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A review by mk_loisirs
Babel by R.F. Kuang
5.0
I was lucky to receive an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley. Thank you! I realized it never cross posted Goodreads so I’ve added it and updated my review.
To call this book a masterpiece is a gross understatement. The way RF Kuang intertwines the magical system with academia, and real history is impeccable. All aspects of the novel felt completely fleshed out and believable. This false history was so well executed that one could think that this is true history. (*False history in the magical aspect of it*)
How Kuang tackles the colonizer-colonized power imbalance through the use of (actual - sorry deniers) historical facts and through the use of language as an additional exploited resource was phenomenal. The portrayal of the key players (countries) of the time period were so vividly accurate.
As for the characters, I absolutely adored them all save for Letty. She is the embodiment of all I aspire NOT to be as a white woman ally. I understand she had "redeeming" qualities BUT nothing she could do in the future could make up for her toxic treatment of the friend group especially Victoire. I hope this serves as an eye opener for those who believe they are doing well when in reality they are not. Do not fall into ignorance, learn.
The novel's pacing and its divisions into different books were sublimely executed. If I were teaching a linguistics class, or a literature class I would find a way to incorporate this into the curriculum. I could write pages and pages on this novel but I will end with saying that you just have to experience it for yourself.
If you weren’t angry, sad and sickened while reading it…I’m not sure you really read it.
The prose, the characters, the settings, the history...all together exceptional.
To call this book a masterpiece is a gross understatement. The way RF Kuang intertwines the magical system with academia, and real history is impeccable. All aspects of the novel felt completely fleshed out and believable. This false history was so well executed that one could think that this is true history. (*False history in the magical aspect of it*)
How Kuang tackles the colonizer-colonized power imbalance through the use of (actual - sorry deniers) historical facts and through the use of language as an additional exploited resource was phenomenal. The portrayal of the key players (countries) of the time period were so vividly accurate.
As for the characters, I absolutely adored them all save for Letty. She is the embodiment of all I aspire NOT to be as a white woman ally. I understand she had "redeeming" qualities BUT nothing she could do in the future could make up for her toxic treatment of the friend group especially Victoire. I hope this serves as an eye opener for those who believe they are doing well when in reality they are not. Do not fall into ignorance, learn.
The novel's pacing and its divisions into different books were sublimely executed. If I were teaching a linguistics class, or a literature class I would find a way to incorporate this into the curriculum. I could write pages and pages on this novel but I will end with saying that you just have to experience it for yourself.
If you weren’t angry, sad and sickened while reading it…I’m not sure you really read it.
The prose, the characters, the settings, the history...all together exceptional.