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A review by dododenise
Babel by R.F. Kuang
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Giving this book a rating is complicated.
I usually rate books for how much I enjoyed it. And to be frank, I did not enjoy reading this book. The first half took me unbearably long and is empty of plot. Even the second half, which finally contains plot, was not able to win me over. It was unnecessarily long and owes its length to a love for language and translation that I do not share. It truly puts the academia in dark academia, and although I am at university myself, I do not have a love for it.
However, there was brilliance in this book. The way it went through the phases of realisation of what colonialism does, how it hurts and rips apart, is brilliant. It definitely enriched my view on racism, colonialism and how to fight against it. The characters were so alive, so deeply part of this world, I was dragged away with their emotions.
So, I will take with me the parts the book has taught me, but I did not really enjoy the way I got there.
I usually rate books for how much I enjoyed it. And to be frank, I did not enjoy reading this book. The first half took me unbearably long and is empty of plot. Even the second half, which finally contains plot, was not able to win me over. It was unnecessarily long and owes its length to a love for language and translation that I do not share. It truly puts the academia in dark academia, and although I am at university myself, I do not have a love for it.
However, there was brilliance in this book. The way it went through the phases of realisation of what colonialism does, how it hurts and rips apart, is brilliant. It definitely enriched my view on racism, colonialism and how to fight against it. The characters were so alive, so deeply part of this world, I was dragged away with their emotions.
So, I will take with me the parts the book has taught me, but I did not really enjoy the way I got there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Colonisation, Torture, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Addiction, Sexism, Violence, Toxic friendship, Murder, Cultural appropriation, War, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Alcohol, Child abuse, Racism, Gun violence, Death, and Classism