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Betty cover art

Betty

Written by: Tiffany McDaniel
Narrated by: Dale Dickey
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Publisher's Summary

A stunning, lyrical novel set in the rolling foothills of the Appalachians about a young girl and the family truths that will haunt her for the rest of her life.

“A girl comes of age against the knife.”

So begins the story of Betty Carpenter. Born in a bathtub in 1954 to a white mother and a Cherokee father, Betty is the sixth of eight siblings. The world they inhabit in the rural town of Breathed, Ohio, is one of poverty and violence—both from outside the family and, devastatingly, from within. But despite the hardships she faces, Betty is resilient. Her curiosity about the natural world, her fierce love for her sisters, and her father’s brilliant stories are kindling for the fire of her own imagination, and in the face of all to which she bears witness, Betty discovers an escape: she begins to write.

Inspired by generations of her family, Tiffany McDaniel sets out to free the past by delivering this heartbreaking yet magical story—a remarkable novel that establishes her as one of the most important voices in American fiction.

©2020 Tiffany McDaniel (P)2020 Random House Audio

What the critics say

One of the Best Books of the Year: The Guardian, Glamour, Goop
An
Entertainment Weekly Must-Read

An Indie Next "Great Read for September"

O Magazine's "Best Books to Pick Up Before Summer Ends"

Entertainment Weekly's "20 Late-Summer Must-Reads for August"

E! Online's "17 Books to Check Out Before the End of Summer"

Sheerluxe's "Six New Books to Read This August"

Salon's "Provocative Must-Reads for August"

NAUTILUS BOOK AWARD WINNER

THE SOCIETY OF MIDLAND AUTHORS AWARD WINNER

OHIOANA LIBRARY READERS CHOICE AWARDS WINNER

FRIENDS OF AMERICAN WRITERS CHICAGO WINNER

LONGLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD

“The book is rich with the texture of everyday living. It’s these details that sing Betty to life and bring readers fully into the Appalachian landscape and the social milieu of Breathed.” The Los Angeles Times

“Breathtaking.” Vogue

“Fierce, vividly realized . . . McDaniel doesn’t shy away from depicting horrors, especially those that breed within a family . . . Betty’s story is searingly hard to bear, but the rewards of getting to know her make up for her pain.” The Columbus Dispatch

What listeners say about Betty

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The best book I’ve experienced in 15 years.

I am sitting here sobbing at the end of this book. Because of the content and the deep sadness that it is over. What a beautiful, tragic story. I have not been moved by a book like this in a very long time. Thank you Tiffany McDaniel and Dale Dickey. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful writing. Traumatic story

I liked the writing style of this book, however, it seems like every bad or horrible thing that could ever happen is brought up in this book back to back with no end or break. I tend to like more heart wrenching books, but be warned this one is a tough one to get through. There’s not alot of ups and downs, it’s mostly just hit after hit.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Obvious tearjerker

This book suffers from somewhat uneven writing. At times, a moving story with descriptive writing that can be overblown and leaning into maudlin. The story is overly long and moves from one tragedy to the next with little respite. Warning - Sexual trauma triggers in this book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Heart wrenching family story

Some passages difficult to read because of the graphic nature. Some other parts are spiritual and mystical. A good read if you can withstand horrors.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Rough and Raw

Such a beautifully written book. I fell in love with Betty and her family. Beautifully read.

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Not for the faint hearted

While this is a very well written book, it should be noted that trigger warnings are abound. Don’t go into this one blind. If trauma on the page doesn’t bother you, you will really enjoy this book. The narrator is excellent and will keep you engaged, but this novel is emotionally heavy.

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