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A review by solflo
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
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? No
3.0
tl;dr: i shouldn't have let myself get swayed by the 4.4 star average rating and title referencing the tower of babel. it just ain't good.
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i initially liked the writing style here (with the opinionated footnotes* and whatnot) but it doesn't really read as a period piece to me. and i suppose there is some bias there as all old brit lit i've read is really white, but idk.... it's something about the tone and dialogue that makes the book read like every other character has had access to witty tumblr posts about colonialism. i think the narrator (and/or the footnote writer) being decisively 2020s would be fine in and of itself, but only if it there was more contrast with the characters.
i think the book can also be rather condescending. feels like it was written for a white audience almost? i don't think the overt criticism and dissection of colonialism (et al) is always out of place but sometimes i was just like 'yeah yeah i'm a global south commie i know that already'. of course matters of racism and sexism will cling to these characters, i know that damn well, but it feels monotonous and heavyhanded when the book just constantly repeats itself like this.
but i could grow to tolerate that. what i truly disliked was the characterization — or lack thereof. the characters just feel unsubstantial, like they'll disappear like they were never there at all as soon as i take my eyes off them. my interest waned as the supporting characters and the interpersonal relationships just never took off. and since the story takes forever to really start shaping itself up i had nothing to cling to, and the plot heavy parts felt uninteresting. i found the book grating and just really wanted to get it over with and move on to something more flavorful.
* i've seen many reviews criticize the footnotes, and i'm of two minds about them. several are fine, even good, in particular the ones that are short tangents on the characters and setting. some however feel intrusive, which stems from the condescension issue — the little political commentary quips are not incorrect, but voicing subtext i'm already well aware of.
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i initially liked the writing style here (with the opinionated footnotes* and whatnot) but it doesn't really read as a period piece to me. and i suppose there is some bias there as all old brit lit i've read is really white, but idk.... it's something about the tone and dialogue that makes the book read like every other character has had access to witty tumblr posts about colonialism. i think the narrator (and/or the footnote writer) being decisively 2020s would be fine in and of itself, but only if it there was more contrast with the characters.
i think the book can also be rather condescending. feels like it was written for a white audience almost? i don't think the overt criticism and dissection of colonialism (et al) is always out of place but sometimes i was just like 'yeah yeah i'm a global south commie i know that already'. of course matters of racism and sexism will cling to these characters, i know that damn well, but it feels monotonous and heavyhanded when the book just constantly repeats itself like this.
but i could grow to tolerate that. what i truly disliked was the characterization — or lack thereof. the characters just feel unsubstantial, like they'll disappear like they were never there at all as soon as i take my eyes off them. my interest waned as the supporting characters and the interpersonal relationships just never took off. and since the story takes forever to really start shaping itself up i had nothing to cling to, and the plot heavy parts felt uninteresting. i found the book grating and just really wanted to get it over with and move on to something more flavorful.
* i've seen many reviews criticize the footnotes, and i'm of two minds about them. several are fine, even good, in particular the ones that are short tangents on the characters and setting. some however feel intrusive, which stems from the condescension issue — the little political commentary quips are not incorrect, but voicing subtext i'm already well aware of.