You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
dark
emotional
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
This book inspired me to create a book blog — which I absolutely plan to start ASAP, but will take time to set up. Some things just move you too much that you have to create something for it.
Babel was one hell of a ride. I have 3,681,048,261 things to say about this book that I don't even know where to start. Suddenly I understand why some YouTubers post up to thirty-minute videos just to analyze a character or the plot of a story. Because I feel the same way about Letty and the systematic oppression theme of Babel. I could totally write essays, especially on the death of Professor Lovell. But alas, time is a beautifully painful constraint.
[❤️] This book took too many of my firsts, which are:
— It was my first time spending 10 dollars for a book, and even then, that was on discount and I found it very expensive. Going forward, I'm probably expanding my budget for one book up to 20 dollars due to finally recognizing the value of a well-written book despite the price. *Babel* was pretty thick, so my money was worth it and it took me a while to consume it.
— It was my first time reading a book about languages and it really validated my desire to become a polyglot. It made me realize how vast cultures are in general and why they say learning a new language unlocks a new perspective toward the world.
— No book has ever challenged and inspired me intellectually the way this book did. *1984* was quite the read, but damn, this was on a whole new level. It was emotionally gripping and so thought-provoking at the same time. Joining Robin in his life at Oxford made me escape yet confront reality at the same time.
— I've never wished for the death of a character I hated so much to be undone the way I did with Lovell. Don't get me wrong, he had it coming and Robin would probably tread into a fate much worse than death if he hadn't struck first, but I did wish it didn't end up that way because everything went spiraling downwards after it. But it was still beautifully written.
[🩵] These characters left their imprints on me:
1. This book killed a lot of my favorite characters, but I'll never recover from Ramy's death. He was the best character here. Truly a joy to read and his dialogues were hilarious. I liked him the moment he appeared. The best description about him: "He knew how to make himself an object of fascination while neutralizing himself as a threat."
2. I really thought Griffin would live until the end, tf. He was interestingly written. I understood his paranoia, agreed with a lot of his beliefs, and ultimately realized why he could never fully trust Robin until the circumstances demanded it. Out of everyone, he was the most worthy to live. But I guess he lived on through Robin? And his ideas were brought to fruition, though it was a little late. Everyone should've listened to him earlier.
3. Evie. Sweet, innocent, dear Evie — or was she? This POS haunts the plot beautifully and goddamn I wish there was an entire book just for her. She's a villain that, though doesn't have much of a presence, you can't help but respect. If she would've lived on, she would've been a true menace — even more than Playfair's numerous inventions.
4. And then there's this woman that did nothing but piss me off 70% of the book until I got to her POV and began to appreciate the symbolism of her character. Sadly, Letty's existence is realistic, which is probably why it pisses a lot of people off so much. There was no saving her; she didn't want to be saved. The system benefitted her, so she doesn't see a need to question the status quo. It's also befitting of her to never be able to understand why Ramy never reciprocated her feelings.
[💛] The following quotes resonated with me:
"The translator dances in shackles."
"...as if his loyalties were shackles by privilege he had not asked for and did not choose to receive."
"He hoped. He hoped until hope became its own form of torture."
"But they could not touch that abyss of grief. It was too early yet to give it a name, to shape and tame it with words."
"If they're going to tell stories about you, use it to your advantage."
"But what do we know of thought and feeling except as expressed through language?"
"...to justify a vice with virtue."
[💜] This interaction was my highlight:
"You mean witchcraft," said Ramy. "That's not natural."
Letty snorted. "You need to meet more women."
Babel was one hell of a ride. I have 3,681,048,261 things to say about this book that I don't even know where to start. Suddenly I understand why some YouTubers post up to thirty-minute videos just to analyze a character or the plot of a story. Because I feel the same way about Letty and the systematic oppression theme of Babel. I could totally write essays, especially on the death of Professor Lovell. But alas, time is a beautifully painful constraint.
[❤️] This book took too many of my firsts, which are:
— It was my first time spending 10 dollars for a book, and even then, that was on discount and I found it very expensive. Going forward, I'm probably expanding my budget for one book up to 20 dollars due to finally recognizing the value of a well-written book despite the price. *Babel* was pretty thick, so my money was worth it and it took me a while to consume it.
— It was my first time reading a book about languages and it really validated my desire to become a polyglot. It made me realize how vast cultures are in general and why they say learning a new language unlocks a new perspective toward the world.
— No book has ever challenged and inspired me intellectually the way this book did. *1984* was quite the read, but damn, this was on a whole new level. It was emotionally gripping and so thought-provoking at the same time. Joining Robin in his life at Oxford made me escape yet confront reality at the same time.
— I've never wished for the death of a character I hated so much to be undone the way I did with Lovell. Don't get me wrong, he had it coming and Robin would probably tread into a fate much worse than death if he hadn't struck first, but I did wish it didn't end up that way because everything went spiraling downwards after it. But it was still beautifully written.
[🩵] These characters left their imprints on me:
1. This book killed a lot of my favorite characters, but I'll never recover from Ramy's death. He was the best character here. Truly a joy to read and his dialogues were hilarious. I liked him the moment he appeared. The best description about him: "He knew how to make himself an object of fascination while neutralizing himself as a threat."
2. I really thought Griffin would live until the end, tf. He was interestingly written. I understood his paranoia, agreed with a lot of his beliefs, and ultimately realized why he could never fully trust Robin until the circumstances demanded it. Out of everyone, he was the most worthy to live. But I guess he lived on through Robin? And his ideas were brought to fruition, though it was a little late. Everyone should've listened to him earlier.
3. Evie. Sweet, innocent, dear Evie — or was she? This POS haunts the plot beautifully and goddamn I wish there was an entire book just for her. She's a villain that, though doesn't have much of a presence, you can't help but respect. If she would've lived on, she would've been a true menace — even more than Playfair's numerous inventions.
4. And then there's this woman that did nothing but piss me off 70% of the book until I got to her POV and began to appreciate the symbolism of her character. Sadly, Letty's existence is realistic, which is probably why it pisses a lot of people off so much. There was no saving her; she didn't want to be saved. The system benefitted her, so she doesn't see a need to question the status quo. It's also befitting of her to never be able to understand why Ramy never reciprocated her feelings.
[💛] The following quotes resonated with me:
"The translator dances in shackles."
"...as if his loyalties were shackles by privilege he had not asked for and did not choose to receive."
"He hoped. He hoped until hope became its own form of torture."
"But they could not touch that abyss of grief. It was too early yet to give it a name, to shape and tame it with words."
"If they're going to tell stories about you, use it to your advantage."
"But what do we know of thought and feeling except as expressed through language?"
"...to justify a vice with virtue."
[💜] This interaction was my highlight:
"You mean witchcraft," said Ramy. "That's not natural."
Letty snorted. "You need to meet more women."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation