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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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[–] alloloto@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I read and enjoyed it but it was definitely very "hit you over the head" on imperialism/colonialism, and the ending was kind of predictable.

The Poppy War trilogy, however, I am nearly finished with and I have absolutely loved. It is raw, honest, unpredictable, and very well written. Also long af.

[–] modulus@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago

I liked poppy wars but it was a bit too relentlessly nihilist for me. I thought Babel was, if anything, better balanced in terms of presenting empire as a system where people who are not inherently out to harm others end up doing so anyway.