Betty

A Novel

By: Tiffany McDaniel

Narrated by: Dale Dickey

Length: 17 hrs and 36 mins

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

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

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.

Gorgeous

What a beautiful story. The imagery in this story was breathtaking. I couldn’t stop thinking about this family even when I wasn’t listening.

Wow! Did not expect to love this book as much as I did!

Best book I’ve read this year! Loved every second of it-beautifully written and I was blown away to find out such a young author wrote this! She is so talented:) I highly recommend this book to others!

Great Story

Loved this book. The story was great and the narration was superb.
So sad, but entertaining and humorous too.

Strength

This book is devastatingly beautiful. Or perhaps what I mean to say is beautiful, while being devastating. As coming of age tales tend to do, you see yourself in the narrator. You learn about the condition of being human, even and maybe especially when the narrator’s story is far different from your own. The story of Betty and the Carpenter family takes you on a journey, filling you up with warmth and then suddenly turning course and breaking your heart. Over and over. It’s an arduous journey, but one well worth the destination. One thing remains - Betty’s strength through the literal blood, sweat and tears. I stand by what I said in my review of her debut novel - Tiffany McDaniel is a WORD MAGICIAN - each sentence intricately laced. I loved this novel. Keeping in mind it’s inspired by the real life experience of the author’s mother, it pierced my heart. And will pierce yours too.

Coming of age

A good book that just went on too long. A compelling coming of age with so much sadness and dysfunction. The Indian lore was meaningful. The stories her father told were woven of creativity and meaning. The mother meant well but suffered from mental and alcohol issues.