Babel Book Reviews

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Riveting From Start To Finish. There’s no denying that this book isn’t long (especially the online version coming out to be nearly 800 pages when the original is only around 550). But that doesn’t change the fact that this is GORGEOUS, the prose, the characters, the theme. In spite of the fantastical silver that drives the plot, everything surrounding the plot is so realistic it feels like stepping back into late 1800’s England. It reminded me of a history and linguistics lecture, but in a way that felt like a harrowing tale written by a classical author. This book does an incredible job conveying the horrors of colonialism and what it did to so many country’s (and the impact they retain due to it today). A new favorite of mine and one I will know doubt be recommending to anyone and everyone.

Way Too Long. I like this author and the first half was excellent, but this book was around 300 pages too long.

reality in the otherworldly fantasy. The ethereality of the characters brings surreal reading experience. The novel distills real world issues in a fantasy setting, perfected with archetypical characters. The author managed to mold the story around the characters with their own preposterous point of view, and created something otherworldly, yet perfectly reflecting all the problems and struggles in our real world.

Absolutely Fantastic. I have been telling people about this book since before I even finished it. It is absolutely incredible, heart breaking, endearing, earth shattering. I cannot say enough about it. The author has captured the intended purpose so well, the ending brought me to tears and is a mirror of our world today. I cannot say enough about this piece. I read it online and I will be getting a hard copy so I may keep it forever. Thank you

Words Escape Me. The power of words and worlds collide in this exciting story of hopelessness and hope.

Couldn’t put it down. Heartbreaking while also cathartic. Reads like butter, smooth and savory and lingering on the palate. Robin, Ramy, Victoire will be with me forever.

William Amaranth. Thank you for your review. You took the words out of my mouth and articulated them better than I could have.

An Interesting Essay, Not a Compelling Novel. R.F. Kuang’s Babel revels in the depth of its details. The richness of language is explored to dizzying depths within its magic system (silver-work), broad social and economic trends are deftly dissected, and the horrors of colonialism (and they are horrors) are shown to the reader with cold clarity. After finishing Babel, I had a deeper understanding of peak British colonialsim, with the fictional characters serving as firm grounding that gave image and texture to what I previously had only read in textbooks (and then only as an adult, as my public education didn’t cover colonialism at all). However, Babel is not a novel in the normal sense of the word. Its characters, whether good or evil, are solely and wholly defined by their reaction to colonial society. Some support it, others fight against it, and most are silently complict, but that is the entirety of who these characters are. Details are only added to make sure every character archetype is present: the enslaved or indentured, the lone minority in power that asks students to tough it out, the wicked elite that believes anyone who isn’t them isn’t human. Characters far more often react to events than instigate them, and what few personality traits they have are subsumed by their race, sex, and socioeconomic class Maybe that’s the point of Babel. There is a pervasive sense in the novel that the system perpetuates itself, that everyone is simply trapped within it. And that makes for an interesting essay. Unfortunately, I just don’t think it makes a compelling novel. The characters are too ethereal, too focused on serving their roles in the story, to properly emphathize with or root for. This is a morality play wrapped in the guise of a fantasy novel, and it sorely lacks the nuance and complexity of well written characters with agency to change the plot.

The reading slump afterwards was REAL. Such beautiful work. Obsessed with how academically rich but just as equally engaging and personal this work is. I love reading books which educate me as well as disconnect me from our reality and this amazing story did exactly that

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Will need to read more of R.F. Kuang. I really enjoyed this read. There were times when the story seemed to crawl for me but then it would pick up. This is the first book I have read in years and am so happy that it has sparked my reading bug. What I enjoyed most is that aside from the silver abilities, it is easy to apply this to today. Real life problems are discussed through the characters. Trying to write this with no give always for those who have not read this yet. I give it a 4.5 stars. I would probably give it more but have not read for many years so it was tough getting back into (no fault of the book merely my inability to pick up).

Narrative Hostile and Weak World Building. I have no doubt the author is a fine scholar, but she is not a deft storyteller. Characters, especially the white ones, are cardboard cutouts. The few action scenes are interrupted by etymology detours and footnotes that should have been woven into the narrative abound. Very disappointing.

Babel. As a graduate in linguistics and ex pat, I enjoyed the weaving of etymology and history of colonialism in a Harry Potter-ish setting. Highly original and entertaining.