A review by kumquats87
Babel by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional fast-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? Yes

4.25

While I do have some issues with elements of the ending, I was completely on board with book. I related to Robin to a concerning degree, and the gothic, dark academic mood was everything I wanted. A dark academia that actually examined academia as a weapon of empire; as producers of “knowledge” used to subjugate, to maintain power relations and the status quo. Incredible.

I still want to know what happened in Burma.

Yes, there were footnotes. Yes, some characters could have been developed beyond the role of ideologue. Yet I also wanted to jump on the decolonisation train. (Sure, I wanted to do so beforehand, but that’s besides the point.) I felt sickened while reading this, so for me, it did the job.

Now, my final point. This was far funnier than I thought it would be. While it is not a comedy by any means, the dark humour in this book was right up my alley.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, Islamophobia, Gaslighting, and Deportation

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment