Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

108 reviews

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, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

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: Child abuse and Emotional 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: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, 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: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting

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

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

ireanirean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

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

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

zarrazine's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault

limonadia's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Violence

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

Minor: Cancer

earthtokb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

so, so well done! the prose is lyrical, the stories 3-dimensional, and I’m so glad things worked out in the end! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse