Scan barcode
A review by sarahdm
Babel by R.F. Kuang
3.0
I have very mixed feelings on this book.
The first half of the book is a disaster. We are introduced to the dispassionate MC Robin. He joins a rebellion group without really knowing why. He doesn't come to his own conclusions or ideas, but is told them. Having to view and experience all this racism through the eyes of Robin is incredibly frustrating as he seems to just have no reaction. Robin ignores and doesn't react to HUGE plot twists and drops of information placed right in from of him. It really just seems like he doesn't care.
On top of this, we are introduced to the rest of the cardboard cut out cast. The book rushes through their college years, telling us how much they are bonding instead of slowing down and actually showing it. We never really learn anything about these characters, not enough to really care about them.
Then we reach the half way point and it becomes an entirely different book. Suddenly, the characters are angry and have conviction. I guess this is suppose to show how Robin grows and becomes radicalized, but its just so sudden it doesn't feel natural. We have a POV change to Ramy who has been angry and passionate the whole time. And its such a breath of fresh air I almost wish the first half had been from his perspective. We finally get to understand these characters, really learn who they are but we are already half way through the book. Its too late. I just don't care enough! Why have we wasted so much time?!? We could have been this in-depth the whole time. Then I would have cared more then I did!
I'm frustrated by this book because it is so good. Etymology as the source of its magic system is so interesting and cool. The injustices surrounding that magic system and the setting make the story so engaging. The writing is so beautiful and insightful. The end is PERFECT. I mean, stunning. And yet, we had to experience all of this through the eyes of a bunch of cardboard standees for characters.
On top of this, the footnotes. The FUCKING footnotes. Why does the author think that the reader is so stupid that they can't infer information from the context of the text? I really don't need you to annotate "by the way this is racist." Yes I know babe, you have it right there in the page. It completely disrupts the story and adds almost nothing, and even if it did, she could have just added it to the text!
I like this book. I really do. Its a weird mix of Harry Potter and Inkheart with a heavy dose of dark academia and social justice. This book hits its target, but it just misses the bull's eyes. I don't know what it needs, maybe 2 extra books to expand on the characters and not just rush through their college years. Maybe it needed to switch perspectives more so we didn't have to just hang out with dispassionate Robin the whole time.
I picked this up because The Poppy War is on my to read list but Libby gave me a skip the line pass for Babel. I think I will still check out Poppy War but Babel has seriously put a bad taste in my mouth for this author.
The first half of the book is a disaster. We are introduced to the dispassionate MC Robin. He joins a rebellion group without really knowing why. He doesn't come to his own conclusions or ideas, but is told them. Having to view and experience all this racism through the eyes of Robin is incredibly frustrating as he seems to just have no reaction. Robin ignores and doesn't react to HUGE plot twists and drops of information placed right in from of him. It really just seems like he doesn't care.
On top of this, we are introduced to the rest of the cardboard cut out cast. The book rushes through their college years, telling us how much they are bonding instead of slowing down and actually showing it. We never really learn anything about these characters, not enough to really care about them.
Then we reach the half way point and it becomes an entirely different book. Suddenly, the characters are angry and have conviction. I guess this is suppose to show how Robin grows and becomes radicalized, but its just so sudden it doesn't feel natural. We have a POV change to Ramy who has been angry and passionate the whole time. And its such a breath of fresh air I almost wish the first half had been from his perspective. We finally get to understand these characters, really learn who they are but we are already half way through the book. Its too late. I just don't care enough! Why have we wasted so much time?!? We could have been this in-depth the whole time. Then I would have cared more then I did!
I'm frustrated by this book because it is so good. Etymology as the source of its magic system is so interesting and cool. The injustices surrounding that magic system and the setting make the story so engaging. The writing is so beautiful and insightful. The end is PERFECT. I mean, stunning. And yet, we had to experience all of this through the eyes of a bunch of cardboard standees for characters.
On top of this, the footnotes. The FUCKING footnotes. Why does the author think that the reader is so stupid that they can't infer information from the context of the text? I really don't need you to annotate "by the way this is racist." Yes I know babe, you have it right there in the page. It completely disrupts the story and adds almost nothing, and even if it did, she could have just added it to the text!
I like this book. I really do. Its a weird mix of Harry Potter and Inkheart with a heavy dose of dark academia and social justice. This book hits its target, but it just misses the bull's eyes. I don't know what it needs, maybe 2 extra books to expand on the characters and not just rush through their college years. Maybe it needed to switch perspectives more so we didn't have to just hang out with dispassionate Robin the whole time.
I picked this up because The Poppy War is on my to read list but Libby gave me a skip the line pass for Babel. I think I will still check out Poppy War but Babel has seriously put a bad taste in my mouth for this author.