From the Bookshelf of Scripted in Fantasy and Fiction …

Babel

R.F. Kuang

Start date: May 2, 2023

Finish date: June 5, 2023

Discussion: Book Club Chats

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Book Club Chats

[october 2025] alchemised
By ashley , Moderator · 6 posts · 232 views

last updated Oct 20, 2025 10:33PM

[october 2025] the birds in shadowed trees
By ashley , Moderator · 5 posts · 107 views

last updated Oct 14, 2025 04:47AM

What Members Thought

Sep 25, 2023 Jasmin rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

It was thought provoking and terribly depressing. I am having a hard time rating this book. I have some criticisms, but it is also a book that will stick with me.

First, what I didn't love: There was a lot of repetition to wade through; she really wanted to get her point across. Also, despite the book being centered around four people with supposedly deep friendships, the characters felt flat/depthless to me. I feel like she tried to bring them to life, but didn't quite succeed. Which is too bad, ...more

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Oct 16, 2022 Kate rated it it was amazing

This might be the most important critique of academia I’ve ever read. It is heartbreaking. Unflinching in its portrayal of the colonial foundation of the institution and the way that the academy exists only to promote itself, it ripped me to shreds.

It is so incredible that I will be buying a hard copy. (I have it on audible but I need to be able to underline and mark and come back to this over and over.) I can’t wait to read it again.

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Jan 31, 2023 Z rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Dark academia will always be a favorite. This book is phenomenal. I love that it is a stand alone and the whole story is exquisite. I absolutely love when I can read a book start to finish and be satisfied with the ending.

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