Reviews with content warning for Incest - Betty

Simultaneously stunning and devasting!

What's it about?

Betty Carpenter, born to a Cherokee father and a white mother, grows up in a world of poverty and violence, finding solace in nature and her father’s stories. As she uncovers her family’s dark secrets, she turns to writing as a means of escape and healing

"Inspired by the life of her own mother, Tiffany McDaniel sets out to free the past by telling this heartbreaking yet magical story--a remarkable novel that establishes her as one of the freshest and most important voices in American fiction."

What did I think?

- This book is both beautiful and emotionally devastating.

- Betty's story and that of her parents and siblings are brutal, trauma trauma-filled but also littered with hope.

- It's a hard story to read, as it's unflinching in its dark themes of intergenerational abuse, racism, violence, trauma and more - it's relentless!

- I'd say the raw brutality of this story is on par with stories such as A Little Life, but Betty is based on McDaniel's mother's life!

- Despite the trauma and emotional devastation, there are glimmers of hope and the magical world of Betty and her father Landon. One of Cherokee heritage and culture.

- McDaniel also tells the wonderfully rich, beautiful and tragic story of native Americans in Appalachia, her ancestors and her direct family. I adored reading about the Cherokee culture and heritage of Landon and his family.

- This book packs in so much in every page: family history, historical fiction/fact, Cherokee culture & heritage, generational trauma and abuse, family bonds and hope, racism, classism, family secrets, and a full spectrum of non-stop emotions.

This book is beautiful, brutal and a masterpiece.

Content Warnings

plnnn's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

i need therapy after this

Content Warnings

machenn's review against another edition

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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

4.5

Content Warnings

estellegodard's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

the type of book that will stay in my mind for months to come. there were so many beautiful and poetic passages, and the book successfully entwines these passages with more approachable writing, allowing for the novel to be a real page turner. while the story is tragic and heartbreaking, there are moments of hope that rise to the surface, representing all the beautiful sides of this family’s story. the love that is present in this book is so strong and I often had tears in my eyes, not at the tragic moments, but at some of the quieter moments between betty and her father or mother. the final few chapters were written with so much tenderness and I think it was a great way to wrap it all up.

Content Warnings