Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

10 reviews

roohanin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

 

 An intense, emotional rollercoaster that reveals the harrowing consequences of prioritizing religion over humanity. Safia Sinclair's poetic prowess and compelling narrative make this memoir an unforgettable read. 

Reading "How to Say Babylon" by Safia Sinclair was an intense and emotional journey that required multiple breaks to process. The memoir is a gripping rollercoaster of emotions, making me cry, and sharing in her anger and despair. Sinclair’s story starkly illustrates the consequences of prioritizing religion over humanity.

Before diving into this book, I was unfamiliar with Rastafarianism. The extensive backstory provided, even before her birth, was enlightening. However, it became clear that her family's extreme practice of religion should not be seen as a definitive representation of Rastafarianism. I suspect there is much more to the faith than what was depicted in her father's household, encompassing both positive and negative aspects.

I rarely use the word "hate" due to its intensity, but I genuinely hated her father throughout the book. His actions were profoundly disturbing. Despite the darkness, I was relieved to see Sinclair eventually finding a support system for her brother and mother.

Safia Sinclair masterfully crafts a coherent and compelling story arc in her memoir. While I typically do not enjoy poetry, as I often struggle to understand it, her poetic prowess shines through her prose. Although some of her poetic language puzzled me, I could still grasp the overarching meanings and emotions she conveyed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Classism, Gaslighting, Cursing, Child abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

wynnebirchmaple's review against another edition

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

adawada's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Death, and Abandonment

Minor: Drug use

jgrayreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Miscarriage

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

louiepotterbook's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Drug use, Gaslighting, and Self harm

sillyduckie's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Infertility, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Drug use, Confinement, and Blood

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

 How to Say Babylon is a memoir about the author growing up in a Rastafarian family in Jamaica, suffering at the hands of an increasingly abusive father, and then finally figuring out who she is, developing her own voice, and finding a way out. The story was interesting, particularly the insights into Rastafarianism which is a belief system I know little about, and has some obvious parallels to Educated. Definitely a hard read in places with physical and emotional abuse, controlling behaviour and gaslighting. What really stood out though was the writing which was phenomenal - lush, lyrical and evocative. I went into this book blind but within the first paragraph it was obvious that that author was a poet. The audio, narrated by her, was also excellent with the rhythm of the language really coming through. The book was a real pleasure to listen to but it also left me with plenty to think about - things like the intersections between religion and men trying to control women, the difficulty of escaping a traumatic upbringing, the factors that enable some people to succeed in a world that they’d been led to belief was evil, the ability to forgive, and the healing power of writing and of poetry. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

estam1's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Classism, and Colonisation