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Have you read Babel by R.F. Kuang? Did you like it? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 1 week ago by howler@lemmy.zip to c/books@lemmy.ml

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I'm trying to find any redeemable qualities that make me feel better for the time I spent reading it. I could have put it down, but the raving reviews made me think that it would get better.

It didn't.

I loathed it. With passion.

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[–] Bldck@beehaw.org 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I thought the linguistics part was great. Super fascinating and in depth and well explored.

The magic, historical fantasy and basically the rest of the book was awful.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Can you elaborate on the aspects you found awful?

[–] Bldck@beehaw.org 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Honestly, I read the book 2 years ago. I rarely review books when I read them, but this book I took the time to write one.

Like I said, the academic linguistics side of this was fascinating. I still refer back to the lesson on translation the word ciao and how complex one word is. Before you even get to tone, content, sentence structure or any of the other complexities of language.

The magic side of it felt shoehorned into the book to make writing a conclusion easier. As you read it, imagine removing the magic and the plot is guided by less arcane happenings. How much could happen with just the bureaucracy, imperialism and capitalism?

Let alone… this is a world with literal magic. And history happened exactly as the real world? No difference except shellfish at a ball in the 1800s

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 4 points 1 week ago

Thanks for taking the time.

[–] howler@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

THAT'S IT. That's how I feel hahahha. Also the characters, good God, they were like flour.