Betty

A Novel

By: Tiffany McDaniel

Narrated by: Dale Dickey

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

Critic reviews

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

Fantastic storytelling

Betty is a story ultimately about resilience in the face of violence. It’s about family and the flawed people within and their secrets. At times I found that a lot of the characters were hard to like but not hard to love and have some compassion for and some hatred for. At times I found myself having to fast forward, some scenes were too hard to hear and to violent to handle for me. Some left me feeling raw. I always had to prepare myself for the next chapter whether it would be kindness I’d hear or cruelty. Guess that’s how life works sometimes!
Ultimately, I loved this book and I want to get the hard copy!
Dale Dickey did a great job narrating and had a range with the characters. What an amazing voice!!!

Sad but not oppressive

It took me a couple of months to get through this book because there is so much sadness and trauma. But I cared very much for (most of) the characters, so I continued to return. It only gets sadder and sadder with more and more frequency as you get towards the end. It’s not a light read. There is a lot of rhythm to the prose, though delivered by an unconvincing performance. The accent sounds like Appalachia to me? Definitely southern which was a little distracting. But not appallingly so. I recommend.

Beautiful Story

For me this was simply a beautiful story that takes its time to unfold. It has characters that are deep that you grow to love and hate. If you’re looking to take your time and just listen to a well crafted story then definitely listen to “Betty”.

Betty's story

This book was full of devastating truths and darkness. Nothing I love more than a story that doesn't have the typical happy ending. This is based on a true story about a girl growing up with a poor and dysfunctional family that fights every day to survive and they are always fighting their own demons. Betty is the focus of the story and we follow her childhood journey on a bumpy ride. I rooted for Betty, I cried for Betty, I wished a different life for Betty. I felt like I knew her and wanted so badly to protect her. The author is Betty's daughter so this book felt so alive and real.

This book is not for the faint of heart or someone who wants to see a happy family united. It has some events that are hard to read. I would highly suggest reading this book however. It is one that you can't ignore. It makes you feel so many emotions.

Beautiful written

This book is a heartfelt story that was beautifully written. I highly recommend this book.

Amazing! One of the most beautifully written books I have ever experienced!

Do not miss the opportunity to read or listen to this book. It is fantastic.

Beautiful Story

yes this a sad story but it's beautifully written. A writer writes to be heard and I am honored to have read this book.

Absolutely incredible

Addictive and bewitching read. I truly couldn’t recommend this book enough. Cannot wait to reread this one.

Incredible Ride

First, the narrator who read did an amazing job. The story itself is riveting. I cried, I laughed, I cussed out loud, I grieved, and I felt every inch of the words as she spoke them. The writing is beautiful and the story is worth reading. Excellent read for my first book of 2023. I can not wait to read the authors new book On the Savage Side.

Excellent Audio Book

This book was soooooo good! I received a print copy in a Goodreads giveaway and I purchased the audio do I could experience it both ways. The audio brought the characters to life so I heard their voices as I was reading. Thank you to the giveaway sponsor for introducing me to a new (to me) author. The writing and character development were superb; you either love or hate the characters. This book deals with difficult issues, so it was heartwarming and bittersweet at times. The love of family came through as did the complex family relationships. The Cherokee stories were quite interesting and I loved Landon’s character and his relationship with Betty. I am looking forward to reading her prior book and the other that is coming out soon.