Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Babel, an Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

774 reviews

ford_defect's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

Minor: Islamophobia, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition

4.0

 “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.”

Wow. I have a lot to say about this book. 

I thought that this book was good. The first half was a bit slow, and the second half felt really fast. Everything was happening all at once, and it was a lot to take in. The audiobook was also long, and this book took me a while to finish. But once I did, oh my gosh. 

I really liked how this was 'historical fiction adjacent', and the fantasy element wasn't a lot, but it was interwoven nicely. The whole discussion and introspection about colonialism and how it's affected countries all around the world was also really well done. I did feel like at times, it was a bit more telling rather than showing, and also some parts did feel like listening to an academic textbook, which was probably why it was feeling slow. But it did put me in the mood for going back to university. 

Something that really, genuinely surprised me was the representation in this novel. This is the first book that I've read by a non-Muslim author that actually features a good Muslim character. Rami/Ramy was my favorite character.

So when Letty shot him, I was shocked, and confused, and I also felt betrayed. The way that R.F. Kuang wrote that scene and Letty's scenes were really well done. But why, why, why did you have to kill off the actually good Indian Muslim character??? Also, I was not expecting Robin to murder Lovell like that- Lovell was really getting on my nerves in that scene, but I was shocked that Robin actually killed him.

And about the ending...

I think that was also well done. Robin's death was self-sacrificing and I feel like that is what (unfortunately) symbolizes colonialism in a way. The people that were part of that system for so long just don't know what they can do to stop this.

As you can tell, I liked this book better than Yellowface. 

With all that being said, this was a solid book, and I can't wait to pick up The Poppy War trilogy and see what happens there. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Suicide

noura's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Sexism and War

Minor: Death of parent

9inchnailzzz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Suicide

laguerrelewis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring 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

5.0

R. F. Kuang, you have such a way with words. Ba Dum Tss.

But in all honesty, this is a masterpiece. It is absurd that it works so well on so many levels—but in 2024, it’s anti-colonial call to arms rings the most topical. I was utterly enthralled by this book, and I am glad it is as popular as it is—though I won’t rest until there’s a copy on every shelf!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism and Self harm

findleydunn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Death of parent

pey333's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, and War

Minor: Addiction, Child death, and Death of parent

h_preadsagin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I greatly enjoyed the book. The first half is more linguistic heavy but it picks up the pace as you get further in. The author heavily foreshadows. While it didn’t necessarily take away from the story, there wasn’t much that happened that I was truly surprised by. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

ekgranstro's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, and War

basilroad's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Slavery