sharrikloves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Classism, Violence, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Racism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Moderate: Car accident, Ableism, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Drug use, Death, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
This is an important read, but will be extremely triggering for AAPI + BIPOC readers.spineofthesaurus's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Blood, Colonisation, Violence, Xenophobia, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical trauma, War, Body horror, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Torture, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Deportation, Islamophobia, Medical content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Sexism, and Trafficking
Minor: Excrement, Infidelity, Car accident, Alcoholism, and Addiction
stargazer_ley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Gore, Gun violence, and Drug use
Minor: Ableism
winterwoodbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my favorite books of all time, this feels like my soul.
For everyone who loves Addie LaRue!
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Suicide attempt, Antisemitism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Ableism, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Torture, War, Addiction, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Body horror
criticalbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Deportation, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Chronic illness, Death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Misogyny, Police brutality, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and Sexism
dreareads_'s review
5.0
When I began the book I thought the long chapters would be the end of me but my lordy I am glad I stuck with it. The story is one to make you uncomfortable, angry, and euphoric. It is a clear critique of the racism that still exists in academia till this day and the parasitic machinations of colonialism that shaped the world we live in.
I could spend days talking about how every character is meticulously thought of an presented, how despite the racism in the world the characters were never characters themselves, or how the magic system fit seamlessly with the real world it is set on. I could, but I won't because I think everyone should read this for themselves.
I will however talk about <b> the footnotes </b>, which were my favorite part. The footnotes do not only expand the story and the world, but they are clearly the voice of RF Kuang herself. To me, the footnotes were a character in themselves, filled with sarcasm and poignant criticism that elevated the words in the page. I could've spend hours just reading the footnotes (which is saying a lot since I usually hate them).
Babel is popular for a reason. It is a story that will last generations and inspired discourse for years to come.
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Suicide, Violence, War, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexism, Torture, and Xenophobia
natnat_7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Slavery, War, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Gore, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Ableism, Antisemitism, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Alcohol, and Physical abuse
some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Classism, Suicide, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, Physical abuse, War, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Slavery, Torture, Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault, Ableism, Alcohol, and Deportation