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A review by susannaobrien
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Beautifully written, completely gripping, absolutely heartbreaking.
Tiffany McDaniel has written characters who are all so different but richly developed. I loved the recurring theme of growing into womanhood and the accompanying feelings of losing control over your body, particularly in a patriarchal culture. The protective bonds of sisterhood were strongly portrayed, as was the importance of caring for and respecting the natural world around us. The way that each character uses storytelling was fascinating, whether to maintain their heritage, protect their family, inspire hope & self-belief, or even emotionally abuse. The way many of the family love and care for Lint was particularly moving, and although Betty experienced huge tragedies, it was powerful to see how she used her own internal resilience to get through them (as opposed to being "rescued" by a love interest).
Tiffany McDaniel has written characters who are all so different but richly developed. I loved the recurring theme of growing into womanhood and the accompanying feelings of losing control over your body, particularly in a patriarchal culture. The protective bonds of sisterhood were strongly portrayed, as was the importance of caring for and respecting the natural world around us. The way that each character uses storytelling was fascinating, whether to maintain their heritage, protect their family, inspire hope & self-belief, or even emotionally abuse. The way many of the family love and care for Lint was particularly moving, and although Betty experienced huge tragedies, it was powerful to see how she used her own internal resilience to get through them (as opposed to being "rescued" by a love interest).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Incest, and Rape
Moderate: Murder and Suicide attempt
Minor: Ableism