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Late last year I booked a ticket to see Rebecca F Kuang after loving Yellowface so I was determined to read another of her novels before seeing her talk (and hopefully sign my books) in person.
➕️ Loved the dark academia and historical tones to the novel.
➕️Exploration of huge topics such as colonialism, imperialism, slavery, racism and power. The way colonialism was packaged in particular was incredibly powerful, I've read nothing like it before.
➕️How much language and linguistics drove this novel. I learnt so much.
➕️Overall the writing (so well written. Considering it's so chunky it kept me engaged far longer than I expected to be) and character development was also notable.
➖️The ending, I knew where it was heading and it dragged a lot
➖️ The footnotes. So distracting when reading. I liked when it gave context but also struggled to spot the tiny symbols and then match the symbols to the foot not.
✍️ "That's just what translation is, I think. That's all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they're trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands." Pg535
🛍 I was lucky enough to find my copy in a Street Library.
➕️ Loved the dark academia and historical tones to the novel.
➕️Exploration of huge topics such as colonialism, imperialism, slavery, racism and power. The way colonialism was packaged in particular was incredibly powerful, I've read nothing like it before.
➕️How much language and linguistics drove this novel. I learnt so much.
➕️Overall the writing (so well written. Considering it's so chunky it kept me engaged far longer than I expected to be) and character development was also notable.
➖️The ending, I knew where it was heading and it dragged a lot
➖️ The footnotes. So distracting when reading. I liked when it gave context but also struggled to spot the tiny symbols and then match the symbols to the foot not.
✍️ "That's just what translation is, I think. That's all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they're trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands." Pg535
🛍 I was lucky enough to find my copy in a Street Library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, War
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, War, Classism
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
This book is extremely heavy but also so needed. The characters feel so real and the complicated emotions drive the story. I hurt for them and cried with them.
The linguistics nerd in me was drawn to this book but the victim of religious trauma found a bit of healing.
I highly recommend.
The linguistics nerd in me was drawn to this book but the victim of religious trauma found a bit of healing.
I highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
HOLY SHIT. this book is so incredible. made me think so differently about translation as a concept and as an art. sort of synced up with the era i’m learning abt in history right now which was a little serendipitous.
not usually the type of book i pick up (i didn’t know it was sad ngl) but i feel like i’m going to be thinking about this forever. felt so real and visceral both in the descriptions of how lovely their friendship and oxford was and in the depictions of all the stuff at the end. could not put it down. aauagahhb
not usually the type of book i pick up (i didn’t know it was sad ngl) but i feel like i’m going to be thinking about this forever. felt so real and visceral both in the descriptions of how lovely their friendship and oxford was and in the depictions of all the stuff at the end. could not put it down. aauagahhb
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism
The research put into this is the main thing I like about it. I also really like the prose at some points
i really did like the plot of the book but i just didnt emotionally connect to it like i wanted to.
Robin’s fast attachment to people feels really weird especially since I couldn’t feel the same, especially in his connection with Griffin. When it was like talking about how “it was how Griffin talked” or something like that, i was like… what do u mean? this is our second time meeting griffin… idk him like that
i cant really justify rating lower bc it is well done- its just down to tastes
the day rfkuang trusts her reader enough to really show a story shes gonna be amazing
i really did like the plot of the book but i just didnt emotionally connect to it like i wanted to.
Robin’s fast attachment to people feels really weird especially since I couldn’t feel the same, especially in his connection with Griffin. When it was like talking about how “it was how Griffin talked” or something like that, i was like… what do u mean? this is our second time meeting griffin… idk him like that
i cant really justify rating lower bc it is well done- its just down to tastes
the day rfkuang trusts her reader enough to really show a story shes gonna be amazing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Violence, Murder, War