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Overview
Overview
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. The lush landscape, rich with birdsong, wild fruit, and blazing stars, becomes a kind of refuge for Betty, but when her family's darkest secrets are brought to light, she has no choice but to reckon with the brutal history hiding in the hills, as well as the heart-wrenching cruelties and incredible characters she encounters. 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. She recounts the horrors of her family's past and present with pen and paper and buries them deep in the dirt--moments that have stung her so deeply she could not share them, until now. 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.
- Format: TradePaperback
- Author: McDaniel, Tiffany
- ISBN: 9781984897947
- Condition: New
- Dimensions: 7.90 x 1.20
- Number Of Pages: 496
- Publication Year: 2021
Language:
English
Customer Reviews
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5 ★
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Not For The Faint of Heart - Unforgettable Must Read
Giselle S. - 5 years 4 months agoπΉπ₯πππ: 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 lifeβ£. This coming-of-age story is technically fiction, yet it is rooted in the real life history of McDaniel’s family. β πππππ¦: There's little chance of escaping the impact of this family's harrowing experiences as they are so finely depicted by McDaniel. I love the interwoven lessons and virtues of native culture; the source of Betty’s strength. Utterly captivating storytelling. β ππ§ππππ§π¬: Everyone needs a Betty in life. To bear witness to the unspoken pain, absorb it, strike out at it, and carry on despite it. Sometimes that Betty is you. β πΌπ«π£ππ₯πππ‘ππ: I had to emotionally prepare for this book after the beating I took with McDaniel's debut novel. I wasn't even sure how to do that, other than to swim in the place where the demons like to play. Only when I allowed the pain to swirl through me did I find my truth. I was ready. Prepare yourself, this book isn’t for the faint of heart. An unforgettable must read.
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Not for me...
Abby W. - 5 years 6 months agoThis was a difficult one to get into and really I didn’t. I wish I had more of an idea of the traumatic descriptions there would be, it was triggering. Overall it was a lot longer than needed and just wasn’t for me.