Babel by R.F. Kuang | REVIEW 🎙 | Is Babel worth the hype?
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- A spoiler free book review for Babel by R.F. Kuang. Get a good idea if this novel is for you. If you already know it isn't, stay for the discussion!
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📖 C H A P T E R S:
0:00 Intro / Excerpt
THE BASICS
1:02 What's Babel's genre, setting, and POV?
1:35 Did this book waste my time?
1:49 How was the ending?
2:10 Am I happy I read Babel?
2:15 Is Babel boring?
2:46 What disappointed you most about this book?
3:17 Who is Babel for? Should you read it?
THE DETAILS
3:32 What is Babel about?
5:39 Who's the main character? What's Babel's Plot?
6:44 Did I care for the characters? Is there a happy or sad ending?
7:19 Why was the book a disappointment?
7:38 What's Babel's re-readability?
9:08 Does Babel have any triggers?
THE DISCUSSION
9:20 What does this book discuss?
10:14 Thanks for watching!
10:32 What to watch next!
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TAGS:
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Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!
I have been looking for Babel for so long and I read it immediately after its release. I have to say, it has been the single biggest disappointment of the year. And when I read the reviews from the other readers, I felt like an alien for thinking it, as this book seems to be almost universally beloved.
Personally, I think Babel proves that being a good academic doesn´t necessarily make one a skilled novelist. Where it excels are the descriptions of the pseudo-historical events, the impact of colonialism and the more philosophical aspects of the translation process. But it sacrifices all that gives a novel its heart - the plot and the characters. It´s illogical, predictable and there´s very little character development. The pacing is completely off, the author virtually glossed over months in a single chapter and it definitely didn´t feel like the story took place over several years. Every aspect of Babel feels incredibly imbalanced.
I would also not describe it as dark academia (though I understand this has probably been a marketing decision, as the genre is very popular at the moment) - setting a story in Oxford does not automatically place a book within the genre and the secret society element is virtually non-existent.
My conclusion after reading Babel was that the author had a very interesting premise in mind, but unfortunately, she completely failed in its execution.
“But it sacrifices all that gives a novel its heart-the plot and the characters.” Couldn’t agree more. You said it better than I 😂
@@melodiclaine Well, this one was a very bitter pill to swallow :(
I am loving your review style, btw. Very sophisticated and well structured
It really was. And I feel a little like an Alien, too. I really don’t see how people don’t see what we do. It makes me worry for the future of storytelling. Thanks so much!!
As a person of color, I wanted to like this book so badly, but it was such a huge dissapointment. I think Kuang has some great ideas, but her execution is so lackluster. I find that the book is more like an essay trying to drive a certain point/points home and after a while it's like "alright I get it" lolol. You are spot on about the lack of an emotional connection to the characters due to a lack of development. I saw some people were crying over the book and things that happened to these characters, but I felt nothing, when normally I am such an emotional reader. I couldn't feel the connection the characters were supposed to have with eachother, and they all felt so flat and one-dimensional. It didn't make sense sometimes how they spoke either for that particular time period--it seemed too modern and out of place. It's really nice to see I am not alone in these thoughts! I thought I was crazy for not liking this book since I see all these stellar reviews, so thank you for making this video!
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you relate, too bc I had thought I was crazy for not liking it as well.
For me Babel felt like reading a college lecture. I felt so disconnected from all the characters because of that. It also didn't make sense to me that the use of Silver for magic didn't have any impact on the world, when it should have.
The worst part of Babel for me is that Kuang doesn't seem to have a clear rebuttal for the most obvious criticism her characters encounter. When Lovell defends the use of Babel's translation as academic freedom, as freedom of knowledge, (this is a separate defense from the actual colonialism, it's specifically about the translation of language) Robin doesn't really have an answer, nor does the book. He just says it feels wrong. _It feels wrong?_ This is the best the book can do? Why bother then? Or, rather, why bother with a book on linguistics, which seems to have been chosen to relate to a discussion on cultural appropriation. There are other ways to discuss imperialism in academia without using the vehicle of linguistics, a subject that Kuang herself admits isn't her area of expertise.
Speaking of this issue, she gets facts about linguistics wrong, while insisting they must be so, or skirts over large areas of discussion in linguistics or philosophy of language without a second thought. The most egregious example is saying that math varies from language to language, giving the examples of number systems and euclidean geometry. It's important to note that _this is not evidence of her conclusion._ Number systems are wholly disconnected from what we generally think of as mathematics and serve merely as a framework in which to express these more complicated topics. It would be like saying that certain languages can't discuss particle physics because their sentence structure is different than English. Perhaps it's true, but it's by no means trivial. Similarly, the fact that people have cultural conceptions of space and time that aren't Euclidean doesn't imply that you can't _discuss Euclidean geometries within their language._ Kuang simply has no idea what she's talking about here. Perhaps her conclusion is correct, though it's a very fringe view in the philosophy of mathematics. But the arguments she gives are wholly incapable of leading us to that conclusion.
Which brings us to the footnotes. The narration in Babel isn't consistent at all, it's narrated by Robin for most of the book, but the footnotes are written in a completely different style and are out of universe. Is Kuang the narrator for these? It's... unclear. And this inability of her to separate herself from her narration is something that has seemed to re-emerge with her most recent book. (Especially in a genre where that's a particular problem!)
Which brings us to Kuang's failings as a writer. Aside from her writing being inconsistent and her research being poor, she has issues where she writes characters in a fundamentally modern way with modern concerns. This isn't an _inherently_ bad thing, but you have to be very careful when you do so to not focus too much on historical concerns when you're doing this, using them as metaphors for larger social commentary on modern issues. Kuang absolutely does not do this. Her story is fundamentally historical, it's in the title, it's just a history told using characters who think like contemporary people.
interesting observations!
I deeply resonate with this review! I finished Babel two nights ago, and I have to say I was severely disappointed. Everyone I saw on Bookstagram and Goodreads were in love with this book, and I was too! For the first 100 pages! I so agree that the book was setting up some grand payoff that just never came. And the characters, ah! There were so many times when the book would just tell me "This moment was pivotal for them" or "These friends meant ___ to each other". I want to understand what these characters mean to each other and who they are through the story and actual interactions, not the author telling me.
Exactly!! Thanks for watching!
I finished it today and I thought it was massively overhyped. As with the Poppy War books, all the characters spoke like 21st-century Americans and there were concepts referred to that didn't exist in the 1830s, like "weekend", for example. Robin's arrival in the UK was described like something out of "The Late Georgians for Dummies" - lots of summarising of concepts that are still being debated and would not have been so neatly described at the time they were happening. And a housekeeper would NEVER have called her employer by his first name. If a book is set in the past I would expect an author to make at least a bit of an effort to make it authentic.
It’s really too bad that Kuang didn’t/couldn’t deliver :(
What a good review! You have really good points. I personally really liked the book. I found it in a bookstore by chance, and had never heard about it before. I hadn't finished a book in 5 years, but I really love languages, and thought to give it a go. I loved reading when I was younger, so I hoped to find the joy of it again. And I did. I don't think it's a book for everyone, but it checked so many of the boxes of things that I love. History, drama, language, magic school, tragedy. It's become one of my favorite books.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! She’s got another book coming out this month. You should check it out!
Great review! I liked the different discussion parts you separated the video into. It was a very thorough review 🙂
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
I'm so thankful I came across your video!
I just finished babel and absolutely loved it! I do agree with the flatness of the characters and how almost nothing happened until the end.
I think I enjoyed it the most because I was mainly excited about the language aspect to it and that explains why I love it so much! I also enjoyed how informative it was.
Coming to your review: I absolutely love how u illustrated your ideas you were so clear it was so refreshing. As someone who wants to post reviews in thr future you've totally inspired me. Thank you
I enjoyed the language aspect of Babel very much too! Thanks so much for watching! Let me know when you start doing reviews
Djeez, what an intelligent, well balanced review. Chef’s kiss. ❤
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching ❤️
Wonderful review. I’m interested in reading Babel and that’s what brought me to your channel.
Thank you! If you end up reading it, let me know your thoughts!
Ahh I really enjoyed this! You also gave words to what I was feeling about the novel as well, which was especially nice in the sea of purely positive reactions, but with so much nuance! Thank you for this!!
Thank you for watching!!
I dropped the book towards the very end out of disinterest and always questioned if I should have continued. But it was just sooo underwhelming and the pace just wouldn't pick up. Good to find out that I didn't miss out on anything apparently.
Stopped reading a third of the way through. It was the first book featured in a book club I joined and I'm very disappointed. Glad I was reading a free online version and didn't purchase it. Sure, the author seems extremely knowledgable. Hmm, maybe I could say it reminds me of people who like to let others know they are 'workaholics'. The time I lost reading 30% of it wasn't without a tiny bit of value, but to keep it short I'd say it's not worth a 2nd read. I didn't even get to the half a read point. Participation trophy to the author for sure. 🏆
I keep seeing this book everywhere! Hopefully your review can give me some good insight! 😁
I hope it did, too!
Strongly agree with the review. I really wanted to love the book. Super hyped at the first 50 so pages but it just died slowly. But I’m so confused to why most of the surface reviews are so positive, are they paid “reviews”? I don’t get it.
I don’t get it either 😕
Interesting, I am currently reading this one and am currently one hundred pages in and am really enjoying it so far. I do agree that it is slow but that slow kind of low fantasy (more dark academia I'd say) and that is why I'm liking it. I also like the way the themes of racism, colonisation and also borders/brexit which is quite topical at the moment, are woven in. Interesting to hear your thoughts though! I wonder if by the end of it I will feel the same or continue liking it, as I am still very much at the beginning
I hope you enjoy it more than me bc it’s no fun being disappointed, so I am very interested in your thoughts upon completion. If you’re not making a video on it, please be sure to let me know!
Ok. I was looking forward to reading Babel and… now I’m not so sure. 😂
I’ll let you know my thoughts after I finish it! Thanks for a well prepped review. 🙌
Please do let me know!
The characters were as interesting as mayonnaise covered cardboard. Felt like an essay more than a fiction. Also for a standalone novel it still felt too long.
there are rumors that there might be another 😣
Hadn't heard of this one before, good to know!
Great review! I was really curious about the book, but I think I would have a similar reaction to yours. This book has been so hyped, and it sounds like there is a lot to love, but maybe it is a slow, quiet book that would have benefitted more from being discovered by chance in a bookstore or library than being shoved in our faces all the time! Anyway, I really enjoyed your thoughts and your energy! :)
Thanks so much for watching, and I agree!
Spot on review. I just finished The Dark History, hearing that Babel is a thematic response to that novel.
I love the way that you narrate your review. You have earned yourself a new subscriber :D!
thank you! welcome to my channel :))
Thank you for your review, it’s very refreshing to see a valid criticism, I only saw people either being highly positive about this book or.. well, white people being offended by it.
I honestly tried to love this book so much because of the themes it rises and how relatable characters sometimes were, but relatability and rising important themes are not enough to make a good story, unfortunately. I honestly don’t understand where all these extremely positive reviews are coming from, I even saw people calling this book a masterpiece, the best peace of contemporary literature they ever read and I just don’t get it.
I wouldn’t say the book is awful though, it’s just way more mediocre when I expected it to be, especially, like you said, after such a good beginning.
And oh dear lord.. THOSE. FOOT. NOTES.
In my mind I for some reason kept comparing Babel with My name is red by Orhan Pamuk, even though it’s probably not very fair considering that it’s not a YA book like Babel and it doesn’t exactly cover the topic of colonialism. But it still kinda reminds of Babel, since It’s a historical novel (based in 16th-century Istanbul) and covers this western vs eastern culture theme. So yeah, strongly recommend it to everyone
I did want to read this book. But what you told us about the ending made it clear this isn’t the book for me. Thank you for a very interesting review.
You’re so welcome! I’m so glad it was helpful to you!
I am currently reading this book for a undergrad critical theory class and I still have no idea how the professor will apply it as one of the 2 main course materials so this was a great little video, thanks
thanks for watching!
I really enjoy your review, and I didn't know about the book. Your narrative is so clear and easy to follow, that I want to watch more of your reviews. New Follower. :3
Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching and commenting ☺️
I have not found anyone talk about this, so here is my personal pet peeve about this book:
Overall I'd say I like the book, 7/10. As a chinese person growing up in Europe Robin resonated a lot with me and I found myself relating to him a lot.
However, as someone who writes stories I must admit that I found the characters to be a bit... well, I guess shallow. My favourite one actually ended up being Griffin because there's just something about his relationship with Robin that I found to be adorable.
I get it when people say that his character was bleak and annoying. But I still think he deserved better than to have his backstory shoved into a footnote. In my opinion that was the one particular thing that really made me put the nail in the coffin, and acknowledge that by the end of the book, the author had no idea how she should structure the end of the story.
It’s been a while since I posted this video, so I can’t recall if I said this or not, but I think Griffin was also my favorite! His death had the most impact on me than any other event that happened in the story.
I think as a white foreign European girl attending university in England when I was 18, this book would have hit so hard!!
I was grappling with how they saw their (and our) history differently. How they were not European and saw me as wierd and other. How fascinating it was I could speak like them, but they were mostly monolingual. And I can imagine the Chinese students (there were many from Hong Kong) would feel this a thousand fold!!
But I have grappled with this. I moved away. Lived in other countries. I know a lot of the colonial history now, other languages. Although I truly see the value of it being told from the perspective of Robin in the book. Maybe it could aid a British audience see different perspectives.
You really summarise why this book didn't work for me after all. I did not connect with the characters. A perfect review!
I like your honest review.❤🎉
thank you!
Love this review I started reading this book and feel stupid because I wasn't sure if I wasn't understand it or is it boring. I keep saying I'll read on because maybe it will pick up soon you saved me.
Glad I could be of assistance!
@Melodi Coda Laine I'm in a read slump anything I try seems boring is it OK to ask do you have any recommendations 😀
hmm, what kind of books do you like?
@Melodi Coda Laine I used to really like true crime now I'm looking for anything.
I would definitely recommend watching my latest video about all the memoirs I’ve read. But besides those, my recent favorites have been: Adelaide, Wash Day Diaries, They Both Die at the End, and The Hunger Games
Woah this was such a great, well-articulated review! Loved it. New subscriber here:)
Hey!! Thanks so much!
You speak so well. I am currently reading Babel and I was wondering why I am feeling that something is off with the writing and the narrative and now I can understand why because of your video.
I know it’s YA but I didn’t liked the dialogues because I felt the characters speak like they are living in our times and this is so weird to me!
the end pissed me off SO MUCH
right?!
I just Loved it. Every page, every word.
I am dropping it mid way... Its not moving me in anyway and feels like a task...
Great review...
thank you for watching!
mte when you said you kept saying "something exciting would happen now, no now!"... while rf kuang's writing is brilliant, this book mostly bore me to death.
which is so sad, but what’s sadder is that not enough people agreee 😭
❤❤❤
It's incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the opposite on sanderlanche
Lol same with Babel