Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast. Today we’ll be discussing the book “On the Savage Side” written by Tiffany McDaniel. This book revolves around the lives of twin sisters Arcade “Arc” and Farren “Daffy” Doggs, who were raised in a difficult environment by their addict mother and aunt, both of whom are prostitutes.
The book takes place in Chillicothe, Ohio, and follows the sisters as they navigate their way through life, grappling with their traumatic past and trying to build a better future. This book is not an easy read but a powerful one, as it deals with difficult topics such as child-neglect, sexual abuse of a minor, sexual violence and substance abuse.
The story opens with the sisters dreaming of a life away from the hell they call home. They draw on the cement floor of their home with markers gifted to them by their maternal grandmother Mamaw Milkweed. The time they spend with her, listening to her stories full of magic, life lessons and words of wisdom, is the only bright spot in their miserable childhood.
However, their childhood comes to an abrupt end after their grandmother dies in a tragic accident when they were nine years old. Sexually abused and with no one looking out for them, they are left to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, the darkness of their childhood follows them into their adult lives and what follows is a painful cycle of sexual abuse and prostitution, violence and substance abuse, and ultimately tragedy.
The author develops her characters with meticulous detail and weaves their stories together seamlessly. The narrative flits between the past and the present day when Arc and Daffy are twenty years old. The friends they make along the way lead to some beautiful heartfelt moments of friendship and support, but with each of them struggling to step out of the darkness in their lives, the friends are unable to keep themselves and one another out of harm’s way.
As evil lurks in their community, targeting women like themselves, law enforcement turns a blind eye only compounding the tragedy in the lives of these women who have been profiled, judged and victimized their whole lives.
The book is exceptionally well-written, with consistent pacing and a tightly woven plot, featuring Arc and Daffy and their friends Thursday, Nell, Violet and Indigo. It tells an emotionally hard-hitting story inspired by the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six.
In conclusion, “On the Savage Side” by Tiffany McDaniel is a dark, brutal, atmospheric, and heartbreaking read. This book is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s a powerful story that will stay with you for a long time.
That’s it for today’s episode. Thank you for tuning in, and we hope you enjoyed our discussion of “On the Savage Side.” If you have any comments or suggestions for future episodes, please feel free to reach out to us on social media. Until next time, happy reading!
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