Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

92 reviews

kimb2's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

4.0

Well, this story is certainly a journey of self discovery.  The author writes a harrowing memoir about the difficulties and realities she faced growing up in a Rastafarian household in Jamaica.  She was oppressed, and abused, until she gained the courage and strength to leave her family for America.

It’s a powerful story of family, forgiveness and overcoming obstacles.  I had no knowledge of the lifestyle the author grew up in nor did I realize the extent to which it was bound up in Patriarchal traditions.  I certainly learned a lot.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

corinth113's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Heartbreaking, poignant, and lovely. Raw, painful, bleak, abundant, a song, and a prayer. Beautiful prose, poetic and lyrical beats, this woman’s family’s story pushes and pulls at something deep inside of anyone who has ever had to deal with unsettling family dynamics and the  way we wrestle forever with forgiveness and reconciliation—not just with others, but with who we become because of our parents and who we want to be despite them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Bullying and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Self harm, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Drug use, and Sexual assault

saskiacb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

honeyvoiced's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

Minor: Cancer, Colonisation, Racial slurs, and Infidelity

mnboyer's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

At its core, this memoir is Safiya Sinclair (Jamaican poet) reliving the trauma of her past -- her father was a serious, meticulous Rastafarian and was absolutely *horrible* to his family. Women and young girls were seen as 'impure' and couldn't make any of their own choices. Sinclair finds her passion, poetry, but her father doesn't support her. Now, her mother does -- she's a strong woman who, like many, has issues getting out from under the control of her husband. But, the entire book, you're rooting for these women to free themselves.

Wonderful prose, a really interesting memoir where you do learn a ton about Rastafarian culture and belief systems (I had no idea!), and a great ending where there is closure... you get to learn about Safiya Sinclair's background, which helps you to understand her poetry on a deeper level.

Now, I do wish she'd leave ASU and come down to UA, but I suppose I can just keep hoping for that! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

bethann's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.5

Raw and lyrical. A bit long at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse

lizzyreadz's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Wow! I had no idea of Rastafarian religion and it was incredible to learn from the powerful voice & journey of the narrator Safiya Sinclair.

Her words painted a thick picture of family, struggle, strength, fear, and forgiveness. She writes so beautifully it makes your heart cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexism, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Classism

mariannevoyager's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

deen734's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death, Slavery, Grief, Infidelity, Racism, Mental illness, Bullying, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide attempt, Self harm, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Cancer

ireanirean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Infertility, Death of parent, Drug use, Colonisation, and Self harm

Minor: Sexual harassment, War, Slavery, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Miscarriage