A review by abbie_
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

(#gifted @orionbooks) Betty is a story inspired by Tiffany McDaniel's own mother, born to a Cherokee father and a white mother. It tells of her coming-of-age in the Appalachian mountains, which makes for a stunning backdrop to this brutal story. Betty's life is stricken by poverty and violence. This book comes with content warnings for most things you can think of, including rape, incest, racism, animal cruelty/death, suicide/suicidal thoughts and mental illness. It's the furthest thing from an easy read but McDaniel's prose is beautiful which makes it hard to tear your eyes away.
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Although a novel, parts of this story are based on true events in McDaniel's family. It's impossible to know which parts are fictional or have been fictionalised, but for someone to overcome even an ounce of what's within these pages is phenomenal. And Betty is resilient. Despite the horrors she witnesses and faces herself, she takes solace in her pen, using her stories as power. It's a lot to take in, very emotionally taxing, but I'm glad McDaniel was able to get her mother's story out into the world. She wrote a first draft at 18, but could not find a publisher for a story that was 'too dark, too personal and too female.' (Irish Times)
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Betty's relationship with her father Landon is a welcome balm. Together they take care of the land around their house, growing herbs and vegetables, Landon teaching Betty about their Cherokee heritage and traditions, giving her pride in her Cherokee ancestry, about which she is tormented, bullied and abused at her white, conservative school. Their relationship was beautiful and tender. I also loved the dynamic between Betty and her younger brother Lint!
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In another interview, McDaniel states that some agents (the first time she tried to publish Betty) simply did not believe the women in her family could suffer so much abuse. This type of attitude likely contributed, and does contribute, to women and girls feeling shame and guilt around sexual abuse, forcing them into silence and allowing the cycles of abuse to continue. So I'm glad Betty's story is finally out in the world.
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