By Sadie Rathbone · started 25d ago · Babel by R.F. Kuang
An Oxford institute of translation magic becomes the engine of a colonial empire. I'll start us off and then get out of the way — there's too much here for one reader.
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 74
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 113
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 74
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 103
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Five stars from me.
❤️ 103
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. It's a quiet book with a very loud ending. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 64
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. Every scene has a door in it. Someone in chat pointed that out and I lost my mind. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 64
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 74
I annotated so heavily the margins ran out. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 74
Our little side-thread on the middle section was the best part of the month. It's a quiet book with a very loud ending. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 113
Read it out loud to my partner in the evenings — highly recommend that way. The dialogue is doing about four jobs at once. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 4
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The prose does that trick where it's plain until suddenly it isn't. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 44
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. I loved how little it explains itself. Bumping the author's backlist to the top of my stack.
❤️ 34
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Would happily do a re-read discussion next year.
❤️ 4
The structure is the argument here, and I don't think I clocked that until the discussion. Structurally it reminded me of last spring's pick, but warmer. Already lent my copy out twice.
❤️ 311
This is the pick that made me rejoin the club, honestly. The secondary characters carry more weight than they get credit for. Five stars from me.
❤️ 34
Read it out loud to my partner in the evenings — highly recommend that way. It's a quiet book with a very loud ending. Solid four stars, and a full five for the ending.
❤️ 4
I came in skeptical and left completely won over. The pacing wobbles in the third quarter but the payoff earns it. Still thinking about that final line.
❤️ 34
Second read for me, and it's a different book the second time. I loved how little it explains itself. One of my favourites from the archive.
❤️ 4
Finished this one in two sittings and I'm still turning the last chapter over. There's a generosity in how the author treats even the awful characters. Thanks to everyone who posted here — made the read twice as good.
❤️ 44
