(Other Book Appreciation Posts can be found on The Reading Corner)
Oh man.
As someone who’s dabbled with the Latin, Greek, German, and Hebrew languages to varying degrees over the past 14 years, and being fascinated by etymology—the meaning of words themselves—and magic systems rooted in the power and promise of words, Babel was such a delightful read.
This book by R. F. Kuang has been on my shelf for a while now, often somewhere in the middle of my TBR pile. I wanted to read it because I’d heard such good things about it from the literary community, but another book always managed to take its place. Then a dear friend suggested we hold each other accountable and read through it this month. So, here we are. Friendship, accountability, and impromptu book clubs are wonderful things.
In this alternate history filled with an intricate magic system based on beautiful, meaningful words, Ms. Kuang doesn’t shy away from writing about the uglier, horrible aspects of the 19th Century world. Indeed, much of the conflict in Babel is built around such things.
Colonialism. Social, racial, and economic inequality and injustice. Prejudice. Racism. Tyranny. Oppression.
In some ways, Babel is a reflection of our own times, because these conflict-drivers still exist.
So too do the means to stand against such things and strive to change the world, one small step at a time.
Friendship. Bravery. Kindness. Scholarship. Speaking out against tyranny and oppression not because it is beneficial to one’s health and safety, but because it is right. And that is no small thing.
In Babel, Ms. Kuang reminds readers (among other important things) that language is a gift and that no translation from one language to another is perfect. Things will be lost along the way. Deeper meanings of words and their subtle nuances.
But for those people who truly seek to understand and know the culture and language and the people who speak it—with no ulterior motives for learning such things—that’s an important step in the right direction.
That’s seeing each other as people, as human beings. That changes hearts and minds, and such things should not be lost in translation.
Until next time,
Al
