Scan barcode
A review by thatgirlwho_reads
Babel by R.F. Kuang
5.0
Wow wow wow. This book blew me away!! It is such an intelligent, deeply important and well crafted piece of literature. Kuang explains complex concepts of culture and colonialism in a fascinating and accessible way, everyone should read this book!
I'm typically not drawn to genres of historical fiction or fantasy but was super intrigued by the dark academia setting and the themes of language and translation. I was hooked from the first chapter and could barely bring myself to put the book down. It was so much more than I ever would have imagined.
The 5 act structure worked incredibly well. The pacing may seem a little slow or drawn out for those looking for a more action packed novel. I would say there is a fair amount of exposition however I really enjoyed this deep dive into the language for example. Everything included felt very dynamic and consciously placed for a purpose. For me, there was a perfect balance of world building and plot.
I thought it was exceptional how the novel shifted slowly as Robin's mindset, beliefs and world view gradually changed. I loved that each character represented a different view point, how each of their experiences shaped how they perceived and interacted with the world around them and the challenges presented. It was an absolutely stunning study of humanity. For me, this is what true diversity in literature should look like and Kuang has set an incredibly high standard for others. I hope to see more of this from her and others as this is so necessary.
I went through so many emotions reading this book. It's been a long time since a book has made me feel so much all at once. That is credit to Kuang's writing. Her style feels very smart and self aware but also at times both lyrical and vulnerable. She has a true talent for using words in a powerful and impactful way. I went through a whole lot of sticky tabs as there were so many quotes and passages I want to revisit.
A truly excellent novel. I can't get this book out of my head there's so much to unpack and it has inspired me to research and continue to learn more about the topics explored. I hope this book will become a classic as it deserves to be! Hands down one of the best books I've ever read.
I'm typically not drawn to genres of historical fiction or fantasy but was super intrigued by the dark academia setting and the themes of language and translation. I was hooked from the first chapter and could barely bring myself to put the book down. It was so much more than I ever would have imagined.
The 5 act structure worked incredibly well. The pacing may seem a little slow or drawn out for those looking for a more action packed novel. I would say there is a fair amount of exposition however I really enjoyed this deep dive into the language for example. Everything included felt very dynamic and consciously placed for a purpose. For me, there was a perfect balance of world building and plot.
I thought it was exceptional how the novel shifted slowly as Robin's mindset, beliefs and world view gradually changed. I loved that each character represented a different view point, how each of their experiences shaped how they perceived and interacted with the world around them and the challenges presented. It was an absolutely stunning study of humanity. For me, this is what true diversity in literature should look like and Kuang has set an incredibly high standard for others. I hope to see more of this from her and others as this is so necessary.
I went through so many emotions reading this book. It's been a long time since a book has made me feel so much all at once. That is credit to Kuang's writing. Her style feels very smart and self aware but also at times both lyrical and vulnerable. She has a true talent for using words in a powerful and impactful way. I went through a whole lot of sticky tabs as there were so many quotes and passages I want to revisit.
A truly excellent novel. I can't get this book out of my head there's so much to unpack and it has inspired me to research and continue to learn more about the topics explored. I hope this book will become a classic as it deserves to be! Hands down one of the best books I've ever read.