Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

54 reviews

georgiataylor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Clever concept and plot but a bit heavy handed

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Racial slurs

stephhaigreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, Torture, Murder, Death, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Trafficking

nerdlingsquid's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

5.0

This book made me feel so many feelings. At no point did I know what was going to happen next. <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, and Racism

sleepybythelake's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Well, friends... it's almost 2 am and I did cry a little. I think I need at least a night's sleep to collect my thoughts.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
As a linguistic and cultural mediation major myself, I was intrigued by the premise of this book and lots of things explained were concepts I was taught. I love to get to know the etymology of words, it is something that fascinates me.
I read this in translation, and as the translator pointed out before the beginning of the story, I knew some parts wouldn't give the original justice, but after all translation is always an act of betrayal in a way or another, so I knew what I was getting myself into. That said, I have seen some parts in English and although by the time I finished the book I knew I wanted to read it again, to understand some passages better, I also realised that that rereading will have to be done in English.

Storywise it had its ups and downs.  Sometimes things would drag on more than necessary and as someone else said, this book does indeed feel like a 'tell rather than show'. I can't really say I related to the characters 100% (though is that really that relevant? Perhaps not) and sometimes they felt flat. There is definitely something missing.

I was torn between giving this 4.25 or 4.5. For now I will leave it at 4.5, upon a reread I might change my mind.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Racism, Physical abuse, Torture, Death of parent, Suicide, Child abuse, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Xenophobia and Classism

Minor: Suicide attempt, War, and Slavery

kaeschwalber's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful fast-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

Dark academia historical fiction about colonization. Thesis: no one is free until everyone is. Clever, concise, and incredibly well informed. One of the best books about translation in existence. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, War, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual harassment

mishasbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Hate crime, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Slavery, Child abuse, Colonisation, Drug use, Bullying, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Islamophobia, Gun violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Murder, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, and War

yzer2468's review against another edition

dark informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Racism, Confinement, Grief, Violence, Colonisation, Deportation, Classism, Death, Murder, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Gore, War, and Drug use

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Slavery, and Genocide

emsavors's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, Confinement, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Xenophobia, Genocide, Grief, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Hate crime, Torture, and Toxic friendship

allys_shelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, War, Classism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Sexism, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Death, Suicide, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Deportation, and Racism

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Torture, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Racism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Violence, Medical content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Sexism, Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, and Death

Minor: Car accident, Child death, War, Rape, Genocide, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Infidelity, and Deportation