Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Babel by R.F. Kuang

126 reviews

ashdawn's review against another edition

3.75

challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny, Islamophobia, Grief, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Pandemic/Epidemic

quiksilver91's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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: Yes

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'That's just what translation is, I think. That's all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they're trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands.'

~Ramy (in response to Robin's query)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Xenophobia, War

alysereadsbooks's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

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One of the most thought-provoking novels I've ever read. This book is big on Booktok and for good reason. I'm not usually a huge fan of historical fiction, but the way Kwang blends colonialism, magic, and language, kept me compelled. It is pretty dense and I think it deserves a second read. I listened to it on audiobook which I enjoyed, but I'd probably get more out of it if I read a physical copy. Never read anything quite like this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Colonisation

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Grief, Cultural appropriation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Slavery, Pandemic/Epidemic

seekinglucidity's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

anyas_book_graphs's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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: Yes

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This book is a compelling exploration of resistance to colonization. It resonates very strongly in this day and age, portraying the perspective of the oppressed in a human light. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and thought provoking. Its ending was not satisfying, but much like real life, the endings of true revolutionaries rarely are. I think this book is a good conversation starter for people surrounding revolution, resistance, and why peace is often not an option. Amazing work; no notes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, War, Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Slavery, War

kschupner's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring 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: Yes

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babel is a masterpiece; it shows the ways that revolution comes about and how it crescendos into determination, sacrifice, martyrdom, and the uncertainty of the future. the magic system is very unique and interesting, i found myself thinking more on the words i choose to say and what they mean after this book. robin and ramy’s friendship was so special, and robin and victoire’s dynamic shifting into what it became at the end was so gripping and devastating. robin’s character growth through this book, from a little boy ripped from his home, to a determined and bright scholar, to scared and angry and violent, to steadfast and unrelenting in the face of danger. i’m at a loss for words after finishing this so i will leave my review here—part of me expected the ending, but the other part can’t fathom it. but in order to spark revolution, a bold move must be made. rf kuang is an amazing author who crafted a beautiful story about standing up against your oppressors, found family, and hoping for a better future. i can’t wait to read more by her!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Death of parent, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic

iwwis's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism

Minor: Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic

eilala's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic

meredithnudo's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Vomit, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Infidelity, Deportation

None of the warnings are portrayed in a sympathetic or apologetic light. They are shown to be the blights they are.

moonbasket's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was extremely good. I found the overall exploration of language and the exploitation of British colonialism extremely well done within the context of the novel. It was also extremely well researched and the footnotes made it feel like a non-fiction book in a way that really fit the theme.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic

Child abuse is in chapter 2 and not telegraphed. The blood and violence is pretty well telegraphed by the narrative. The racism is part and parcel for the time period, but still upsetting.