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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Babel had me feeling all the emotions. I was laughing, gasping, and even tearing up a little. I loved how it explored the complexities of communication and misunderstandings between people, and the way the characters pasts shaped their choices really stuck with me. I also learned a lot about the different cultures and histories woven into the story, which made it feel even more real. The plot twists kept me on my toes, and I couldn’t put the book down.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Way better than I thought it would be and tackled much much more with much more depth but I just wish we had known more about after…
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Classism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Suicide, Torture, Trafficking
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
So, this was my first R.F. Kuang book, and yep, it's just so beautifully written and well-researched. This is about dark academia fantasy, the power of languages, and colonialism in the 19th century. The plot moves at a steady pace, with some parts feeling too long, which made it a slow read for me over several days. However, those moments really helped build the characters and their relationships. Overall, it was an amazing book, but I don't think I'll read it again, it's emotionally heavy in some parts and left me feeling a little drained (but I guess that's more personal!). Still, I'd highly recommend it to anyone into languages and historical fiction!
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
informative
reflective
sad
fast-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