anxieteaandbiscuits12's review
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Violence, Racial slurs, War, and Slavery
Moderate: Murder, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent
nadia_luq's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, War, and Xenophobia
stellaperlic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
phillym00's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death and Sexism
camillatd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Colonisation, Violence, Racism, and Racial slurs
chronicacademia's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Violence, and War
dragongirl271's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Misogyny, Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Child death
dragon_lord's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Colonisation, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, Classism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Death, Racial slurs, and Suicide
Moderate: Colonisation, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
booksandcat's review
- 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: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Gun violence, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, and War
roseleebooks'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? It's complicated
5.0
Kuang centers it on a specific class going through the British translation institute, mostly through the eyes of Robin, a boy brought to England from China by one of the professors of Babel. Robin's experience of England going through a magical version of the industrial evolution is a way to show the reader the realities of that time and our own. How colonial expansion and exploitation were used to build wealth and power for those who already have it, how "progress" was measured by production and wealth rather than the well-being of the people not in power, and how resistance could be met with indifference by those in power.
There were so many elements and moments of this book that reflect clearly into the realities we see today. There is a lot of discussion of colonialism, imperialism, racism, and suppression. Our own refusal to acknowledge the wrongness of how our modern world was built, harming so many so that a small few can "thrive". If we do not learn and grow and seek to change, to support those who suffer concretely, what kind of world are we perpetuating?
Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Violence, Classism, and Child abuse
Moderate: War and Sexual harassment