A review by emmalong
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

a really beautifully done memoir of our author growing up in an authoritarian and male-dominated space. so many aspects of this story were so heartbreaking and terrifying. Sinclair describes even the most horrific moments in her life with stunning prose and distance, but they stick with the reader throughout. i desperately felt for her and was so proud of the choices she made to establish herself despite all odds stacked against her. some parts felt repetitive and i wish we learned a little bit more about her healing journey. another aspect i really enjoyed was our author detailing the ways that her siblings and mother established themselves later in the story. it felt really full circle in that way and satisfying to know how things played out. overall, really informative and educational while being devastating and hopeful.