A review by melanie_reads_books
Babel by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
If I could give this book more than five stars I would.
This is the second book I’ve read by Kuang, the first being the unsettling satirical masterpiece that is Yellowface. Babel, although vastly different, has similar themes: the fight for justice, racism, and setting history straight. I loved Babel, much as it was a heartbreaking story to read.
Being familiar with some of the later history of China’s relationship with the British, there were still some surprises for me. And I thank Ms Kuang for the extensive footnotes, which were a pleasant surprise. Scratch that, I absolutely adored the footnotes! I loved how they blended fiction and fact, making me question where one ended and the other began.
When it comes down to it, this is a book that paints not-so-distant history in new light. When the history we know is written by oppressors, where do we find the stories of the oppressed?
This is the second book I’ve read by Kuang, the first being the unsettling satirical masterpiece that is Yellowface. Babel, although vastly different, has similar themes: the fight for justice, racism, and setting history straight. I loved Babel, much as it was a heartbreaking story to read.
Being familiar with some of the later history of China’s relationship with the British, there were still some surprises for me. And I thank Ms Kuang for the extensive footnotes, which were a pleasant surprise. Scratch that, I absolutely adored the footnotes! I loved how they blended fiction and fact, making me question where one ended and the other began.
When it comes down to it, this is a book that paints not-so-distant history in new light. When the history we know is written by oppressors, where do we find the stories of the oppressed?