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A review by kellee
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To sum it up: so many great ideas, with a few flaws. I’ve read R.F. Kuang’s other works, including The Poppy War trilogy and Yellowface, and I think that her ideas overshadow the characters in all of her books. I agree with some reviewers that Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty are one-note, but that doesn’t mean they’re not complex characters. They inhabit the ideas of racism, classicism, tokenism, imperialism, colonialism; they’re just too small for such big ideas.
Then of course there’s the whole language/translation aspect. I really liked the concept of two words and their shades of meaning that create power. Of course, you could nitpick this to death and the idea falls apart easily. But the concept is great, so if you can suspend your disbelief, the book will read more easily, and it does read a lot like The Secret History. The fraternity, secrets, and things left unsaid all lead to tragedy. The book doesn’t pull any punches. It does read a bit high-minded, but honestly I didn’t mind that part. I liked it’s self-aggrandizing, it’s puffed up importance. R.F. Kuang wants us to grapple with these ideas. I think she wouldn’t mind all the discourse. After all, that’s the whole point of language - to share, to debate, to grow, to expand.
4 stars.
Then of course there’s the whole language/translation aspect. I really liked the concept of two words and their shades of meaning that create power. Of course, you could nitpick this to death and the idea falls apart easily. But the concept is great, so if you can suspend your disbelief, the book will read more easily, and it does read a lot like The Secret History. The fraternity, secrets, and things left unsaid all lead to tragedy. The book doesn’t pull any punches. It does read a bit high-minded, but honestly I didn’t mind that part. I liked it’s self-aggrandizing, it’s puffed up importance. R.F. Kuang wants us to grapple with these ideas. I think she wouldn’t mind all the discourse. After all, that’s the whole point of language - to share, to debate, to grow, to expand.
4 stars.