Scan barcode
bicoastallibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
This book broke me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
macmannwood's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
eli_trieu's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
The last 100 pages were just...đ!!
I felt so seen and heard. I sympathised and empathised with many of the characters, especially Robin.
I learned so much and I love the time I spent reading this book because it was a beautiful record of what these people went through, even though, they were fictional.
This is my favourite book of all time. This is fiction at its finest. It captured a certain truth in fiction so well that it is almost real.
If I can give this book more stars, I would.
âžď¸â
I felt so seen and heard. I sympathised and empathised with many of the characters, especially Robin.
I learned so much and I love the time I spent reading this book because it was a beautiful record of what these people went through, even though, they were fictional.
This is my favourite book of all time. This is fiction at its finest. It captured a certain truth in fiction so well that it is almost real.
If I can give this book more stars, I would.
âžď¸â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction and War
introverted_reads's review
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
5 stars
âViolence is the only language they understand, because their system of extraction is inherently violent. Violence shocks the system. And the system cannot survive the shock⌠You canât imagine how the world might shift unless you pull the trigger.â
Babel, in the best way possible, makes me want to get (necessarily) violent. This standalone is a phenomenally executed, ambitious historical fantasy set in 1800s Oxford, firmly rooted in the world of academia and linguistics. The meticulous research undertaken by R. F. Kuang shines through the text itself, and it is abundantly clear that they are an insider in the world of academia; take the title, for example, it looks like any essay you could find on JSTOR and cite in your dissertation.
I personally am not overly familiar with the study of linguistics or language as a more literature inclined student, but there is an exquisite study of the history of language and spoken word ingrained within the narrative. Making reference to biblical narratives, the Tower of Babel and the lost Adamic language, as well as the birth of modern languages from Latin, Sanskrit etcetera, R. F. Kuang documents an accessible introduction to the world of linguistic academia within this novel.
âPower did not lie in the tip of a pen. Power did not work against its own interests. Power could only be brought to heel by acts of defiance it could not ignore. With brute, unflinching force. With violence.â
As well as documenting a history of language, R. F. Kuang delivers a criticism of the British Empire and colonialism, marking Babel as a monumental piece of post-colonial literature. Central protagonist, Robin, is orphaned in Canton and taken to England to join the elite âBabblersâ of Oxford University where he meets Ramy, a young boy from Calcutta, Victoire, a Haitian Creole, and Letty, the white daughter of a British admiral. The four students quickly become a tight unit, together navigating the rigorous study demanded by an Oxford department, in a world that is against them solely on the basis of their race or sex. Babel examines British power, and the value of language, highlighting that much of the culture Britain prides itself on is in fact a product of the cultures it has colonised; the language canonised by British academia is rife with concepts and words stolen from Sanskrit, from Arabic, from Egyptian, from Portuguese, from Swahili, and multiple other African and Eastern languages.
âViolence was the only thing that brought the coloniser to the table; violence was the only option. The gun was right there, lying on the table, waiting for them to pick it up. Why were they so afraid to even look at it?â
As much as Babel is rich with history, colonial criticism, and linguistic theory, it is a highly developed piece of literature with artfully constructed characters. Kuangâs representation of humans is masterful, constructing characters with real depth and beautiful development. Babel examines a very human existence amongst colonialism and imperialism, and offers a devastating portrait of the reality of revolution. R. F. Kuang has a refined skill, much like literary greats such as Shakespeare, for developing complex characters, and very honest developmental arcs; the characters contained within the pages of Babel truly transgress the literary realm and feel painfully human and real. Babel may be presented as an âarcane historyâ but it handles the subjective human side of history often neglected.
âWe have to die to get their pity⌠We have to die for them to find us noble. Our deaths are thus great acts of rebellion, a wretched lament that highlights their inhumanity. Our deaths become their battle cry. But I donât want to die⌠I donât want to die. I donât want to be their Imoinda, their Oroonoko.â
I feel that I canât, no matter how hard I try, do Babel justice with words. It almost transcends the capabilities of language - rather ironic for a novel so heavily centred on linguistic power. Babel feels very much like an essential piece of literature, despite being a fantasy, for exploring a colonial history which is often cleansed from the coloniserâs narrative. Babel is both artistically and thematically ambitious, and R. F. Kuang has executed a truly extraordinary piece of literature. Babel, Or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translatorsâ Revolution was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did not in any conceivable way fall short. R. F. Kuang is a powerful voice in 21st Century Literature, and Babel is a novel that I would not be surprised to see become a classic. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
âViolence is the only language they understand, because their system of extraction is inherently violent. Violence shocks the system. And the system cannot survive the shock⌠You canât imagine how the world might shift unless you pull the trigger.â
Babel, in the best way possible, makes me want to get (necessarily) violent. This standalone is a phenomenally executed, ambitious historical fantasy set in 1800s Oxford, firmly rooted in the world of academia and linguistics. The meticulous research undertaken by R. F. Kuang shines through the text itself, and it is abundantly clear that they are an insider in the world of academia; take the title, for example, it looks like any essay you could find on JSTOR and cite in your dissertation.
I personally am not overly familiar with the study of linguistics or language as a more literature inclined student, but there is an exquisite study of the history of language and spoken word ingrained within the narrative. Making reference to biblical narratives, the Tower of Babel and the lost Adamic language, as well as the birth of modern languages from Latin, Sanskrit etcetera, R. F. Kuang documents an accessible introduction to the world of linguistic academia within this novel.
âPower did not lie in the tip of a pen. Power did not work against its own interests. Power could only be brought to heel by acts of defiance it could not ignore. With brute, unflinching force. With violence.â
As well as documenting a history of language, R. F. Kuang delivers a criticism of the British Empire and colonialism, marking Babel as a monumental piece of post-colonial literature. Central protagonist, Robin, is orphaned in Canton and taken to England to join the elite âBabblersâ of Oxford University where he meets Ramy, a young boy from Calcutta, Victoire, a Haitian Creole, and Letty, the white daughter of a British admiral. The four students quickly become a tight unit, together navigating the rigorous study demanded by an Oxford department, in a world that is against them solely on the basis of their race or sex. Babel examines British power, and the value of language, highlighting that much of the culture Britain prides itself on is in fact a product of the cultures it has colonised; the language canonised by British academia is rife with concepts and words stolen from Sanskrit, from Arabic, from Egyptian, from Portuguese, from Swahili, and multiple other African and Eastern languages.
âViolence was the only thing that brought the coloniser to the table; violence was the only option. The gun was right there, lying on the table, waiting for them to pick it up. Why were they so afraid to even look at it?â
As much as Babel is rich with history, colonial criticism, and linguistic theory, it is a highly developed piece of literature with artfully constructed characters. Kuangâs representation of humans is masterful, constructing characters with real depth and beautiful development. Babel examines a very human existence amongst colonialism and imperialism, and offers a devastating portrait of the reality of revolution. R. F. Kuang has a refined skill, much like literary greats such as Shakespeare, for developing complex characters, and very honest developmental arcs; the characters contained within the pages of Babel truly transgress the literary realm and feel painfully human and real. Babel may be presented as an âarcane historyâ but it handles the subjective human side of history often neglected.
âWe have to die to get their pity⌠We have to die for them to find us noble. Our deaths are thus great acts of rebellion, a wretched lament that highlights their inhumanity. Our deaths become their battle cry. But I donât want to die⌠I donât want to die. I donât want to be their Imoinda, their Oroonoko.â
I feel that I canât, no matter how hard I try, do Babel justice with words. It almost transcends the capabilities of language - rather ironic for a novel so heavily centred on linguistic power. Babel feels very much like an essential piece of literature, despite being a fantasy, for exploring a colonial history which is often cleansed from the coloniserâs narrative. Babel is both artistically and thematically ambitious, and R. F. Kuang has executed a truly extraordinary piece of literature. Babel, Or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translatorsâ Revolution was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did not in any conceivable way fall short. R. F. Kuang is a powerful voice in 21st Century Literature, and Babel is a novel that I would not be surprised to see become a classic. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, and War
lexi17d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
â[Babel] gnaws at questions that have bothered me since I started graduate schoolâchiefly the brokenness of academia, and the sacrifices that true change might require.â -R.F. Kuang
I am in awe of all R.F. Kuangâs books, and Babel is absolutely no exception. This book accomplishes everything that dark academia is meant to be. The amount of knowledge and research that R.F. Kuang has put into the art of translation is immensely apparent throughout the book. Kuangâs mastery at words is so baffling, I have difficulty finding my own to express how amazed I am.
This book broaches themes of racism, sexism, classism, and bigotry in academia and translation in such an elegant, yet blunt way as to render impossible to ignore. Admittedly, I had not really considered how the act of translation is a betrayal of the intended meaning from the original language, and how the process of translation often shifts the intent towards racist and bigoted perspectives. This book did an outstanding job at showing how translation and lost meaning between languages can harm people, and the lengths and sacrifices that are required to instill true change at an academic, institutional, and bureaucratic level.
I will be thinking about the themes of this book for a very, very long time.
R.F. Kuang, you are a treasure.
Wow.
âAn act of translation is always an act of betrayal.â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mxkanteven's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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? No
4.5
All I can say is this woman does not miss!
Babel is dark academia meets colonial violence with a veneer of respectability politics.
R.F Kuangâs way of tackling the difficulties and complexities of race, gender, class and immigration never ceases to amaze me.
The book takes you on a evenly paced ride through the lawns and halls of Oxford down to its seedy underbelly that is fuelled by slave labour, bloodstained silver and colonial theft of knowledge.
It explores what it means to be BIPoC in the diaspora, disconnected from your ancestral roots and forced/beguiled into becoming a cog in the machine of imperialism. It specifically makes a point of discussing the way men of colour are oblivious to the unique oppressions Black woman/Non-Black women of colour experience. It also dives into the insidious ways white women uphold the systems of racial prejudice and violence with their complicity and desire to have the power white men do.
The book is near perfection. The only thing holding it back from a true 5 stars is some of the language that discusses the experiences of Black folks impacted by colonialism and chattel slavery does come across as centring white support of ârevolutionâ being the key to liberation.
While not entirely untrue, it does in my opinion is a bit of a disservice to the fights Black folks globally have fought for their own freedoms. But Iâm a non-Black person of colour so I could be entirely wrong for that so if I am, Iâll edit this section.
Babel is dark academia meets colonial violence with a veneer of respectability politics.
R.F Kuangâs way of tackling the difficulties and complexities of race, gender, class and immigration never ceases to amaze me.
The book takes you on a evenly paced ride through the lawns and halls of Oxford down to its seedy underbelly that is fuelled by slave labour, bloodstained silver and colonial theft of knowledge.
It explores what it means to be BIPoC in the diaspora, disconnected from your ancestral roots and forced/beguiled into becoming a cog in the machine of imperialism. It specifically makes a point of discussing the way men of colour are oblivious to the unique oppressions Black woman/Non-Black women of colour experience. It also dives into the insidious ways white women uphold the systems of racial prejudice and violence with their complicity and desire to have the power white men do.
The book is near perfection. The only thing holding it back from a true 5 stars is some of the language that discusses the experiences of Black folks impacted by colonialism and chattel slavery does come across as centring white support of ârevolutionâ being the key to liberation.
While not entirely untrue, it does in my opinion is a bit of a disservice to the fights Black folks globally have fought for their own freedoms. But Iâm a non-Black person of colour so I could be entirely wrong for that so if I am, Iâll edit this section.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt