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darcygabe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Child abuse, Racism, and Self harm
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Bullying, Classism, and Colonisation
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
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.
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
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
I was vaguely aware of what being meant but only in the narrow lens of Bob Marley and other artists that had mentioned this but honestly - the depth of which Ms. Sinclair discussed her upbringing spoke volumes. The seclusion lead by her father truly impacted the author and her siblings but none of them allowed this to set them back. They knew they had to leave in order to truly be their authentic selves. I’m proud of Ms. Sinclair for writing her story and sharing her voice. While the dysfunction and abuse was familiar to me (having read other non fiction that discussed this as well as my own personal dealings) this may trigger those who have not growing up in a physical and emotional abusive household.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Abortion
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