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A review by caseythereader
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thanks to Harper Voyager for the free advance copy of this book.
- How on earth does one review a masterpiece like BABEL? Kuang has written a book that is both a page turner and a burn it all down, salt the earth indictment of academia, colonization, patriarchy and more.
- The magic system in BABEL is brilliant, and a perfect parallel to the mechanics of British colonization. The translations, the footnotes, all of it occasionally makes you forget that this is a novel.
- As a white reviewer, I can't even begin to touch on Robin's internal struggles of choosing what path to take as a person of color thrown into the upper levels of whiteness at Babel. The pain and rage of it is laid so bare on the page. And I know I have been the Letty in conversations before. Kuang softens none of it.
- I know I'm not doing this justice. Please seek out reviews by people of color on this book, there is already a deep discourse around it and I'm sure that will continue for a long time.
- How on earth does one review a masterpiece like BABEL? Kuang has written a book that is both a page turner and a burn it all down, salt the earth indictment of academia, colonization, patriarchy and more.
- The magic system in BABEL is brilliant, and a perfect parallel to the mechanics of British colonization. The translations, the footnotes, all of it occasionally makes you forget that this is a novel.
- As a white reviewer, I can't even begin to touch on Robin's internal struggles of choosing what path to take as a person of color thrown into the upper levels of whiteness at Babel. The pain and rage of it is laid so bare on the page. And I know I have been the Letty in conversations before. Kuang softens none of it.
- I know I'm not doing this justice. Please seek out reviews by people of color on this book, there is already a deep discourse around it and I'm sure that will continue for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism