By Sadie Rathbone · How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
A poet's coming-of-age in Rastafari Jamaica — and her escape into language. I'll start us off and then get out of the way — there's too much here for one reader.
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Five stars from me.
❤️ 180
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 141
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 141
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 151
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 151
Read it out loud to my partner in the evenings — highly recommend that way. The dialogue is doing about four jobs at once. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 190
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 151
Second read for me, and it's a different book the second time. Whoever flagged the recurring water imagery — thank you, I can't unsee it now. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 180
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Five stars from me.
❤️ 141
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 180
Second read for me, and it's a different book the second time. I loved how little it explains itself. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 96
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Five stars from me.
❤️ 136
Second read for me, and it's a different book the second time. Whoever flagged the recurring water imagery — thank you, I can't unsee it now. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 106
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 96
Perfect winter read. Or summer. Or any month, apparently. Whoever flagged the recurring water imagery — thank you, I can't unsee it now. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 146
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 106
Perfect winter read. Or summer. Or any month, apparently. The dialogue is doing about four jobs at once. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 136
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 106
Second read for me, and it's a different book the second time. I loved how little it explains itself. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 136
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Five stars from me.
❤️ 96
