Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir by Safiya Sinclair

4 reviews

stellahadz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This is easily one of the best memoirs I've ever read. The prose is beautiful, the story is captivating, and as someone with only very superficial knowledge of Rastafari, it was fascinating to learn more about the lived experiences of someone who grew up in that movement. I absolutely recommend this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, and Abortion

darcygabe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Colonisation, and Classism

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. 

 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Abortion, 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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Abortion