Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

22 reviews

lngoldstein's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Self harm, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

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

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

limonadia's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

malackalharaizeh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

wfrench09's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Sinclair is so adept and precise with her prose and use of language. She weaves important elements about Rastafari history and culture into the story, so the reader learns a lot not only about Rastafarianism but also how those elements inform the setting Sinclair grows up in. The words she uses in her memoir to describe her experiences also develops in a similar progression as she develops from a young girl into a woman.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming and Suicidal thoughts

karenleagermain's review against another edition

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

5.0

Wow. I finished the audio book a few days ago and Safiya Sinclair's memoir will not leave my mind. Sinclair shares her life growing up in a Rastafari family in Jamaica. This rigid religion puts her father as the ultimate authority in their household, where he demands total obedience from his wife and children. Sinclair is raised in a very conservative and isolated environment. She is brilliant in school, but her religion, shown outwardly by her dreadlocks, signals her as an outcast in Jamaica, where many are Christian. 

Sinclair desires to be a writer and shows a great deal of talent, but her family's poverty and her father's values threaten to keep her from achieving her dream. As she grows older, Sinclair realizes that both her goals and the life that she wants to pursue are in contrast to the way she was raised. 

Sinclair's memoir has similar themes to Tara Westover's Educated. Both memoirs are brilliant and eye-opening.

Many times while listening, I paused and resisted to sections of Sinclair's writing. She is such a talented writer. Her prose is gorgeous and she has unique phrasing. Her story is powerful, but made more so by her writing talents. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual harassment

The story is filled with domestic violence, including both physical and verbal abuse. Sinclair has a mentor ( older male, when she is a teen) who makes suggestive comments to her and touches her inappropriately.

randisworld's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

This was an excellent memoir and may be the best of the year. The language and writing is divine. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual harassment

sapphire's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual assault

atreegrowsinbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I’ve finished this memoir and can hardly form a coherent sentence. I am, simply in awe of Safiya Sinclair.

HOW TO SAY BABYLON is a magnificent piece of literature. I’ll shout it from the rooftops “READ THIS MEMOIR!” What an incredible memoir showing the resilience and strength of one phenomenal human, Safiya Sinclair.

In this memoir we follow Safiya Sinclair’s childhood through adulthood living under an incredibly strict Rastafari household in Jamaica.

There was so much heaviness that occurs during Safiya’s life, that I was constantly blown away by her strength. I urge you all to read this! There are some difficult topics mentioned so go in with that understanding.

With that said, this memoir is incredibly written. Safiya Sinclair has an amazing way with words! Please read this memoir, you’ll be changed by it!

Thanks to the publisher @simonbooks for sending me a copy #SimonBooksBuddy, this memoir comes out tomorrow 10/03/2023!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, and Drug use