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annagoswami's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
limabeans's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
slow-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
4.5
To start off, this story was phenomenally written and was able to beautifully portray heavy and uncomfortable topics in an intriguing way.
R.F. Kuang’s true dedication to this lengthy amount of research definitely shows in the novel. She’s able to accurately and appropriately portray loads of translations (especially with the match pairs), literature, and other cultural work. The blurbs at the bottom of pages were a very helpful touch.
This book is of course more than just the loss of concepts between translation; I would even argue that it’s not even as important compared to what else Babel contains. Kuang dives into imperialism, colonialism, identity confusion, one’s own roots, and so much more. And it ties the role of academia into all of this, which is tremendously hard to do.
My favorite aspect was probably how Kuang portrayed Robin’s struggle of personal fortunes versus greater cause. We can see this with Letty who doesn’t understand why the other three in their cohort would throw away all they have for something that would not directly affect them. I think this was done so well because we are all just human at the end of the day— originally Robin didn’t want to throw away his perfect, academic life for the Hermes society despite knowing how fucked up it was to have what he had and how we had gotten their from Richard.
I also believe it’s extremely hard to write a character change in this context with as harsh as issues that Robin had. It was masterfully done. (not that Victoire and Ramy weren’t facing this [duh], but they didn’t have nearly the same amount of internal conflict leading to their change as Robin did.)
There were some flaws. The introduction of the magic with the silver working math pairs was a fascinating concept yet it was barely touched upon. Not that a fantasy book has to be filled with magic, but more use of this honestly innovative idea would have been nice.
I also wish more little things. Like much more time was spent in Canton or revolved more around it. That the cohort characters weren’t relatively flat for half the story. But not much to complain about.
It is hard because there’s so much hype around Babel. I do not find this story to have ‘unaware, groundbreaking’ concepts as I have been told or have seen from outside sources. (I try not to let media get in the way of biasing my own opinion though.) But it was definitely a book I will continue to think about and reflect upon; it truly was an excellent read and I’m very impressed by Kuang’s research and writing.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody. Seriously, I think everybody should read this book at some point regardless of genre or writing preferences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicide, and Colonisation
Moderate: Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
misschop's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Some pacing issues towards the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and War
sulkshift's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
morganraeann's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Docking a point because of its slow pace and because I wish it was a bit longer. Such an intricate world created with obvious tender, love, and care and somehow almost 800 pages isn’t enough
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
redlocqueen_'s review
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
WOW! Such a phenomenal read! Kuang has beautiful writing and you can tell she took her time with this book. I love how she put in notes and explanations. It really added to the story without crowding it. I honestly feel like this book should be taught in schools. Kuang was able to tie so many important themes and historical issues within this fictional story, it's baffling in a good way! The biggest themes in this read were colonialism and oppression, which of course in today's time this is important to know. She was able to make me critically think on my life and what's happening in the now. I loved loved loved this book! The character development and plot was *CHEF'S KISS*!!! I really fell in love with all the characters (except Letty lol). This was my first Kuang read and I can't wait to read her other books. If you're deciding on reading this or not....GET IT! You won't be disappointed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse and Death of parent
c_ab_bage's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
the most 5 star read i have ever read. as a layman to translation i found the entire thing fascinating and incredibly clever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Classism
edey_books's review
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This is one of the most poignant and moving books I’ve read in a long time. I loved the linguistic elements and intense research that makes of the foundation of this story, but the characters and their friendships shattered my heart. R.F. Kuang makes many confronting and deeply uncomfortable but necessary points about privilege and colonialism, and their impact on both society and individual relationships. This book was heavy and one I had to take breaks from, but absolutely 10000% worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Blood
Minor: War
waitaminuteash's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I cried so much that I smudged the ink on the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
readandchill23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is an amazing medium burn for me and I enjoyed every ounce and nod to world history and linguistics through the eyes of craving justice, understanding and equity.
I kept thinking... Joanne could NEVER.
Also, side note: We all know a Letty. We should all shun our Lettys.
A few favorite quotes:
"Colonialism is not a machine capable of thinking; a body endowed with reason. it is naked violence and only gives in when confronted with greater violence."
"Empire needed extraction. Violence shocked the system because the system cannot cannibalize itself and survive. The hands of the Empire were tied because it could not raise that from which it profited. And like those sugar fields, like those markets, like those bodies of unwilling labor, Babel was an asset."
"Strikers in this country never won broad public support. For the public merely wanted all of the conveniences of modern life without the guilt of knowing how those conveniences were procured."
"Violence was the only thing that brought the colonizer to the table."
I kept thinking... Joanne could NEVER.
Also, side note: We all know a Letty. We should all shun our Lettys.
A few favorite quotes:
"Colonialism is not a machine capable of thinking; a body endowed with reason. it is naked violence and only gives in when confronted with greater violence."
"Empire needed extraction. Violence shocked the system because the system cannot cannibalize itself and survive. The hands of the Empire were tied because it could not raise that from which it profited. And like those sugar fields, like those markets, like those bodies of unwilling labor, Babel was an asset."
"Strikers in this country never won broad public support. For the public merely wanted all of the conveniences of modern life without the guilt of knowing how those conveniences were procured."
"Violence was the only thing that brought the colonizer to the table."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism