Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

7 reviews

lil_bokchoy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Violence, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Racism, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Colonisation

naomiysl's review

Too arcane. I know arcane is literally in the subtitle, but this was just too melancholy for my current mood. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Racism

spineofthesaurus's review

challenging dark informative sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

lokes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Religious bigotry, Racism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Deportation, Death of parent, Suicide, Slavery, Genocide, Death, Child abuse, War, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Blood, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, War, Abandonment, Addiction, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cursing, Hate crime, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Murder

emmarie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is one of the most achingly beautiful books I have read. How R.F. Kuang writes is moving. She makes you feel for each character, even when you know the character is in the wrong. The ending made me sob as the imagery is so lifelike you can see it like a film in your head. The character development in this novel is sad, but realistic and understandable. This book is worth a read, and I know I will reread it at some point. This is one of the easiest 5 star ratings I've ever given.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Racism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Colonisation, Classism, and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, Trafficking, Slavery, and War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Islamophobia

foxmulders's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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

Spoiler

- he was right. i’m so sorry. but i don’t know how to go on.
- day by day, birdie. you go on, day by day.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Grief, and Colonisation

Moderate: Slavery, Islamophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Homophobia, War, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Sexism, and Murder

dreareads_'s review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I could sing this book praises! Babel is what happens when an expert on their field writes about something they're passionate about. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

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