A review by confused_cat
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

 Ok, this is going to be a long review… 

  • First, I love the concept, I was so excited when I started the book. This book is well written, researched and the author captured the feeling of being marginalised very well.
  • The author spent a long time on world-building, discussions about language, and the silver working ( “silver+translation = magic” ). This book is great if you are into etymology. For me personally, these parts are way too long and hard to read.
  • I am into plot and characters, so I was bored for quite a good portion of the book. When there is plot, the pacing is so quick, too quick even. E.g.
    death of Prof. Lovell
    .     The first half of the book felt so slow for me - I was so happy when Robin was
    shot
    … I thought, here comes the action.. but then they all went back to school and it was back to language discussion for a few chapters again.
  • There was not enough time spent on characters at all. We were told that Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty are best friends but we were not shown their daily life and interactions. Most of their interactions were mostly for author to showcase racism, how bad colonialism was, and how clueless Letty (the representative of white women) was towards her friends plights.
  • There are just so many things that could be expanded.
    How could Robin turned to Hermes so easily at the beginning? How Letty betrayed everyone so quickly? What's going through Lovell's mind most of the time? Are Ramy and Robin queer?
      The ending chapters were so quick too. I wanted to read more about character's internal conflicts more, dammit.
  • I am still not sure what the author's intention of the book. Who is this book written for? What does the author want to say? Does she want to remind us how bad colonialism was? How countries (esp China) have dealt with so much injustice? That violence is necessary for change? 
  • As a mixed race person, the racism felt too close to home and very uncomfortable to read too.

I can see why this book is so popular. But it is just not for me.



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