Tiffany McDaniel's Desert Island Books
Featuring the first book Tiffany read as a child where the main character was a woman, and a book by a indigenous botanist...
While Betty—Tiffany McDaniel’s second book—came out four years ago, it’s a book that has stayed with me in the many months that have since passed. Based on the life of the author’s mother, it’s a coming of age story set in the rolling hills of Ohio that tells the story of a girl born to a Cherokee father and white mother. A deeply lyrical tale about resilience, identity, and the beauty in hardship, Betty follows the protagonist as she navigates family secrets, racism, and poverty. It’s one of few books that I think everyone should read.
One of the greatest joys of inviting authors to take part in this series is discovering books that I might not have otherwise encountered. And as someone who reads predominantly literary fiction, it’s safe to say I hadn’t heard of—let alone read—a single book on Tiffany’s Desert Island Books list.
If Tiffany's recommendations have piqued your interest, but you haven’t yet read Betty, I reckon you might love it as much as I did. And if you’d like a chance to win a copy, do consider becoming a paid subscriber to my Substack! Each week, you’ll be automatically entered into a draw for a book by that week's guest from my Desert Island Books series.
And now, without further ado, read on for the eight books that Tiffany would take with her to the sandy shores of a desert island…
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Miss Rumphius was the first book that I read as a child where the main character was a woman. She wasn’t the mother or wife character, but an independent woman traveling the world, having a career, and buying her own home by the sea. As a young girl, it was an important, empowering story that allowed me to see a female character who was the navigator of her own life.
Ancient Egypt: The Definite Visual History by Steven R. Snape
The rest of the books on my list are non-fiction reads like this one. I rarely read fiction, focusing on history and science books. The definite visual history of Ancient Egypt is a good comprehensive guide that digs into the fascinating, rich history of Ancient Egypt, which I have always loved.
Smithsonian’s Dinosaur and Other Prehistoric Creatures Atlas
I love the archeological sciences, particularly paleontology. There hasn’t been a dinosaur book I haven’t adored. I’m a visual artist, too, so my favourite books have those companion photos or artwork that enriches the text, like this one.
Micro Life: Miracles of the Miniature World Revealed
Our world is supported by those things we can’t see from tiny insects to the hairs of a root. This book has photographs of that miniature world, pulling back the curtain and allowing a look in, reminding us of the important life forces constantly at work.
National Geographic’s Secrets of the Whales by Brian Skerry
I love all animals and wildlife, but whales are among my favourite creatures. They’re fascinating individuals with so much wisdom, bravery, and heart.
National Geographic’s The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World’s Most Vulnerable Animals by Elizabeth Kolbert and Joel Sartore
Nature and the environment have always been important to me. It’s a love that has been passed down from my mother Betty and her father Landon. The Photo Ark is a startling read because it’s documenting those species who are vanishing from our world. It makes us realize the beauty this planet has given us, and how we have failed to protect that incredible gift of biodiversity.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer is an indigenous botanist who speaks lovingly about the ties and connection to the plants around us in a collection of essays that capture the indigenous relationship to nature. A powerful read.
The Last Book
My last read isn’t a book you can buy, but rather those collected stories that have been passed down through my family. I documented my family’s Cherokee history in my book Betty, and it was a book that explored those stories shared through my mother’s family. Indigenous storytelling wasn’t just for entertainment, but to help understand the world around us, to preserve and protect beliefs and culture, and, in the case of my family, to ensure the next generations knew those who have come before and felt the ripples of that history and heritage. On a desert island, I would want the stories of my family and heritage very close to remind me of home.