Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to start the year with a bang and… I made sure I did, because this book is just absolutely phenomenal. From start to finish, you can’t help but be drawn into this world, and as someone who loves languages and who studied languages throughout my academic career, I was not disappointed! This was my very first R. F. Kuang, and I am now officially worshipping at her altar and reading everything she has ever and will ever write - not only is her writing stunningly evocative and lyrical, but the way she handled the subject of colonialism, the intricate yet fascinating magic system, the characters and the found family that you can’t help but root for? She did everything so well, and I can say that all the hype was definitely warranted with this one. ”Babel” is, at its core, a book about violence (if the title didn’t tip you off already), but not the violence that one might expect at first glance. Specifically, “Babel” is a story about the violence of colonialism, how deeply entrenched this system is, how it takes advantage of the people it considers “less than”, and how it doesn’t shy away from committing and aiding all kinds of violent, barbaric acts towards those people, all with the sole purpose of enriching and perpetuating itself. Through Robin’s experience at Oxford, through the reckoning that he must reach not only with his own identity, but with an extremely powerful system that is able to give him everything he’s ever wanted but does so only through pillaging his motherland, Kuang goes straight to the heart of the matter, and shows us that an act of defiance can - and will - start to put a wrench into the cogs that keep the machine running. It’s ironic for me to say this, given that this book is also about how language influences and aids systems of power, but I truly don’t have the words to express the depth and care that was given to the story and to its characters. I will say, however, that I adored our Oxford four (even though Letty turned out… the way she did by the end, and she provided the perfect example of how not to act when people of color talk about their experiences). Robin has my entire heart, Ramy deserved so much better, and Victoire’s last moments in the book made me tear up instantly (”I don’t want to be their martyr, I want to survive, and thrive, and outlive them” YOU. GO. GIRL 👏🏻) Fair warning, this book is very dense, so you’ll have to take the time to sit with it properly and give it the attention that it requires - but I promise you, it’s so worth it!! I’m not sure if there’s a sequel planned, but we do seem to get small hints at one, so I’ll be keeping my hopes up! I just know that I’ll be getting it instantly if it happens.
