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A review by effinalice
Babel by R.F. Kuang
5.0
“English did not just borrow words from other languages; it was stuffed to the brim with foreign influences, a Frankenstein vernacular. And Robin found it incredible, how this country, whose citizens prided themselves so much on being better than the rest of the world, could not make it through an afternoon tea without borrowed goods.” ― R.F. Kuang
Hmmm I honestly have no idea how to start this review. There is so much to unpack here.
Babel enamored me. It's a book everyone should read but not all will like or even enjoy. Babel is academic. It is dense and it will ask you to sit in some uncomfortable truths.
Babel spoke to me on two different fronts. As someone who is bilingual and a person of color so many of the passages resonated with me particularly those about belonging ( or not), about being made to feel like a stranger in our own home. It also spoke to me on the ways in which I am complicit in our system to the violence and oppression of other people of color, and immigrants.
If you're wondering if you should read Babel the answer is 100% yes. If you're an avid reader and wondering if you'll enjoy this then I would need to ask, "what's your primary reason for reading?" If you read for escapism Babel will feel like an academic text at times. So much research has gone into the making of this masterpiece. If you read for curiosity or learning or themes, I think you'll slowly fall in love with this book. If you have a deep appreciation for languages you may also love this book.
I would highly recommend to play "The Joys of Sorrows and Life" by Johannes Bornlof as you read the last few chapters. You won't regret it.
Even though I LOVED Babel. There are some things I wish Kuang would've done differently to elevate the story. One would be to expand the view points throughout the book. We have a very limited scope from Robin's POV.
Babel is an alternate history critique of dark academia and uses fantasy elements by using language and silver to give certain properties to items.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book.
Hmmm I honestly have no idea how to start this review. There is so much to unpack here.
Babel enamored me. It's a book everyone should read but not all will like or even enjoy. Babel is academic. It is dense and it will ask you to sit in some uncomfortable truths.
Babel spoke to me on two different fronts. As someone who is bilingual and a person of color so many of the passages resonated with me particularly those about belonging ( or not), about being made to feel like a stranger in our own home. It also spoke to me on the ways in which I am complicit in our system to the violence and oppression of other people of color, and immigrants.
If you're wondering if you should read Babel the answer is 100% yes. If you're an avid reader and wondering if you'll enjoy this then I would need to ask, "what's your primary reason for reading?" If you read for escapism Babel will feel like an academic text at times. So much research has gone into the making of this masterpiece. If you read for curiosity or learning or themes, I think you'll slowly fall in love with this book. If you have a deep appreciation for languages you may also love this book.
I would highly recommend to play "The Joys of Sorrows and Life" by Johannes Bornlof as you read the last few chapters. You won't regret it.
Even though I LOVED Babel. There are some things I wish Kuang would've done differently to elevate the story. One would be to expand the view points throughout the book. We have a very limited scope from Robin's POV.
Babel is an alternate history critique of dark academia and uses fantasy elements by using language and silver to give certain properties to items.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book.