A review by slowreaderpeter
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

Babel is a wholly unique book. I’ve never encountered a fictional work quite like it. This was absolutely beautiful to read, as well as informative, devastating, intricate, intimate, clever, and made you think deeply. It is thematically diverse and yet so focused at the same time. Truly taking a holistic approach to the evils of capitalism, racism and colonialism, sexism, the destructive and toxic natures of academia, abuse, etc. Babel makes it abundantly clear they are all interconnected and systemic. I cannot recommend this book enough. Kuang truly outdid herself with this one.