Babel - R.F. Kuang

⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Beans)

This is an incredible, alternative, magical history book about Empire, translation, languages, and revolution. Interestingly, the thing that got me into this book - apart from all the hype - was my friend telling me that he thinks every bible college student should be required to read this as a prerequisite. 

This is a long, expansive book. It covers many years, different seasons, and a few continents. It has many great, complex characters. I feel like Kuang writes complexity really well and helps us to see the world as more than black and white and helps us shift our dualistic mindset. 

There was a lot I loved in this book. The translation and interpretation part was probably the biggest. There’s a line that goes something like “every translation is a betrayal of the original text” and ya, that seems obvious. But in terms of biblical study and interpretation it really makes you think about what our reading of scripture means. I kept going back to the bible throughout this whole book, which is a big win in my books cause I don’t think about the bible on my own that much. There is just so much nuance and distance and barriers to where we are and the bible that it is foolish to think we somehow have a “clear” reading of scripture and that we have it all right. 

She also writes the revolution really well. I often think of it as this big, exciting action of overthrowing the government by storming a building or something like that. But really it’s kind of mundane and lies within our everyday lives and actions. Mother Teresa once said something like, if you want to change the world, go home and love your family. It’s as simple as that. 

Anyway, really loved this book. Really made me think a lot. And it was cool to consult a few of my Chinese speaking and language loving friends throughout.