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A review by thexwalrus
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow. wow, wow, wow. i knew this book was going to destroy me, but i didn't realize just how much that would be.
the revolutionary fervor of les amis de l'abc meets the pro-union, pro-worker sentiment of newsies but with a focus on colonialism, racism, and how no matter how good white people think we are, we can never truly divest ourselves from these systems that have benefitted us for centuries. this book took so many elements of stories i've loved over the years, blended them with things i've learned while trying to become a better person, and presented me with a story i will never forget about.
it reads like a well-written academic text from the late 1800s, and i loved that about it. sure, i understand the criticisms that "subtlety is lost here" but i think it works in the greater context. the little footnotes, the little asides to hammer home how truly terrible some of these people we're looking at through neutral lenses are, felt fitting and natural because i was reading it as an academic text.
ramy, robin, and victoire have stayed in my heart since i finished this book. i loved them all fiercely - ramy and victoire in particular - and i was with them every step of the journey. i would read a million more books about them, about their lives and their journeys. i fell a little in love with ramy through robin's eyes, and i think that made everything hurt even more. letty, however, made me want to scream. she drove me insane. she was insufferable at times, but that was precisely the point.
i'll end this off with mentioning how i loved all of the discussions of etymology and the art of translation - especially after finishing emily wilson's translation of the odyssey. i find etymology, linguistics, translation, all of that endlessly fascinating, and i could talk about it for literal hours if any of my friends would tolerate it. this book scratched that itch - it felt like i was in the classes, having those discussions, participating in something i don't often get to. if you love linguistics, you will probably love babel.
if you're reading this because you want a fantasy novel, i think you'll be disappointed. if you're reading this because you want a great story that'll curl up in your heart and stay there forever? this is a great pick.