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jupiterlee 's review for:
Babel
by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will be honest, at the beginning of this book, I did not think that I would get attached to the characters as much as I did and I did not think that my heart would be broken by the end, by R.F.Kaung proved me to be wrong.
At first I found the book a bit heavy on colonialism and I was struggling to keep my mind focused to read, however, I found it easier to track when I switched to audio book, but it is evident from the start that Kaung knows her stuff and she has done her research. Kaung also uses footnotes to add in extra points and this was a pleasant change in format for me as it gave you little glimpses of either the history of the point Kaung made or the future. But honestly, through out the book there are so many themes that you could spend hours fully diving in and analysing it all. This book is certainly no easy read in my opinion, so if you do read it then prepare to feel like you yourself are at babel learning about language, colonialism, etymology etc.
What I loved, was how intwined into real life the book was. Kaung makes it clear that this book does not represent how Babel was and that she has changed somethings, but she perfectly intwines real life experiences and fantasy that I often found myself forgetting that we are not a world that runs on silver. I also found the protests very appropriate as it is an issue that is very current even in this climate: people are truly realising their worth and rising against those who are in charge.
**SLIGHT SPOILERS BELOW**
Robin and his cohort, I just wanted to wrap in bubble wrap and protect from the world. Robin, who just wanted a life and to be acknowledged by his father, his brother, his friends and babel. His character growth throughout the book was evident and he even notices it himself when he is fully in Hermes and others are acting like he used to. I like to believe that in the end he truly got the acknowledgement that he desired from the beginning, even if it was no longer his main objective by the end. The instant friendship between Ramy and Robin was so pure and trusting.
Victoire and Lettie were an interesting duo added to Robin and Ramy and brought their own new laywer to their friendship. As a friend group they are what I believe everyone aims to have in their life, and if you have friends like these you should could yourself lucky. Kaung also did an amazing job of making my opinion on one of them whiplash so much in the opposite direction, that I do not think I went from liking a character to hating them so fast: and I usually find a way to side with morally grey characters but this character I just could not like again.
What I found fascinating is that Kaung had 4 characters, 2 males and 2 females, and only in one fleeting moment was romance mentioned, and even at that it was very brief. This book was never about creating a romance between these characters, but having individuals who shared experiences due to their different races and genders and the inequalities that each other these bring. I think that is a true testament to Kaung's writing that she was able to completely develop these characters and have them live their own lives and experiences without making them entangled with each other romantically but joining them in friendship and that being enough.
If I am being picky, I would say that I would have loved a better conclusion to Robin and his father. Whether that be an actual confirmation/acknowledgement from Lovell or for them to actually have a screaming match with each other, I feel that more of a conclusion would have been nice. But honestly, not having one does not take away from the book at all and to be honest, it probably actually adds to Robin and his development after that. Again, I would have loved Robin to read the letter from Griffin as I was hoping that there might be something in it to give Robin some peace at the end. But this might be me being a sucker for families coming together.
By the end of Babel, my heart was hurting and for everyone. I believe Kaung ended the book in the only way that she could and while the fact that we do not get an actual concrete ending of the result of everything Robin and his friends done might leave a sour taste for some people, I believe it allows the reader to use their own feeling and narrative to decide how Robin's actions impacted the Empire, happy or sad.
At first I found the book a bit heavy on colonialism and I was struggling to keep my mind focused to read, however, I found it easier to track when I switched to audio book, but it is evident from the start that Kaung knows her stuff and she has done her research. Kaung also uses footnotes to add in extra points and this was a pleasant change in format for me as it gave you little glimpses of either the history of the point Kaung made or the future. But honestly, through out the book there are so many themes that you could spend hours fully diving in and analysing it all. This book is certainly no easy read in my opinion, so if you do read it then prepare to feel like you yourself are at babel learning about language, colonialism, etymology etc.
What I loved, was how intwined into real life the book was. Kaung makes it clear that this book does not represent how Babel was and that she has changed somethings, but she perfectly intwines real life experiences and fantasy that I often found myself forgetting that we are not a world that runs on silver. I also found the protests very appropriate as it is an issue that is very current even in this climate: people are truly realising their worth and rising against those who are in charge.
**SLIGHT SPOILERS BELOW**
Robin and his cohort, I just wanted to wrap in bubble wrap and protect from the world. Robin, who just wanted a life and to be acknowledged by his father, his brother, his friends and babel. His character growth throughout the book was evident and he even notices it himself when he is fully in Hermes and others are acting like he used to. I like to believe that in the end he truly got the acknowledgement that he desired from the beginning, even if it was no longer his main objective by the end. The instant friendship between Ramy and Robin was so pure and trusting.
Victoire and Lettie were an interesting duo added to Robin and Ramy and brought their own new laywer to their friendship. As a friend group they are what I believe everyone aims to have in their life, and if you have friends like these you should could yourself lucky. Kaung also did an amazing job of making my opinion on one of them whiplash so much in the opposite direction, that I do not think I went from liking a character to hating them so fast: and I usually find a way to side with morally grey characters but this character I just could not like again.
What I found fascinating is that Kaung had 4 characters, 2 males and 2 females, and only in one fleeting moment was romance mentioned, and even at that it was very brief. This book was never about creating a romance between these characters, but having individuals who shared experiences due to their different races and genders and the inequalities that each other these bring. I think that is a true testament to Kaung's writing that she was able to completely develop these characters and have them live their own lives and experiences without making them entangled with each other romantically but joining them in friendship and that being enough.
If I am being picky, I would say that I would have loved a better conclusion to Robin and his father. Whether that be an actual confirmation/acknowledgement from Lovell or for them to actually have a screaming match with each other, I feel that more of a conclusion would have been nice. But honestly, not having one does not take away from the book at all and to be honest, it probably actually adds to Robin and his development after that. Again, I would have loved Robin to read the letter from Griffin as I was hoping that there might be something in it to give Robin some peace at the end. But this might be me being a sucker for families coming together.
By the end of Babel, my heart was hurting and for everyone. I believe Kaung ended the book in the only way that she could and while the fact that we do not get an actual concrete ending of the result of everything Robin and his friends done might leave a sour taste for some people, I believe it allows the reader to use their own feeling and narrative to decide how Robin's actions impacted the Empire, happy or sad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War