Did Babel Give What It Was Supposed To Have Gave?| SPOILER FREE REVIEW [CC]
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Hey hey! I read her. She read me. BABEL: Or The Necessity of Violence : An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R.F. Kuang. This video has NO SPOILERS. I talk my feelings on the vibes, plot, characters, writing, etc. I also try to describe how this is different than The Poppy War and who this book is truly for. Let me know your thoughts in the comments if you've already read it. If you have not read it, do you still want to after hearing my thoughts? Thanks for watching!
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the big brain move that is Kuang moving from clear, simple writing in a military novel, emulating the quick cold language in war, to high brow, extensive word choices in Babel bc she writes about language lovers like THE CONTROL ON WRITING SHE HAS?????
Kuang is one of those enviously, revoltingly productive people. We're not worthy!
Kuang is the asian child our parents compare us to and wish we were, so young, so achieved. I’m such a fan
i'm excited to dive into this because 'the poppy war' series is really long and a little intimidating so this being a standalone played a giant role in me wanting to read this first. i know kuang's writing can be pretty intense but everything she writes, she writes with purpose and it's great. i'm so excited >w< thanks for the spoiler-free review!
It’s so important to go into books with the right expectations, so this video is so well done
Thank you 🥹
I am definitely intrigued now, as someone that decided to give up on “dark academia” after reading The Secret History 😂 It sounds really interesting, specially knowing is some kind of answer to those books. I loved the Poppy War, though it took me a while to get through them as a non-native speaker, so I will definitely pick this up.
Oooh I've never heard of receiving an annotated book!!!! I wish this was more of a thing. That's an awesome idea! I think you and a friend should send each other annotated versions of a new read and react 😉
LOVE the idea of sharing your annotations so much! You def have me more interested in this than I already was!
I really appriciate the review and I just wanted to say that your joy about the book has made me very excited to read the book. I wish you much success and general happiness in life. Thank you!
This does seem perfect. As an Indigenous language learner/teacher and someone who is super interested in language acquisition in general I am super interested to read this after hearing your review. Literary historical fantasy actually sounds pretty dreamy to me.
This review is PERFECTION.
😌😌
Wasn't thinking about reading Babel but now I might
I was already hyped for this book but hearing your spoiler-free review makes me want to read it even more! I love what I've read R.F. Kuang say about it so far and I think it's going to be a really challenging and interesting book
This review has me intrigued and I love the idea of reading an already annotated and marked up book.
Hearing you describe this makes me SUPER excited. I got my degree in Linguistics in college so language-centered books? I'm here for it. And the fact that it's released a day before my birthday? Excellent. I need it to be August now!
I wanted to read Babel before your review and after watching it im SURE i want to read it. Can't wait until it is released!
Just pre ordered it because of your review. I wasn't going to read it but you changed my mind.
Thanks for this spoiler-free review! I've already wanted to read it, but now I'm even more excited ❤🙌
I wasn't sure if Babel was going to be for me, but you've made me super excited!! I LOVED the school-setting part of The Poppy War and I think Babel is also going to give me the academic vibes I wanted (but found kind of lacking) in the The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake :)
wow I have heard this book is anticipated a lot, and I didn't care about it until now, watching your review makes me want to read this book! I'm still one book left in the Poppy war trilogy but I'm in for Babel!
R.F.Kuang is on my automatically going to read author list. I’m can’t wait to read Babel!
You've talked about this before but differing expectations can definitely sink a book..... so thanks for being super clear on what this book actually is!!! You've made me waaaaay excited for it
Yesss, I just hate thinking a book is way different than it actually is.
I, too, read R.F. Kuang's bio out loud and said "wtf, Rebecca"
Love this commentary! I’m so excited for this book ahhhhh
I never read R.F. Kuang before but I do have the first book in the Poppy War trilogy so it makes me want to read the trilogy by hearing good things about Babel! Babel seems right up my alley and has all the things I like (academic setting, dark, slower paced, historical, etc.) so I definitely want to read it!
I just want to say in advance that I'm sorry if my form comes up three times. My phone has a glitch and it made me go back to the previous page to edit my answers. I swear I wasn't trying to submit more than once.
The book sounds really cool and it's right up my alley. Kuang is genuinely on a whole other level of productivity that I admire. Thank you for reviewing it!
I was a little hesitant about babel because I thought it was going to be high fantasy novel. After your review, I'm definitely going to read it.
this just made me 10x more excited for this book! 👀
I'm so happy for you that you enjoyed this book 🐢✨ I'm looking forward to read this book eventually. Such a spoiler free review is always a good way to adjust ones expectations :)
You're awesome Jess!
Have an audible credit, added this to my wishlist without knowing too much about it… gonna take the plunge
Yay this made me even more excited to read this!!
You made me so excited for the book uhhhh. I would love to have an annotated version! Such a lovely idea.
26?! wow, what am I doing with my life? lol
Imagine pushing 60! 🤦♀️
That’s how I feel!!!
This is definitely one of my most anticipated reads of this year so it's nice to hear you love it so much 😊
Oooh this sounds like my exact perfect read and I am SO SO SO EXCITED. I have a feeling it's going to be my new favorite book. Also, I love your review!! Thanks so much for trying to match the book to the right readers.
I definitely already wanted to read it, but knowing it's less typical "dark academia" makes me even more excited because I do not caaaaare about The Secret History lmaooo
I've been in such a reading slump recently, but Babel sounds fantastic!
Hmmmmm I'm intrigued. I can't wait for this damn book to come out already lol
I have The Poppy War trilogy but haven't yet read it. Babel sounds so good that I may read it first even though I normally like to read authors' books in publication order in case they improve with each book.
I can’t wait to read this one!
Your review definitely cleared up some things for me and i want this book even more than before 😭
I love your enthusiasm in your reviews, great video!
first time hearing about this book and I’m so interested now! I loved all the ideas and concepts you just described, can’t wait to read it!!
You’ve made me want to read it!!!
😌😌
I can’t wait for this to come out
i need to read it omfggggggg it sounds amazing!
When you listed her accomplishments 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Yes! And then some. Just a fantastic book
I died at "And scene" 😂🤣 Girl you're so silly cute.
😆😆
I can’t wait to read this!! Great review and thank you for the giveaway.
loved this review sm, August 23rd can’t come soon enough!!
amazing i'm even more exciteeeeeeed
Love the review! Can’t wait for this book!
This was already on my TBR so even more excited now!
Wonderful vidoe! Personally, this book was my most anticipated read of the year and it did not let me down. It had everything i wanted in a dark academia book, including actual criticism of the very institutions the book centered around.
YESSSSSS. SAAAAME
I'm taking PTO off for this book. I can't wait 😭😭
As it deserves !
This sounds really good!
Just finished this 🧡 4.5 ⭐️. Definitely want to read more dark academia because of this book
this book was brilliant!
I’m going to grad school for French translation in the fall and I’m excited to read this during my first semester (:
That sounds amazing! Good luck this fall
I am expecting to love Babel. It sounds very up y alleyway. About the whole dark academia thing though...I personally define dark academia as having dark themes and academic themes. That is all I require. It doesn't need to be set at a school, and there are plenty of so called dark academia that only has that setting. It doesn't need murder or a secret society or any of that. I want an academic interest in something while also having dark aspects and messed up stuff happening. Middlegame is actually an example of one, because an alchemical experiment is a major part of the story, and the two main characters see the world through numbers and language and that is the kind of thing I am here for.
Entered the giveaway, thanks Jess!
I am sub'd to you.. not sure why I don't see you listed under my subs (I usually have them private but made public just for now just for this). Maybe it's just a phone issue. I swear I'm sub'd though!
I love all R.F. Kuang's books so much! I just read The Poppy War series and I heard about a forth novella to the series (The Drowning Faith) but I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone know if it is out yet or where to find it?
I want to read Babel.
All I've heard for months is it's a Dark Academia book, so hearing it's actually historical AND fantasy -- I am SO there.
🙌🏾🙌🏾
I read an eARC from NetGalley, and it made me feel kind of dumb. I liked it, but I was mostly confused while reading it.
You are hilarious.
Would you recommend this book for dark academia fans??
As I understood this is a standalone? I hope it stays like that. I'm dying to read a standalone fantasy. 😳
Yes a stand-alone !!
I want to read Babel
dang did you manage to sell me on chonk? I think you did.
😎😎
I don't know why, but I assumed it was going to be a super epic, super high fantasy, which I felt meh about. But after hearing you say it's more literary fantasy with light magic and has a historical academic setting? Yes. Just yes. I am definitely excited to read it!
I think this is one of my favourite reviews. I am more than ever excited to read this! Also, I hardcore agree I don't know how RF Kuang manages to handle everything she does. She also did the Tolkien Lecture recently, which I loved too!
Thank you for advising that it’s dark academia without being the tropey murder mystery type! I wasn’t really looking forward to it because I’m not not those type of books, but now I can’t wait to get this book in front of my face!
The whole Poppy War trilogy was everything to me, but I especially loved the scenes at the academy at the very beginning, so I'm very excited to see R.F. Kuang dive deeper into the academic setting (and I also love languages so I'm sure this book will be right up my alley).
Same about the academy scenes at the beginning. I loved those!!
Yesss I loved the academy parts !
I wish the whole of the Poppy wars was just Rin at the academy..
rf kuang is actually insane i can't believe how SMART she is ??????? & i can't wait to read this i just know it's going to be amazing omg
As someone who is currently pursuing a PhD, tries to have a social life and has a nano-channel here on UA-cam that I struggle to post on, Kuang is an inspiration! I need her energy to be more productive! I can’t wait to read this!
I love that you gave the advice to take time in reading this book. Many times it seems we are encouraging reading faster so you can read more. As a person who is not always the quickest reader, I feel like I have been given permission to read for enjoyment instead of completion. Wonderful review, Jess!! I will definitely be adding this to my want to read list.
I'm someone who read the first book of The Poppy War and won't read the others. But this book sounds fantastic. Thanks for your impressions of Babel. 😊
I thought I was the only one! I Dnf’ed the first one half way through but this one sounds interesting and I’ll always give authors 3 chances :)
The poppy war was so good tho 😭 I haven’t read the following books yet only bc I have yet to order them. Sure am going to, reading babel rn tho :)
Kuang sets the standard and I'm so excited to read this!!! I love the way you described it, especially in considerations to dark academia. So many people really just think of it as aesthetic of wool coats and studying but they miss out on the realities of being an actual academic and a POC at that. There had been so controversy in regards to dark academia being shallow and noninclusive (like the aesthetic got the elitsm down) and the fact that this book already seems like a big F*** You to the historically white male academia (still a huge problem today) makes me so excited
The academy portion was my favorite part of The Poppy War. I’ve read both The Secret History (don’t worry about reading it-it’s just elitist people being bigoted and boring) and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, so I’m looking forward to R. F. Kuang’s responses.
I love historical fantasy, so I will be all over this. I definitely want to read Babel now. Exciting!
I liked Susanna Clarke's Piranesi.. what didn't you like about Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? (on my current TBR). TIA!
Glad I’m not the only one who didn’t like The Secret History !
It’s been a while since I’ve read JS&MN, but I remember enjoying it. It’s a big book with a lot to keep track of, but when I think back on it I appreciate its themes on otherness, class divides, and what it means to be English. I’m guessing these parts are why Kuang is bringing it up as inspiration.
A perfect novel?! Honestly, I expected nothing less. Rebecca truly is “god’s favorite” she is exponentially more talented than anyone I have ever seen. I love her so much. 😻😻😻
Great review. Thanks for the care you took in not revealing spoilers. I'm even more excited to read this now. It's great to see you excited about reading. Good luck in your move.
the karen karening was real intense in this one, happy that you had as good a time as i did when i read it
LMAO the karening was out of control!
15:52 Jess, you’re a mess 😂😂 Babel is my most anticipated book of the year! And after watching you’re review, you make me want to read it even more! Can’t wait! Hoping the illumicrate edition is fire, too 🔥🔥
A mess I am indeed 😆
Yes! I'm so happy you loved it! You also described it perfectly. I got an arc at the store and now I'm forcing it on all of my coworkers
👏📚 because it deserves to sell all the copies ❤️
I just finished it and I loved it! I agree everyone should read the author’s note. I loved the characters. I loved the academia. I loved the silver work. I loved the action! The pacing! The libraries! The pastry shops! I want a scone! Great review! I subscribed to your channel!
omg! I'm so excited for this book, I'm really interested in the discussions it presents :) I'm so glad you loved it, I'm desperate to get my hands on it when it comes out !
Yay, I'm so happy to hear that you loved this! It's one of my most anticipated reads of the year because I enjoyed the Poppy War, and this is actually more up my alley genre-wise than that series...it's a testament to the quality of R.F. Kuang's writing actually, since I'm not super into high fantasy. It's a relief to hear Babel is genuinely good because up until this point, my most anticipated releases have not been hitting any marks this year.
I have 60 pages left in my ARC and LET ME TELL YOU, this book is incredible! I don’t want it to end 😭
I just found your channel and I already love you 😂😂😂💛 Oh my gosh! I’m reading this right now and I’m THRIVING. It’s so good!!!
so excited to read this book! this made me wanna read it more
Thanks for this! I appreciate your letting us know at the beginning you wouldn't spoil. Lately I've been going into books knowing as little as possible, beyond basic tropes. This looks good good. :)
6:59 PERFECT NOVEL YOU SAY...EEEEPPPP I'M EXCITED 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Now, I was already way too damn eager to read this, but after this review I really can't contain my excitement anymore. This sounds like it is going to be everything I wanted it to be and more. What did we do to deserve R.F. Kuang?!?! ❤🔥
I have been DYING for this book! I've heard so many great things... but GIRL.. the way you made me wait to know what you thought! I was like "TELL MEEEEE!" So happy you enjoyed it! I'm even more excited now. I start my PhD in August so an academic setting is exactly what I NEED
This was so helpful! I was waiting for more details about this book without reading the blurb and you came thruuuuuu thank you! Also I cackled at you "Babel-ing" LOL great review!
Hey Jess, this was my first video of yours I’ve seen and I’m HOOKED. Love your energy and enthusiasm, hit subscribe straight away. Will also be looking to get Babel ASAP. As I’m from the UK Oxford is not that far from me!! Thank you for a great vid and super review. Looking forward to more your content. Yours Debbie from UK
i've been craving a proper dark academia book, most of the popular ones have been a disappointment but i am super excited to get my hands on this once it is released!