Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

104 reviews

elnelson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

shakespeareantragedy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

did you hear that? yeah, that was the sound of my heart cleaving in two and being stomped on repeatedly. my god, words can't express the feelings i have for this book.

babel is a work of fiction, but it's also a work of history. of language, etymology and philology. of tremendous tragedy. most important, it's a work of political philosophy: through jagged, complex characters and a meticulously well-constructed narrative, kuang dissects the intricacies of imperialism and insurrection with just... insane fucking skill.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Colonisation, and Classism

anapthine's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

 Thank you Net Galley and HarperCollins UK Audio for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this was incredible. 

Babel follows protagonist Robin, who has a skill with languages. After the death of his family, Robin Swift is taken to England by Professor Lovell. Here he joins the Royal Institute of Translation in Oxford University. When attending he meets Ramiz, Victoire and Letitia, who were all in very similar situations to him. Soon they become inseparable and work together to uncover the secrets of Babel. This novel shines a light on Colonialism in the Victorian Era and the effects on colonised communities having their existence diminished. Babel is full of love, betrayal, secrets and family. The language is compelling, emotional and incredibly skilled. R.F. Kuang is yet again a genius and I think this book deserves to be nominated for the Booker Prize. The way this book made me feel was incredible - I highly recommend it. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thanks to Harper Voyager for the free advance copy of this book.

 - How on earth does one review a masterpiece like BABEL? Kuang has written a book that is both a page turner and a burn it all down, salt the earth indictment of academia, colonization, patriarchy and more.
- The magic system in BABEL is brilliant, and a perfect parallel to the mechanics of British colonization. The translations, the footnotes, all of it occasionally makes you forget that this is a novel.
- As a white reviewer, I can't even begin to touch on Robin's internal struggles of choosing what path to take as a person of color thrown into the upper levels of whiteness at Babel. The pain and rage of it is laid so bare on the page. And I know I have been the Letty in conversations before. Kuang softens none of it.
- I know I'm not doing this justice. Please seek out reviews by people of color on this book, there is already a deep discourse around it and I'm sure that will continue for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism