daniela_09's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
This is the fantasy and dark academia I wanted The Secret History by Donna Tartt to be.
Babel is immersive, passionate and critical as expected of R. F. Kuang's incredible writing.
Babel is immersive, passionate and critical as expected of R. F. Kuang's incredible writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Suicide, Racism, Murder, Hate crime, Death of parent, Racial slurs, War, Cultural appropriation, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Xenophobia, Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, and Grief
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
DNF at 128 pages
I tried both a physical copy and audio but it’s just so boring 😬 Listened on audio for book 1 and beginning of book 2 but then I switched to physical format once my library hold came in. Mostly wanted to switch because I was having a hard time with the footnotes! They kept throwing me off and pulling me out of the story as they’re read wherever the asterisk would fall in the physical book, which is sometimes mid sentence.
My thoughts for what I did read:
The story kinda feels like an info dump and less fantasy focused-almost like I’m being lectured and talked down to like if the footnotes weren’t there I obviously wouldn’t understand the context. Kuang is very present in the story instead of letting the characters think and speak for themselves.
I was excited about Griffin being introduced and found the first chapter of book 2 grabbed my attention but then immediately felt bored again with the minute detailed lectures and footnotes 🙃 It just made the pacing feel off, as we go from intriguing fantasy to in depth chapters on Robin’s courses.
I understand wanting to call attention to the message/exploration on racism and colonialism in academia but she does more telling than showing which I personally don’t enjoy. I’d prefer to be shown what’s happening instead of having it explained to me in such dense, meandering writing. It only makes me feel bored and the long chapters are hard enough to get through at times.
Obviously it explores important themes and issues but I think it could’ve been done better and focused in a narrower scope(?)! The world building of the fantasy mixed with the historical explorations of colonialism/imperialism don’t mesh well-it could have been better if the novel was one or the other genre, not both.
There are so many other books that explore these themes in a better/more impactful manner (in my opinion) and I’d recommend them instead Babel for anyone else who struggled through the text:
1) Children of Blood and Bone series is great if you want to explore similar themes of racism and colonialism in a fantasy world with magic systems! More adventurous, more showing than telling and stays on theme of fantasy (also with better pacing)
2) Ace of Spades also explores themes of racism in an academia-like setting. It’s not fantasy but more thriller based and set at an elite private school rather than university (but still gives off “evil pretentious white people” vibes)
3) Anything from Toni Morrison-her literature always does an amazing job of exploring themes of race and racism with well written characters and more showing than lecturing down at people
I tried both a physical copy and audio but it’s just so boring 😬 Listened on audio for book 1 and beginning of book 2 but then I switched to physical format once my library hold came in. Mostly wanted to switch because I was having a hard time with the footnotes! They kept throwing me off and pulling me out of the story as they’re read wherever the asterisk would fall in the physical book, which is sometimes mid sentence.
My thoughts for what I did read:
The story kinda feels like an info dump and less fantasy focused-almost like I’m being lectured and talked down to like if the footnotes weren’t there I obviously wouldn’t understand the context. Kuang is very present in the story instead of letting the characters think and speak for themselves.
I was excited about Griffin being introduced and found the first chapter of book 2 grabbed my attention but then immediately felt bored again with the minute detailed lectures and footnotes 🙃 It just made the pacing feel off, as we go from intriguing fantasy to in depth chapters on Robin’s courses.
I understand wanting to call attention to the message/exploration on racism and colonialism in academia but she does more telling than showing which I personally don’t enjoy. I’d prefer to be shown what’s happening instead of having it explained to me in such dense, meandering writing. It only makes me feel bored and the long chapters are hard enough to get through at times.
Obviously it explores important themes and issues but I think it could’ve been done better and focused in a narrower scope(?)! The world building of the fantasy mixed with the historical explorations of colonialism/imperialism don’t mesh well-it could have been better if the novel was one or the other genre, not both.
There are so many other books that explore these themes in a better/more impactful manner (in my opinion) and I’d recommend them instead Babel for anyone else who struggled through the text:
1) Children of Blood and Bone series is great if you want to explore similar themes of racism and colonialism in a fantasy world with magic systems! More adventurous, more showing than telling and stays on theme of fantasy (also with better pacing)
2) Ace of Spades also explores themes of racism in an academia-like setting. It’s not fantasy but more thriller based and set at an elite private school rather than university (but still gives off “evil pretentious white people” vibes)
3) Anything from Toni Morrison-her literature always does an amazing job of exploring themes of race and racism with well written characters and more showing than lecturing down at people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Colonisation, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent
tammyanntchou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood and Death
allisonz6's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Drug abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts
paulibirisqui's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
I'm speechless.
This book deserves all the praises and success (may I say, even more) that's having. Do not be intimidated by it, the language used makes it much easier to get engaged with the story.
The academic side is brilliant. The conversation and discourse surrounding translation, languages, imperialism and colonialism, and the relations between them, is sublime. It's incredibly well developed and carried through the whole book.
The dark side is nice. Especially towards the end, even though there were always small hints.
The characters are amazing, being Victoire my favourite. The different perspectives they have make their relationships richer and complicated. I saw someone saying they were unidimensional. I can not disagree more. They have elaborated feelings and unique ways of facing issues. However a valid criticism is that their union is more said than showed.
Nonetheless this was an amazing read, I heavily recommend it.
This book deserves all the praises and success (may I say, even more) that's having. Do not be intimidated by it, the language used makes it much easier to get engaged with the story.
The academic side is brilliant. The conversation and discourse surrounding translation, languages, imperialism and colonialism, and the relations between them, is sublime. It's incredibly well developed and carried through the whole book.
The dark side is nice. Especially towards the end, even though there were always small hints.
The characters are amazing, being Victoire my favourite. The different perspectives they have make their relationships richer and complicated. I saw someone saying they were unidimensional. I can not disagree more. They have elaborated feelings and unique ways of facing issues. However a valid criticism is that their union is more said than showed.
Nonetheless this was an amazing read, I heavily recommend it.
Spoiler
I loved Griffin so much, I wished he had stayed longer :'(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Hate crime, War, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Gun violence
Minor: Slavery and Physical abuse
jeoonwoo's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
jj_99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Racism, Death, Death of parent, War, and Xenophobia
abbeyreadthis's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Racism, Classism, and Colonisation
Minor: Death of parent and Death
monmondedepapier's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Racism
yorozuya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Slavery, Bullying, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Racism