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A review by emilietje
Babel by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What a ride.
I enjoyed the research and knowledge that went into this book, especially when I started reading it. As a sinologist, it’s very fun for me to read Chinese translations or recognize the Chinese-foreigner struggles of the 1800s. But after a while it tired me out quite a bit and I ended up skipping paragraphs here and there. It’s a lot of information, a lot of complex words and thoughts and analogies. And frankly, I am not that big-brained <3
I think my biggest gripe is that I never ended up being incredibly emotionally immersed, even though I thought this book would do that for me. Robin as a main character is a rough journey to process, and I think I’ll keep thinking about him for quite a long time. Reading somebody reach such a breaking point in their life is a lot. I’ve seen people sob over this book, but it was just a couple tears here and there for me. Big thoughts, small emotions basically, despite the amount of struggle and grief in this book. Good media is media that can make me emotional, and I think Babel only did that a humble amount.
Regardless of everything I said here, it's gonna be a book that will stay on my mind for a good while at least. Here's to some good ol' discourse on colonialism!
(Finished my March book on the very last day, kinda slay of me to pull through <3)
I enjoyed the research and knowledge that went into this book, especially when I started reading it. As a sinologist, it’s very fun for me to read Chinese translations or recognize the Chinese-foreigner struggles of the 1800s. But after a while it tired me out quite a bit and I ended up skipping paragraphs here and there. It’s a lot of information, a lot of complex words and thoughts and analogies. And frankly, I am not that big-brained <3
I think my biggest gripe is that I never ended up being incredibly emotionally immersed, even though I thought this book would do that for me. Robin as a main character is a rough journey to process, and I think I’ll keep thinking about him for quite a long time. Reading somebody reach such a breaking point in their life is a lot. I’ve seen people sob over this book, but it was just a couple tears here and there for me. Big thoughts, small emotions basically, despite the amount of struggle and grief in this book. Good media is media that can make me emotional, and I think Babel only did that a humble amount.
Regardless of everything I said here, it's gonna be a book that will stay on my mind for a good while at least. Here's to some good ol' discourse on colonialism!
(Finished my March book on the very last day, kinda slay of me to pull through <3)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death