Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Babel by R.F. Kuang

816 reviews

emma_rose_skapetis's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Gun violence, Racism

cassidoo's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Babel was significantly more intense than I expected it to be. When it was recommended to me it sounded like it would be very magical and fantastical in how power is captured into silver. What I didn't expect was the power dynamics, commentary on colonialism, and the violence throughout. It was a good read. It started slow and then got so intense I couldn't put it down for the last ~25% of the book. I do recommend it, but be prepared for themes of racism, colonialism, and violence, rather than... fun and fantastical magical possibilities.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Classism

ida_reads_77's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation

Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, Sexual harassment

kgatz's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Deportation

spl2d's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-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: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Grief, Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Violence, Classism

Minor: Slavery

zephy55's review against another edition

2.5

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was fine. I feel like my main complaint is this is geared towards a (white?) audience unfamiliar or lightly informed on concepts of colonialism, post colonialism, mechanics of empire, racism, and resistance movements. It's readable enough and I was mildly interested on where the characters end up. However, I really wanted Robin to operate more as his own person and less as an insert for the reader. Also, imo this book needed a hard edit down to 300-400 pages. To a reader familiar with the themes, many passages and scenarios felt repetitive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation

bron01's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship

Minor: Homophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, War, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic

jewel318's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-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: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism

Moderate: Hate crime, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent

Minor: Confinement

yanzbanz's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-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: Complicated

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WHAT A MASTERPIECE.  I can’t say anything more about this incredible book, that I will read again and again…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, War

georgiarybanks's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism