Babel, or The Necessity of Violence

Babel by R.F. Kuang has a slow pace, and with such an intriguing premise, I felt there could've been a few more exciting scenes thrown in. There's nothing wrong with a slower story, but just a heads-up—you might find yourself needing breaks after a couple of chapters (I averaged about 2 at a time, but the chapters are long). At times, it reads like a really interesting textbook, complete with footnotes. I loved the characters and how real they were, but I wish we got to see a bit more growth in their friendships. Most of the action happens in the last 25%, so be prepared for a lot of buildup. I also wish there had been more fantasy elements, as it felt a bit misleading being marketed as a fantasy book; it reads more like historical fiction with a sprinkle of magical realism.

The themes of racism and colonialism come through very clearly—sometimes so much that it felt like the author didn't fully trust readers to think critically or be able to interpret her message from the story unfolding. The ending made the strongest statement; how colonialism can only end in suffering, and violence is often inevitable for change when the stakes are high. All in all, it is extremely well-written and you know the author really did her research and knows her stuff - which I appreciated. I thought the commentary on translation was done very well through the matching and silver bars and the lessons at Oxford that the reader basically gets to sit in on. Despite my few grievances, Babel an important read where even the most culturally and socially aware readers can take away something of value and I would definitely recommend it when you are in the right headspace for it!