Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

8 reviews

salemander's review against another edition

5.0

every single word of this book was so beautifully thought out. such a heart wrenching story that was so poetically told and one of the realest portrayals of the struggle of forgiveness and the aftermath of abuse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Misogyny

emelynreads's review

dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

4.5

Incredible writing that is lyrical and illustrious. I could so easily picture myself in the Jamaican setting. Which comes with warning as the author delves into darker topics, because it is very tense to read at times and all the emotion/ reality is laid bare. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Sexism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Adult/minor relationship

roguepages's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Adult/minor relationship

caitlinxreads's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse

tamaramo's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Sexual harassment

creativerunnings's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Slavery

Minor: Cancer

thecriticalreader's review

dark inspiring slow-paced

4.5

Context: I chose How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair as an add-on to my Book of the Month box in October 2023. 

 

Review:

 

Safiya Sinclair delivers a beautifully written and powerful memoir of her life growing up under the tyranny of her abusive father, who uses his interpretation of the Rastafari faith to control Safiya, her siblings, and her mother. Although Sinclair got her start as a poet and frequently uses metaphor and figurative language in How to Say Babylon, her memoir is immensely readable and pulls the reader in with its literary quality. Sinclair is a master of language, but her memoir also reveals her mastery of storytelling structure, as each chapter feels like a cohesive whole that seamlessly builds upon the story of her life, her family, and her roots. Her retrospective on her upbringing demonstrates a keen awareness of the forces and personalities that shaped her life—nurturing and destructive, fleeting and abiding. She reminds us that above all else, courage and empathy are necessary to free ourselves from people and situations that work to keep us silent. 

 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Sexism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Colonisation

Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, Cancer, and Deportation

geejeebee's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Beautifully written and deeply moving. I learned a lot from this book. I do think it could’ve used a slightly stronger editorial hand, there’s a good bit of repetition. Otherwise, a wonderful book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

Minor: Suicide