This is a well-written memoir that grabbed me because a main "character," the Rastafarian religion, was something I knew nothing about. Using poetic words and stunning sentences, the author describes her childhood and adolescence in Jamaica, ruled by a strict Rastafarian father who controlled her life and grew more authoritarian and paranoid as she approached womanhood. Safiya and her siblings grew up largely in isolation because their father was worried about their contamination from outside influences, and their mother, a loving presence, was under his influence. But all the children were highly intelligent, a source of pride to the whole family, and, eventually, a means of escape for all three female siblings. We watch Safiya nurture her love for poetry and literature, become the student of an old poet, and begin developing her own opinions. The climax, a long time coming, still manages to surprise through its power. The author put her heart and soul into this book, which describes happy memories as well as periods of despair, and when she finally finds her voice, one feels like applauding.

Poetic and empowering. All about finding your voice even when the people who are supposed to love you most try to silence you. I love the way is like reading the synopsis of an album. The authors poetic writing style brings life to the words on the page.

The only thing I new about Rastafari before reading this book was music, dreadlocks, multicolored hats, and Bob Marley. Safiya Sinclair changed all of that.

How to Say Babylon will take the reader through the arrival of the black God Haile Selassie to Jamaica, and how this one man started a small revolution on that island. Hailed by many as the man who will level the playing field for back Jamaicans and restore what was taken from them, he was the impetus behind the Rasta movement. Safiya's father grabbed onto this movement with both hands and took his partner and children into a life created day to day depending on his moods, wants, and needs. Trying to keep the corruption of Babylon (the corrupt and immoral influences of the Western world) away from his family, he demanded his family live under his every tightening strict rules.

Safiya's mother was the one thing between these rules and the education and advancement of her children. Only when Safiya had the opportunity to visit America and judge for herself did the world open for her.

Take this fascinating, historical ride with Safiya Sinclair as she shares her story with her readers.

I was primed to love this memoir and it didn’t disappoint. My father was from Jamaica and it was my favorite place as a kid. The author conveys what it’s like to live on the island, but also the challenges of both growing up Rasta in a hostile culture and the patriarchy of Rastafarian society itself, both of which I knew little about.

The author makes use of small, vivid details that are unforgettable - the shoeless boy whose father burns holes in acquired shoes and his skin, the run-down houses in certain parts of the island,

It’s a story of trauma, as well as the road to rising above it, to forgiveness, and to art and creativity. Or more accurately, through art and creativity. In that, it echoes my own journey and the author conveys hers with honesty and grace. She writes a lovely, sometimes painful, roadmap to recovery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster.

I found this memoir to be an in-your-face telling of a life lived in the Rastafarian culture and of how one young lady persevered to break the bonds of her father while surviving, and eventually thriving in the Foreign (American)) culture.

This book did not interest me enough to finish it, unfortunately. Although the topic of a young woman escaping the familiar and religions bonds of her parents (primarily her father's) obsession with Rastifarianism), the theme of a the book was somewhat hackneyed for me. I have read many bios and memoirs dealing with similar topics, and this one was not compelling enough for me to finish the read. This is unfortunate because the topic of Rastifarianism is somewhat interesting to me.

Memoirs are my favorite type of book to read. I was so happy to have the chance to explore Sinclair's. How to Say Babylon is her account of the personal stories of living with her father in Jamaica. The Rastafarian lifestyle was something I thought pertained to music but as Sinclair tells us, it's so much more. Heartbreaking at times to read, I am happy that Sinclair was so brace to share. Five stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Well done!

I was amazed by this memoir from start to finish. The author is a young Jamaican woman who was brought up in a zealous, strict Rastafarian family, who, against all odds and in the face of incredible diversity became an acclaimed poet. She now teaches creative writing at the university level.

First, it was fascinating to learn about the ins and outs of how Rastafari is practiced. I had no idea it was such a fiercely paternalistic and male-dominated religion, nor how greatly its practice differs from family to family. I had not known about the systematic police violence against Rastas, nor the discrimination they face in daily life.

Secondly, the book is a testament to the author’s mother — her strength in raising children in a home with considerable domestic violence and abuse, and her ability to educate her kids far beyond what they could learn in school. The mother opened her own tutoring center later on to help other children, and saved her pennies to fund opportunities for her kids, all at great effort.

Thirdly, although the book details a lot of familial and societal abuse, the author somehow finds enough inner strength to rise above all of her difficulties to achieve fame and success. The descriptions of her search for courage are truly inspirational. While reading this book, I found myself lying awake at night remembering certain passages, and gaining comfort myself from then. This was particularly true near the end, where the author is able (somehow … hard to fathom…) to forgive her primary abuser, namely her father, using her poetry as a vehicle. It made me want to nominate for her sainthood.

Finally, the book gives us a beautiful example of the redemptive power of literature and of creativity itself. In the depths of despair, the author has only her notebooks to turn to. She educates herself in isolation at home, reading an online encyclopedia and as much poetry as she can, and then pours her heart out on paper. This is her salvation. She does all this as a teenager, sends her poems to the island’s literary supplement, and gets a phone call out of the blue with an offer of mentorship from one of the island’s foremost poets.

I predict (and hope) that this book becomes an instant classic, that it is assigned in college classes, and that anyone (especially women) who are oppressed will read it as a guide to finding their own inner strength and unique talents.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book.

How to say Babylon is a must read fast paced memoir by Saifya Sinclair. This memoir describes the life of Safiya and her family under the rule of her very strict Rastafarian father. This was emotional read just seeing how one man can destroy his whole entire family based off of his beliefs. This memoir also showed that women have the power to do anything they set their mind to.

This memoir provides a lot of information on the history and beliefs of Rastas that I was in unaware of of prior to reading it.

Safiya did a wonderful job in capturing the beauty of island life in her writing. I also liked that she did not pretend that island life is just easy sailing and being a beach bum like most tourist think it is. As a fellow born and raised “island girl” one of my favorite lines that I could relate to very well in this book was “ To live in paradise is to be reminded how little you can afford it.“.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for this book.

How to Say Babylon is a beautiful poet’s memoir about girlhood/womanhood, parental relationships, and finding yourself growing up in Jamaica and in a strict Rastafari family.

You can tell how much reflection Sinclair has done on her life—and how much she has worked through to be able to write this memoir. Her writing is lyrical and beautiful even when discussing topics like abuse and fear. I also really appreciated how she wove in the history and (varied) customs of Rastafari and Jamaica as a whole.

So glad the world gets to bask in her work—going straight to the library to check out her poetry collection!!

Thank you to Safiya Sinclair, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the eARC. make sure to read this memoir when it comes out on August 29, 2023!!

This was a stunning memoir and provided incredible insight into Rastafari culture . Highly recommend!

Beautiful, lyrical prose. This will likely go over extremely well with our readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Most of the time, I do not know what to say when reviewing a memoir. But this one is one that will stay with me for a long time.

I also learned so much about Rastafari culture (suffice it to say that it was not what I expected!)

If you are reading this review because you are wondering if you should pick up this book…YES, YOU SHOULD!

I loved this book, by an acclaimed poet. It is vividly written and tells a fascinating life story. A beautiful memoir of family and culture and language---honest and unflinching.

This book was stunning. Sinclair's images are so vivid (no surprise, given that she's a poet) and I found myself frequently pausing to reread particularly beautiful lines. She writes generously about her family, even when they don't necessarily deserve it. I've already been recommending this book to all my friends, who are then disappointed when they learn that they have to wait until summer to read it.

This book was well-written and interesting. I loved the author's writing style. The book seemed slightly uneven, which made sense since Sinclair explained that the memoir was written over a long span of time. Some events still seemed very raw and unprocessed while she seemed to have made sense of and gained perspective with others. The author's love for her family and culture is obvious throughout the story. Ultimately, Sinclair tells a powerful story of growing up in a religion that didn't quite fit, in a family that does not always have space for a smart and independent girl as she becomes a woman, and how she finds a way to a satisfying life. Overall, I would recommend reading this book.

i wanted to like this book because it has an interesting premise. I didn't know anything about rastafarianism. However, it was very repetitive and never grabbed my attention. I think it would have been better to start with more of a history of the religion. The book could also easily be cut in half.

I could hardly wait to read this advanced copy of [book:How to Say Babylon: A Memoir|62919742] from NetGalley and to say that I was blown away by this book is an understatement.

Safiya first began writing as a poet and it is clear in her prose.

Safiya Sinclair has such a command of language that I would rank her prose among top-tier authors like Vladimir Nabokov. Not only can you perfectly visualize each scene as if you are standing right next to her, but you also feel an acute emotional charge radiating through the text. While you are compelled to sympathize with Safiya Sinclair, you can't pity her. There is an undeniable strength that emanates through her that leaves you expectantly waiting for her to emerge victorious and stronger for her plight.

Safiya and her three siblings were all raised in a sheltered Rastafarian home. Growing up in a home fostered by the blueprint of these religious beliefs, everyone in the family has to grow and choose their own path. There is despair, self-acceptance, struggle, and at the bottom of this familial tangle, undeniable love that trumps all struggles.

I have a penchant for cult stories, largely because I feel an affinity with the protagonist. There are some negative aspects to my past and family relationships that I latch onto in these types of narratives. Safiya Sinclair handles a very personal narrative with tact that shows her maturity as a writer and as someone who has grappled with her trauma. While her relationship with her father and Rastafarianism is rocky at best, she is able to acknowledge the impact it had on forming the person she is now.

It is a fast-paced memoir of courage, hope, and strength. I am excited to read Safiya's other books and poems.

Sinclair has produced a stunning book, one well worth the wait after her fantastic collection Cannibal. With writing that both propels and stuns the reader, Sinclair puts forth her story with brutal honesty and insight. This books explores so many vital themes be it gender, race, opportunity/orgin, writing, the necessity of art and expression. A must-read.

I loved loved loved it. This as fiction would have filled in a lot of questions I have had but, as a true story it was so much more powerful. I was so drawn into every person's story in this book. Knowing the back story of the parents added so much into seeing the journey of the author. The poetry became alive and so much more understandable and hard hitting knowing the journeys it was born from. I am so apprciative to have been given the privilidge to see into the author and her families lives. Into a more intimate side of Jamacia. To see a culture from an inside perspective. I thank you for this work and sharing something so inimate.
I am rating it a 5. I loved it. but how can you really rate something of someones life. You cant really.