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Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism, Deportation
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
β’ Let me start by saying that I'm not a person that re-reads books (only if it has been close to 10 years), but I could make an exception for Babel.
This was such a masterpiece that I know I haven't grasped all of it on this first try!
β’ Basic summary: It's historical fiction because it happens in the 1800s during the British empire
(so we have colonialism and racism, it's after slavery has ended *but not in terms of white mentalities & supremacy*, women don't study, etc.).
It's magical realism & dark academy because Babel is a tower in Oxford where academics study translation to help the Empire deal with the colonies and on the 7th floor they do what seems like magic... They engrave silver bars with one word in English + the equivalent in another language = to magical enhancements to objects or environments.
Overused languages have weakened the effect on silver so they decide to snatch some native kids from colonies, instruct them in the Englishman ways, and make them study to prepare for Babel and in the future work for the Empire.
That's what happens to the group that we follow throughout the book.
β’ I wanted to try RFK writing through this standalone first before the Poppy War (cause I buy entire series from the go π ) and it's marvellous!
It seems like a classic, but without the excessive adjectives that can make me fall asleep. It can be a little overwhelming in the beginning cause it's a slow start and we are as lost to the plot as poor 7-year-old Robin is.
β’ The character development was what made this book for me.
It spans for like 10 years and my view from the start to the end shifted together with the characters. They started scared, innocent, and mesmerised by the grandeur of Babel - A little found family in their solitary upbringing - but they discovered there's so much more going on around them.
β’ I studied translation and what I learned is actually discussed during the classes in Babel, which made de experience even more enjoyable! Also, my language nerdy side got a field trip with this book! π
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, War
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
One of my favorite books of all time, this feels like my soul.
For everyone who loves Addie LaRue!
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism, Deportation