Betty

The half of this book contains description of rape committed either by grandfather of the main character ( on her 8 years old then mother) or her brother (on her sister throughout her childhood)... and I haven't even reached the other half....It is too much. Beginning is good, narrative is interesting but then the book is only about it. It's disturbing how much detail is in there. Not sure how people are reading it for pleasure. I can't finish it. The author's obsession with insest and pedophilia is very disturbing

The magical realism that runs through this book is channelled through Cherokee understanding, and that alone is a good enough reason to read this book. But the devastatingly accurate depiction of the long-lasting effects of sexual trauma - the wild, disruptive fury that suddenly erupts, years and years later - makes the book hard to read at times, because you can feel the truth of it. And the horror. I put the book down at times, once for a couple of weeks, because I didn't think I could read on, but also knowing that I would come back. Because this is also a story grounded in a way that holds us safe even as it throws our emotions to the wall. Betty herself is someone you'll want to stay with - from the five-year-old child to the adult, this is quite someone to walk alongside.

enjoyed the book - very different to my usual read very thought provoking

I adored this book, I found it really moving. Quite a hard subject matter, but extremely well written. I loved the audiobook too. Once I was done with the book, I gifted it to my Mum who also really enjoyed it. It’s a tear jerker.