Reviews - Babel | The StoryGraph

65.3k reviews for:

Babel

R.F. Kuang

4.34 AVERAGE

akhester's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

unavezmas's review against another edition

3.75

slow-paced

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

This book was written for white people. I'd wish it'd spend more time word building or establishing the characters than doing colonialist is bad 101. 😮‍💨 Also there's way too many characters. It would be nice to have a list or something.

That being said I did enjoy the characters for the most part.

In the beginning of the story Robin, the main character whose mother is Chinese and whose father is white (and also very racist towards Asian people) adopts a white name because "white people can't pronounce Chinese names". He tries to get as close to whiteness as he possibly can. As the story progresses, he chooses to identify as a Chinese. Exept his Chinese name isn't even mentioned. Like it makes sense for him to at least consider going by his Chinese name, especially considering that many Black and Brown Babel students kept their foreign names.

I also feel like Letty and Victorie being discriminated against for being women vs the boys being discriminated against for being POC wasn't explored enough. It feels like the boys have no idea what's going on.

I personally understand adopting the identity out of spite. So Babblers indentifying with their homelands because since they'll never be considered English they might as well.

flyingraven's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Interesting premise, but oh my god does it take long to pick up pace. Seriously, it took until like page 300 to speed up to a tolerable speed. The footnotes are an Interesting addition I quite like though.

lotachiamaka's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative mysterious 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: Yes

alexkempton's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

lulymunda's review against another edition

3.25

dark reflective 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: No

changofett13's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

A slow start with some predictable outcomes but a message and execution strong enough for the predictability to fall by the wayside of the reading experience. The research required to pull off a novel such as this must have been immense.
SPOILER: We love a story that realistically explores the struggle of organizing by for class consciousness and working-class solidarity against the heavy weight of imperialist oppression and the ruling class. Racism IS rooted in classism and I’m glad R.F Kuong is saying it with her full chest.