction however, this character doesn’t fully work for me.
Another issue for me was how unrealistic the dialogue and writing were. Every word between the family was a drawn-out metaphor that just read as overly didactic at times. I understand this is where people find the beauty in this book i.e. the writing, and while I agree, I don’t think putting a metaphor into every sentence and chapter constitutes good writing. The writing in general reads as trite and preachy at times. I can’t deny that McDaniel is a talented writer, but to shove a lesson in the form of metaphor at every turn and bend doesn’t make for a great reading experience.
I can’t say I heavily disliked or enjoyed the book. I hope McDaniel feels a sense of accomplishment for telling her family’s story—Betty does a wonderful job at that. As a work of fiction, I found it fell flat in the above-mentioned areas and made it a less than stellar reading experience for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
vavocado's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Incest, Rape, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
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.
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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Homophobia
carrieella81'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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, and Self harm
amyjno's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
5.0
This was a FANTASTIC book, but the subject matter makes it hard. Make sure to be in a good headspace when you are reading this because it's rough. It's absolutely worth it, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal cruelty
stellahadz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
I can't start this review without saying that Tiffany McDaniel is an immensely talented writer. You can tell that she really put her heart into writing this book, which is based on her own mother's early life. The prose is beautiful and lyrical, contrasting deeply with the heartbreaking story. This is an unforgettable book. Every character feels so real, and every event in the story of their lives makes the reader feel real anger, sadness, and joy right along with them.
This is easily one of the best books I've read this year, and I can see it becoming an American classic. I highly recommend it, but I also suggest reading the trigger warnings beforehand, since it contains *many* emotionally heavy topics.
This is easily one of the best books I've read this year, and I can see it becoming an American classic. I highly recommend it, but I also suggest reading the trigger warnings beforehand, since it contains *many* emotionally heavy topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
lerix4relur's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What can I say, I love girlhood, coming-of-age stories. I loved Betty and related to her a lot. Sometimes the saddest part of coming-of-age is facing the realities of the world. At times I hated the mom, Flossie, Fraya, the dad, but you understand them, why they are that way. I reread the beginning as soon as I ended and it is definitely something I want to read again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Incest, Racism, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug abuse and Abortion
muddyy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide