It is hard to rate a memoir, because how do we rate the way that someone tells their own truth? This memoir is gripping and jarring...it recounts a life that feels impossible to have endured. Safiya Sinclair, a noted poet since adolescence, grew up in a strict Rastafarian home in small towns in Jamaica, moving frequently. Her father inculcated in his children that Babylon, the term that he used for the world beyond Rastafarian ideals, was poisonous and to be avoided at all costs. Worse was the fact that although her father demanded absolute adherence to all things Rastafarian, he, himself was an adulterer and overall hypocrite. Further, he was cruel, emotionally abusive, and given to inflicting physical punishment on his children whenever the mood struck. His shortcomings as a man, combined with childhood trauma and what appears to also be mental illness made life with him impossible.

Raised alongside her four younger siblings, Safiya was restricted from all that the world had to offer her. Also subject to her husband's mandate, Safiya's mother, Esther, was also limited in terms of options and personal choice, although she managed to make amazing things happen for her children, including giving Safiya her first book of poetry, where Safiya found her heart and inspiration.

Safiya's story, written in gorgeous and moving prose, is harrowing. The details are many, and there is some repetition in the stories that she tells, or perhaps, it is that the oppressive and inhumane events of her life were so repetitive. Most moving is the fact that Safiya triumphs and becomes the writer that she always longed to. Also, if you do not know a lot about Jamaica and especially about Rastafarian life, this book will enlighten you.

I read Sinclair’s How to Say Babylon almost right after visiting Montego Bay in Jamaica, and reading this powerful memoir afterwards helped me understand a part of Jamaican culture that is sometimes misunderstood—the life of a Rastafarian. While Rastafarianism is often presented as a patriarchal religion, Sinclair’s memoir presents her perspective as a young woman growing up under her father’s ever-changing rules for his family. Although difficult to read at times, Sinclair’s story is powerful and poignant, not only from her experiences growing up Rasta and the kind of discrimination she faced in school but also as a daughter at home, but her story also explores the search for and development of her own voice as a poet. I found this section, especially when she works with a mentor and the almost equally oppressive approach he had on her attempts to find an authentic voice, compelling. Sinclair’s evocative descriptions of the natural beauty of Jamaica are contrasted with the emotional reflections of the oppression and discrimination she faced as a young, Rasta woman in Jamaica. It was surprising to see how tightly controlled her father kept her family, and how he viewed women. Sinclair’s narration of some events from her childhood capture the kind of innocence and naivety that is a part of childhood. Simple pleasures like playing on a beach reserved primarily for tourists also help to show the racial and class discrimination present in Jamaica, which is further exacerbated by access to necessities like school and education. These moments in school, where Sinclair has to navigate new friends and social groups, are also compelling to read and help to highlight the kinds of challenges that Sinclair would face due to her hair and the assumptions that others, including teachers and peers, would make about her. I really enjoyed this memoir and was really inspired by the strength that Sinclair drew from her family, particularly her sisters and mother. Despite the flaws of her father, he is also presented in a humane manner, where I can appreciate his desire to be an artist and yet his concern about the wickedness of Babylon. Yet, I was also disturbed by his distrust of his daughters and the increasing control over them that he exercised. Nevertheless, Sinclair’s mother is the one to whom she turns to when she experiences hardship and trouble, and who encourages her pursuit of writing. Full of both joy and sadness, Sinclair’s How to Say Babylon is a beautifully written and poetic memoir about growing up, trying to navigate different worlds, and eventually finding one’s own voice through these struggles.

"How to say Babylon" by Safiya Sinclair is a glimpse of Rastafari that most people do not get to see; abuse, control, and poverty can lie beyond the popular beat of Reggae music and the image of the peaceful Rastaman with his dreadlocks and ubiquitous ganja spliff. I learned a lot about Rastafari and Jamaican history and culture, and how they are still greatly influenced by colonialism and Western ideology. Like Sinclair's poetry, they writing is poignant and lyrical. Even though it is a memoir, this book is not a one-dimensional read; instead Sinclair includes the perspectives and stories of others as well. There are no villains, just people trying to live their lives with what they are given.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fabulous book.

A fantastic memoir about a young girl growing up in Jamaica under her father’s rule and the teachings of Rastafarian. I was captivated by her writing and can’t wait to read some of her poetry!

This is a beautifully written account of the author's experiences growing up in Jamaica and her struggles to break free of her rigid Rastafarian upbringing. Ruled by her father's strict patriarchal views and repressive control over the family, Safiya turns to reading and writing poetry as her constant companion and as a way to cope with the horrors under her roof and to understand and express herself. This is a universal story of a woman finding her power, with the help of others, in the face of brutal extremism. I enjoyed learning about the history of Rastafari.

What an amazing memoir! 5 stars!

Safiya Sinclair gives us a story that will raise your expectations for future memoirs.

Brought up in a strict Rastafarian household, Sinclair and her siblings are required to adhere to Rastafarian rules which range from what they can eat to how they wear their hair. At the same time Sinclair and her siblings excel academically and enjoy learning, which brings their father great pride.

However, this success does not endear her to her father as she work to break free from the Rastafarian rules.

You will not want to miss out on this book! I cannot give higher praise for this book!

I almost never give books 5 stars, but this one more than deserves it. This is probably the most powerful memoir I have ever read. Safiya Sinclair, whom I was unfamiliar with before this, weaves her unbelievably traumatic childhood into a stunningly beautiful and powerful narrative. Her text is suffused with her poetry and the imagery is beautiful.

One of the things that struck me throughout was that, despite the horrors that her father inflicted on her, despite his years of abuse and harah judgment, she still seems to at some level understand him, to understand how his own trauma led him (still inexcusably) to inflict trauma on his family. She doesn’t excuse him, but in her unearthing of her history and that that preceded it, she understands it has roots stretching generations back.

A dazzling memoir that will hopefully set the bar a little higher within the genre, How To Say Babylon was exquisitely written. It was at once heartbreaking and hope-inducing and I found myself cheering for the characters throughout their lives.

How to say Babylon is a coming to age memoir unlike anything I’ve read before. I was transported into of world where colonialism led way to a radicalized culture. The poised way Sinclair expresses her pain and ultimately triumph will resonate with me for years to come.

This was a powerful memoir in which Sinclair recounts her childhood in Jamaica growing up in a strict Rastafarian household. she details the trials and abuse her family suffered at the hands of her father and her journey of breaking free.

This is a powerful memoir, and as a reader, I could clearly see Sinclair’s evolution and journey of becoming who she wants to be. I also loved seeing how Sinclair’s mother gains strength and courage to live her life and stand up to her husband. As a mom, I resonated with the sacrifices she made for her children.

Also, I had never heard of Rastafari before, so I learned a lot about this religion and it’s origin.

I highly recommend this memoir if you’re looking for an emotional memoir about complex family dynamics.

Thank you @tlcbooktours, @tlcdiversity, @netgalley, and @simonandschuster for the #gifted copies

"How to Say Babylon" by Safiya Sinclair is a mesmerizing collection of poetry that immerses readers into a world of rich language, vivid imagery, and emotional depth.

Sinclair's words possess a raw intensity that transports readers through landscapes both physical and emotional, invoking a sense of longing, nostalgia, and cultural exploration. The poems delve into themes of identity, history, and diaspora, drawing inspiration from various mythologies and histories, particularly those of the Caribbean.

Sinclair's mastery over language is evident as she weaves together intricate phrases and evocative metaphors that create a tapestry of emotions and stories. The poems in this collection resonate with a sense of urgency, reflecting on the complexities of heritage and the struggles of finding one's place in the world. Through her exploration of family, displacement, and heritage, Sinclair invites readers to reflect on their own sense of belonging and the cultural forces that shape their lives.

Sinclair's work is a testament to the beauty and resilience of the human spirit, making this collection a must-read for anyone seeking to explore the intersections of identity, history, and language.

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC. Wow, what a memoir. I had read Sinclair's poetry in "Cannibal," but the lyricality of that work is woven throughout this memoir brilliantly. I found it fascinating to refamiliarize myself with Rastafarian culture and the ways that the religion itself can be dismissive (to say the least) of women. I'm going to be teaching "The Glass Castle" this fall and this book situates so well in a category of memoirs I like to refer to as "angry fathers and their daughters." "Glass Castle," "Educated," and now this text offers a much more compelling glimpse into life under tyrannical rule within the family unit. The ramifications of the trauma that Sinclair endures echo through the text and there are several intense moments of foreboding, knowing that this story might not end particularly well. I wasn't super into the ending, but overall, a really fantastic book about the lineage of women.

This was a real triumph of a memoir and an incredibly interesting read. Safiya Sinclair very thoughtfully includes both a succinct and fascinating history of Rastafarianism and some measured and empathetic background of her own parents’ history, both of which make the book richer and more compelling.

Without spoilers, I will add that I think the honesty needed to accurately depict Sinclair’s parents is very courageous. It was, at times, difficult to read about these relationships, but this is a memoir about real, actual people who have complex ties with others and themselves. Other people don’t owe us an easy ending, and we don’t get to decide what we owe themselves.

I finished the memoir quickly and found a lot to love in the writing. Sinclair is a poet, so it’s impressive that her writing translates so well to a longer narrative. (One section in particular about cutting her dreadlocks felt like an entire poem within itself and was absolutely beautiful.) Sinclair vividly describes how writing saves her life; how it literally pours out of her to catch the overflow of human emotion in her, and I think this is what makes the memoir feel so effortlessly successful. The best writers always do seem to write because it seems unthinkable not to. An easy five stars.

How to Say Babylon – Safiya Sinclair
The author, a prize winning poet, recounts her experiences growing up in Jamaica in a Rastafarian community in this compelling memoir. Her domineering father, an briefly famous reggae musician, eaks out a living playing Bob Marley covers at local tourist hotels. He takes out his anger about his lack of success and the evils of the non-Rastafarian world, which he refers to collectively as “Babylon,” on his wife and 4 children dictating what they wear, with whom they can interact and where they may go, which is generally to school, work and home. In her beautiful, poetic prose, Sinclair pays tribute to the enduring love and strength of her mother, explores the dynamic of a family caught in a cycle of abuse and celebrates her success in finally breaking away.

What a powerful memoir. Beautiful, tragic and triumphant, Safiya tells the story of her Rastafari family. As someone who knew little about Rastafarian culture before this book, it was shocking in many ways, but the story itself holds a few universal truths; Hurt people hurt people and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

It is rare for a book to bring me to tears but there were moments in this story absolutely brought me to my knees. The imagery and feelings, so raw and real, I felt a powerful urge to protect this beautiful soul.

Ultimately, each generation represents an opportunity to break the cycle. The turning point in this story reminds me that not all hope is lost, but it requires grace, strength and selfless acts of love. Such a powerful reminder in today's angry world.

I was also struck by seeing Foreign (America) through Safiya's eyes, the pain she saw in what I would likely consider beautiful will have me thinking twice as I move through the relics of our past.

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity.

Sinclair's life as a poet comes through in the writing of this memoir. The language is lyrical, if not painful in some places. Her sense of resiliency shines through in the end and to read her current biography does show others that she continues to push her life forward. When she found her voice as a poet, I expected the text to change to free verse. But that gave me an idea. I believe that the themes in this memoir are relevant to those in the YA area. Perhaps a YA version of How to Say Babylon could be written in free verse, thereby sharing the same story to a YA audience, while encouraging those readers to read poetry.

Growing up in Jamaica under the strict tenets of Rastafarianism instilled by her father and her mother who behaved meekly and let her father rule, Safiya Sinclair had a unique and, at times, heartbreaking childhood and early adulthood.

Themes of altruism and generosity toward her younger siblings abounded. Small glimmers of light like a scholarship or support from a mentor let Safiya's otherwise stringent and limited lifestyle expand beyond anything she ever imagined.

Told in lyrical prose that allows the reader to truly picture Jamaica, and which clearly showcases Sinclair's talent as an award-winning poet, How to Say Babylon will drag the reader through tough times, waiting for the ultimate goal of freedom.

Loved this memoir. Learned so much about the Rastafarian world. Whenever I get into a reading rutt, I pick a memoir to change things up. This one did the trick and more. I'm recommending it to all.

Absolutely captivating and written with such grace, How to Say Babylon is the Educated [by Tara Westover] of today. I devoured this book and found myself not wanting it to end. I hope Safiya Sinclair continues to share her story in such a powerful way.

Vibrant and haunting.
Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. This is a memoir of growing up in a Rastafarian household in Jamacia. The author shares her struggles and how she was able to work through her strict upbringing and the resulting trauma surrounding that upbringing. I found the book inspiring and loved the message of hope and perseverance.