Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

Babel by R.F. Kuang

95 reviews

lokes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Deportation

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

1ucine's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I stumbled upon this book via tiktok and I can't say I have been deceived by the description I had of it before reading it. It truly is amazing and gives so much to think about. It's mix of hope and acceptance of what's to come is really interesting 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Classism

emlouise42's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

emmarie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative medium-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the most achingly beautiful books I have read. How R.F. Kuang writes is moving. She makes you feel for each character, even when you know the character is in the wrong. The ending made me sob as the imagery is so lifelike you can see it like a film in your head. The character development in this novel is sad, but realistic and understandable. This book is worth a read, and I know I will reread it at some point. This is one of the easiest 5 star ratings I've ever given.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder, and War

Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Death of parent

isabeltavares's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

5.0

Support the Harper Collins Union strike!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

Moderate: Death, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and War

Minor: Drug use and Alcohol

abby_can_read's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

📱
This was a great read, and I'm happy this is my first book of the year. I feel parts of this book were strong, and some other parts weren't as strong. For example, the beginning and the ending were strong and very engaging, while I feel the pacing off. There were times I couldn't really tell where the book was headed, mainly during the Oxford years. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, and Classism

Colonialism and Revolution

waverb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

This is a life changing story about love, language, colonialism, and revolution. Every detail seems meticulously thought out. 

For example, look up the etymology of the names of all major characters. Kuang chose these names precisely and the characters reflect their names beautifully. 

In my search, I discovered a supreme court case in the USA, Lovell v. Griffin. The names of Robin's colonizer father and his mixed race rebel brother. The court case relates to freedom of speech as it pertains to pamphlets and leaflets 🤯 pamphlets were a major tool of the Hermes society. 

I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know. Kuang guides the reader through philosophical discussions in a way that feels welcoming and approachable. This is perhaps the most beautifully written book I have ever read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Deportation

szucker6's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Brilliantly creative, linguistically lush, gorgeous characters and scene setting. I will be thinking about this one for a long time; I’ve never read anything like it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kenzielireads's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, War, and Classism

owliglot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and War