Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Babel by R.F. Kuang

500 reviews

dripdrop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse

emviolet's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Murder, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Classism

aleyajo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Classic college experience: magic, colonization, exploitation, racism, slavery, murder, and revolution

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

leeshajoy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, and Colonisation

Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, and War

elizabeth_helmer's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Slavery, and Murder

Minor: Torture

laurawho's review against another edition

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and War

Minor: Drug use and Slavery

sunnyscholar's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I don't think I'll ever forget this book. What started as a soothing "slice of life" among unlikely friends evolved into painfully honest acknowledgement of the inherent differences that threaten to tear them apart. I can not do the story justice by trying to eloquate how it continues to resonate with me now. 

R.F. Kuang is an artist in portraying the humanity of each of her characters. In my years of reading, I'd developed a habit of blindly accepting the perspective in which the story was delivered - excusing character flaws and mistakes for the sake of the plot. Kuang doesn't give the reader the opportunity to take anything at face value. She challenges you to grapple with the harsh consequences and moral debate that follows even the smallest decisions her characters make. I love her for it. 

This is no mere story - but a lesson in learning to see people. An exercise in setting aside one's innate biases to appreciate other walks of life they previously felt no right to consider a connection to. 

"Language was just difference. A thousand different ways of seeing, of moving through the world. No; a thousand worlds in one. And translation - a necessary endeavor, however futile, to move between them."

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

bugsybugs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

Easiest 5 stars I've given in years. An exceptional read. Detailed, epic, tackling ambitious themes of empire, colonialism, and the costs of freedom from them. I couldn't put it down.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism

jiwiz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

I'll start off with a disclaimer; This was my first time listening to an audiobook, and I've often had trouble paying attention to audio so there may be some portions that I missed. For example, I didn't realise Robin was wasian until much later than when it was revealed.

I'd describe this book in one sentence as a very loud 'Fuck you' to western colonialism. I've seen people criticise how on-the-nose it is. It drives its point home in such a glaringly obvious way that it's impossible to misinterpret it. I think it definitely could stand to deliver its message in a more subtle, nuanced manner. That being said, it was a solid read. I think R.F. Kuang does a good job at writing less-than-perfect protagonists and the magic system is very fresh and unique. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood

jess_polishedcomma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism