A review by jarshi
Babel by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

I am trying to be more eloquent than screaming, "HUH?!" and then rolling over to die. 

Where do I even start? When I finished the book, my mind was so painfully full and shockingly empty. I was so upset I couldn't even sleep. 
 
It unnerved me how accurately this book conveyed my own experiences of attending a PWI on scholarship. And at times I had to put the book down and take a lap because things hit too close to home. 
 
The code-switching to assimilate into an environment full of rich white people who appear to have never struggled a day in their lives. Being paraded around university parties and info sessions to show everyone how “eloquent” my non-white cohorts and I were, and how we are so grateful that the university gave us poor black and brown people the opportunity to study at their esteemed institution. The way that same institution seems to turn on you the minute you start struggling with the academic rigor and inflated expectations. Hell, I’ve even had the same experience of being chewed out by a female professor when I attempted to reach out for support and solidarity. And even with all this, I still loved the classes, my field of study, and having access to so many resources. It feels as though you’re being held hostage because without the university’s money and connections, you’re out on your ass. 
 
Maybe I couldn’t relate to the characters in terms of the more fantastical aspects of this story, but the circumstances that were more grounded hit me right in my pride. 
 
I don’t think there is a single bad thing I have to say about this book. No notes. 10s across the board. No chops for Ms. Kuang as usual.
 
 
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