How To Say Babylon
A Jamaican Memoir
Description of book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION
'Vivid and empowering' GILLIAN ANDERSON
'A stunning book’ BERNARDINE EVARISTO
‘Dazzling’ TARA WESTOVER
‘A story about hope, imagination and resilience’GUARDIAN
An award-winning, inspiring memoir of family, education and resilience.
Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where luxury hotels line pristine white sand beaches, Safiya Sinclair grew up guarding herself against an ever-present threat. Her father, a volatile reggae musician and strict believer in a militant sect of Rastafari, railed against Babylon, the corrupting influence of the immoral Western world just beyond their gate. To protect the purity of the women in their family he forbade almost everything.
Her mother did what she could to bring joy to her children with books and poetry. But as Safiya’s imagination reached beyond its restrictive borders, her burgeoning independence brought with it ever greater clashes with her father. Soon she realised that if she was to live at all, she had to find some way to leave home. But how?
How to Say Babylon is an unforgettable story of a young woman’s determination to live life on her own terms.
A Guardian and Observer summer read.
‘I adored this book … Unforgettable’ ELIF SHAFAK
‘Electrifying’OBSERVER
‘To read it is to believe that words can save’ MARLON JAMES
‘Breathless, scorching’NEW YORK TIMES
Ratings & reviews
4.7
★★★★☆85 ratings
Well-written · Inspiring · Eye-opener
4.8
★★★★☆83 ratings
Perfect match · Captivating · Credible
- It always feels a little odd to “rate” a memoir and someone’s lived experience but this was just hands down five stars.
Joy
It’s not an easy read and I can see why some readers found it slow-moving or repetitive but Sinclair’s writing is just so breathtakingly beautiful and poetic and it was particularly moving to hear her narrate it herself.Book★5
Narration★5
- I really enjoyed that the book was narrated by the author. It brings a lot of depth and meaning to it.
Sara
Great memoir. A story of very brave women that created their own way out of a nightmareBook★4
Narration★4
- Wonderful Narration!
Leyla
Beautiful Language...
Story is interesting but also heavy and somewhat long-winded at times.Book★5
Trigger warning · Interesting · Moving · Fantastic
Narration★5
- Een van de mooiste boeken die ik ooit gelezen heb. Prachtig voorgelezen door de auteur zelf.
Alice
Book★5
Narration★5
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