How to Say Babylon: A Memoir

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What aspects of Sinclair’s story did you find the most moving or impactful? Why? How did her experiences with family, culture, or faith resonate with you? 
• What role does poetry play in Sinclair’s life, and how does it reflect her journey for freedom and self-expression? Did you find her perspective on poetry meaningful or inspiring? 
• What do you think about Sinclair’s approach to exploring Rastafari culture and her father’s strict beliefs? How did she balance the beauty of her heritage with the challenges she faced because of it?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Reflect on Sinclair’s relationship with her father, Howard. Are there any parallels with relationships in your own life or instances where you felt someone tried to impose their beliefs on you? How did you or how would you respond?
• What are your thoughts on Sinclair’s use of poetry and literature as a means of escaping and processing her trauma? Are there creative or personal outlets you’ve found helpful in managing difficult experiences? 
• Sinclair struggled to connect with her classmates due to her family’s restrictions and her Rastafari identity. Have you ever felt like an outsider in a similar way? How did you navigate those feelings? 
• Esther’s decision to stand up to Howard later in life was transformative for her and Safiya. How did this choice affect your view of Esther, and have you seen moments where a loved one’s strength has inspired you?
• Sinclair’s use of cultural symbols like dreadlocks and Rastafari beliefs in her journey is deeply personal. What cultural symbols or traditions have been particularly meaningful or challenging for you in your own life? 
• In the memoir, Sinclair reflects on her connection to the women in her ancestry. Is there a family history or lineage that you feel especially connected to, and how does it impact your sense of self? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• In what ways did the historical context of Jamaica’s colonial past and the Rastafari movement’s revolutionary roots shape Howard’s belief and behaviors? How do these beliefs impact Sinclair’s family dynamics?
• How does Sinclair’s portrayal of the Rastafari movement challenge or expand common stereotypes of Rastafari culture? Did her perspective on Rastafari differ from what you may have previously understood about the movement?
• Sinclair uses her memoir to bring light both to the beauty and the patriarchal limitations within Rastafari culture. How does her exploration of Rastafari beliefs challenge or reinforce your understanding of how religious ideology can shape gender roles within a society?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Examine the Medusa comparison that Sinclair uses to describe her dreadlocks. How does this mythological reference deepen the reader’s understanding of Sinclair’s feelings about her appearance and her sense of otherness?
• Discuss the motif of birds in the memoir. How does Sinclair’s perception of birds evolve, and what does this transformation reveal about her journey toward independence? 
• What role does Sinclair’s vivid and poetic language play in conveying the beauty and trauma of her childhood? How does her background as a poet influence the tone and style of the memoir? 
• Analyze the theme of rebellion as expressed through the cutting and straightening of hair by Sinclair and other Sinclair women. How does this act serve as a form of protest and self-liberation, and what consequences does it bring? 
• In what ways does Sinclair employ setting, particularly in the isolation of her family’s countryside home, to underscore the themes of control and entrapment? How does this setting contrast with Sinclair’s vision of the wider world?
• Consider how Sinclair’s relationship with her mother, Esther, evolves throughout the memoir. In what way’s does Esther’s character arc reflect Sinclair’s own process of self-discovery and reclamation of identity?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Write a poem inspired by Sinclair’s experiences in How to Say Babylon. Focus on one motif—birds, dreadlocks, or the Woman in White. 
• Design a visual artwork inspired by the memoir’s exploration of identity and liberation. Consider how you would represent symbols like Babylon, the bird imagery, or dreadlocks in your piece to reflect Sinclair’s journey of self-discovery. 
• Imagine you are Sinclair writing the closing chapter to her memoir. How would you envision her continued journey toward healing and growth? What words would she offer to readers experiencing similar struggles with family expectations?

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources.