“The sea was the first home I knew. Out here I spent my early childhood in a wild state of happiness, stretched out under the almond trees fed by brine, relishing every fish eye like precious can my toes dipped in the sea’s milky lapping.”
I absolutely loved this book. Safiya Sinclair is a poet and that is completely evident from the beautiful prose that lyrically tells her story. She evoked so much emotion in me – I laughed, I learned, and I cried. Memoirs can be so magical and this one was no exception – I felt completely mesmerized by Sinclair’s storytelling.
Summary - How to Say Babylon is Sinclair’s reckoning with the culture that initially nourished but ultimately sought to silence her; it is her reckoning with patriarchy and tradition, and the legacy of colonialism in Jamaica.
I had the privilege to listen to this audiobook and let me tell you, I don’t know which format to recommend because while listening to Sinclair narrate her own story was so special and powerful, being able to go back through my physical copy to underline and reread passages was also such a pleasurable experience.
Special shoutout to the # group for a super insightful and meaningful discussion about How to Say Babylon.
If this book wasn’t on your radar, I highly recommend giving it a go!
Find How to Say Babylon at the publisher →
Toni Rocchetti is a copy editor helping authors strengthen their narratives, deepen character arcs, and find the story that is already in the draft. She reads 80+ books a year across literary fiction, memoir, and nonfiction — and writes about what she is learning along the way. Work with Toni →
