A review by gologel
Babel by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I liked the author's writing style and the insights into translation theory, you could really tell how much of a passion it is for her and it transferred onto me. I also liked the unique perspective we take through the characters.

However, there are a few aspects I didn't like. Characterizations as well as plot points felt very often told instead of shown. I didn't form attachement to any of the characters because they felt flat and one-dimensional, two-dimensional at most. Especially

Letty's development from (blindly privileged to) bad to antagonist

seemed rather forced than natural/completely logical to me. 
Also, some conversations, especially at the end, felt too academic and not really fitting for the intimate two-people-setting.
And I was disappointed that

Hermes (in Babel) was basically killed off and the last act of revolution was done by two/three characters we know and a bunch of randoms

. I couldn't care less.

Overall, I liked the book and it offered a unique story, but it also had it's weaknesses in execution.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Grief, Sexual harassment, and War