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A review by theveronicareview
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Betty is the story of the Carpenter family and is inspired by the real life of the author's mother, Betty Carpenter. This beautifully written novel covers the time period between 1909 and 1973 - during which Betty's family started, grew, and ended. Throughout their life, they encounter an abundance of hardships that transcend their socioeconomic status. Betty and her siblings are the children of a white mother and a Cherokee father with traumatic pasts of their own. Their experiences dictate how they raise their children and, thereby, directly affect how their children perceive and tolerate the world around them.
This novel is brutal & it is beautiful & it is definitely not for everyone. From the start, I fell in love with the poetic writing & the strong father-daughter relationship that prevails throughout the novel. Betty is a five-star read to me. It is a novel I won't forget soon. It is probably one of the best novel's I'll read this year.
While this is a fictional novel and there is no telling how much of the events within the story actually happened to the family of our author's mother, the details are deeply affecting. You can't help but grieve for this family and how much devastation they experienced. There were several times where I had to set the book down for a period of time before regaining the emotional capacity to go on.
I don't want to scare you away from this amazing book, but I also don't want you to scroll away from this review with a false sense of security. There's a reason I haven't said much about the actual contents of this novel - it's difficult to share more without treading on traumatic events. Please do not let the cover of this book fool you into thinking this is a happy novel. The cover is based on an afghan the author's mother, the real Betty, crocheted and hasn't much to do with the contents of the book. Betty is graphic & certain passages feel like a punch to the gut. If you pick this up, have someone you can hug nearby & do not feel bad if you cannot finish this book. It is beautiful and there are so many captivating passages, but every bit of beauty is bookended by tragedy and trauma.
This novel is brutal & it is beautiful & it is definitely not for everyone. From the start, I fell in love with the poetic writing & the strong father-daughter relationship that prevails throughout the novel. Betty is a five-star read to me. It is a novel I won't forget soon. It is probably one of the best novel's I'll read this year.
While this is a fictional novel and there is no telling how much of the events within the story actually happened to the family of our author's mother, the details are deeply affecting. You can't help but grieve for this family and how much devastation they experienced. There were several times where I had to set the book down for a period of time before regaining the emotional capacity to go on.
I don't want to scare you away from this amazing book, but I also don't want you to scroll away from this review with a false sense of security. There's a reason I haven't said much about the actual contents of this novel - it's difficult to share more without treading on traumatic events. Please do not let the cover of this book fool you into thinking this is a happy novel. The cover is based on an afghan the author's mother, the real Betty, crocheted and hasn't much to do with the contents of the book. Betty is graphic & certain passages feel like a punch to the gut. If you pick this up, have someone you can hug nearby & do not feel bad if you cannot finish this book. It is beautiful and there are so many captivating passages, but every bit of beauty is bookended by tragedy and trauma.