Review by james1star - Babel

james1star 's review for:

Babel by R.F. Kuang

5.0

adventurous emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Real quick plot summary as I don’t want to spoil anything and I have a lot to say. Robin, living in Canton (present-day Guangzhou, China), is taken to England by Professor Lovell where he is lifted from poverty but has to agree to dedicate all his time and passion to the art of translation and language learning. This is so he can get into Oxford’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation (which he does) which he later finds is the mechanism for which the British Empire is upheld. When he learns of the ways Babel and the British is using the output of scholarly research, what will he do? Betray his homeland and stay living in luxury… or revolt? You’ll have to see

I’m slightly torn on this book in how to rate and review it. I think I’ll start with my qualm in that there was a certain (and subsequently others) thing that I really didn’t like that happened and, to me, didn’t make all that much sense in terms of what you would’ve thought/hoped would happen. However, the reasoning is later expressed just I dunno!? It did kinda annoy me but Yhh.

Now the good and oh my is there a lot. There is no way you can doubt Kuang’s intellect, knowledge and talent because Babel is truly a masterpiece in terms of writing the facts, references, character analysis and building, relationships, settings, emotions, everything is in my option brilliance. Clearly so much dedication, passion and general understanding on the topics presented in the book were of upmost importance in writing this. Despite being rather long with some repetition, I don’t feel any part was particularly unnecessary and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters, the setting and the inner turmoil and emotions - I wanted to read/listen all day long I was hooked but also scared to let them go too.

Kuang’s craft is lovely to experience on the many topics mentioned above but oh my the way she presented the idea of language, etymology and translation is outstanding. It’s long and does drag on in part but the passion for the art of translation and beauty of language shines through the lectures and discussions that the characters have. There are many exceptionally penned phrases but this is my favourite, said by Robin right near the end (don’t worry it’s not a spoiler): ‘Language was just difference. A thousand different ways of seeing, of moving through the world. No, a thousand worlds within one.’ The exploration of these themes is nuanced with the various character’s approaches but all show an admiration of language and, being a topic I know rather little about, I left like I was being taught. And I was fully engaged.

On to the characters now. Awgh I honestly cared for them so much like, for sure there is a lot of plot but wow the character analyses portrayed is so damn good. They are nuanced but for the most part lovable (well the ones were supposed to are), you get to see each of their perspectives - and I’m talking about the many peripheral ones as well as the four mainish ones: Robin (the true MC), Remy, Victoire and Letty - and the reasons for why they act a certain way, you can understand them despite not agreeing and I don’t think I was left wondering about anything at the end. And awghhhh omfg just wow the relationship and friendship between the four is so beautiful to witness, the found family aspect is just perfection. I loved every part of it and ate it up. They all faced discrimination and question their places at Babel/Oxford, feeling a sense of not being worthy in a way and just loads of things. They needed each other and whilst the bonds were strained at times (this is normal and they later see this), it was just so fulfilling to see their growth and friendship blossom. It was so good!!!

This was my first real fantasy-ish book I’ve read (I think) and to my astonishment I throughly enjoyed the fantastical/magical aspects. Babel is really a multi-genre work including: historical fiction, dystopia/speculative fiction (but more like speculative historical fiction, not like other dis-/u-topias set in the future - I dunno how to describe it but this is all new to me), fantasy, magical realism, dark academia, among others. And when it comes to the magical element using silver bars engraved with different translations to invoke the manifestation of the difference between the translations - I’m not explaining it well at all by the way so sorry but it sound interesting no? I’d recommend giving Babel a read - and whilst I didn’t fully get it to begin with, later on it did somewhat make perfect sense and I totally got on board and was fascinated with the various uses, how they work and just yep… am I a fantasy reader now?? Probs not but maybe I’ll dip into different genres more.

Touching on what I said first about Kuang’s immense knowledge, this again shines through on the topic of colonialism. And whilst this part and the related racist rhetoric is a trigger warning, it does really well to put forward the argument for/against and the attitudes of a few caught up. They add to the sympathetic feelings one has for Robin, Remy and Victoire and I honestly learnt a lot and just got angry at how such atrocities could have taken place. And despite being fiction, there is a huge basis on real life events and political issues at the time. These are threaded in exceptionally well and really adds to the trueness of the story that we are supposed to be reading a history of this revolution sort of - again I’m so bad at explaining but basically I’m giving praise and without the magic bars this could easily be an account of any real event. The idea of colonialism and how Robin (and others) tries to reconcile the privileges they have been given by being at Oxford and in Britain, away from the typical squalor and poverty of their homelands, with the actions Britain’s Empire is doing to ‘it’s’ colonies and other lands. It’s an inner turmoil and again this is so well presented.

I think I’ve covered everything I wanted to say but it’s unlikely because there really is so much one could pick up on in Babel. I did really really enjoy this book and am so grateful to Harper Collins and Netgally for accepting me as a review for the audiobook. The narration was great, with both narrators making the words come to life with varying accents and tones reallly infusing emotion and feeling into the words. So if you’re thinking of getting the audiobook I would do recommend, I can’t fully say the same for the book as I didn’t physically read it but just the story as a whole was great that I would have to nonetheless. So thank you!

Content Warnings