A review by mirandyli
Babel by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Amazing book, especially if you like magical realism and linguistics. Anti-colonialist in a historically realistic way. This was the best book I've read this year. It made me really think about my own simultaneous oppressions and privileges, and how violence is necessary for anti-colonialist, anti-capitalist revolution. This book destroyed me in the best way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Gaslighting, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Sexism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, War, and Xenophobia