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aseel_reads 's review for:
Babel
by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2025: 3.25 stars. so i agree with my first review, that social commentary is excellent and the author poses some interesting questions, such as should we fight colonial violence with more violence? how translation can be used to erase people/help carry on the colonial project. unfortuntately, the pacing/length of the book destroyed any positive feelings i have for this book. it was such a slog to read, super dense but not worth it. i couldn't care less about the characters because they were diluted from the sheer volume of random information. for example, there is an excellent section on grief but by the end, i couldn't remember caring about it.
2022: 4 stars. i really enjoyed the social critique this book had on academia, colonisation, empire, knowledge etc. i actually really like the footnotes, there were not too many of them. it was definitely quite slow in the middle and the big thing that happened, i had been waiting all book for it to happen. i think it had a realistic ending and i like the blend of history and magic that the author managed. i do think i didn't care that much for the characters themselves, just their circumstances.
2022: 4 stars. i really enjoyed the social critique this book had on academia, colonisation, empire, knowledge etc. i actually really like the footnotes, there were not too many of them. it was definitely quite slow in the middle and the big thing that happened, i had been waiting all book for it to happen. i think it had a realistic ending and i like the blend of history and magic that the author managed. i do think i didn't care that much for the characters themselves, just their circumstances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism