Babbling about Babel, or the Necessity of Violence

Quick Summary

In 1828, during the height of the British Empire’s wealth and power, a young boy from Canton was brought to England. The boy, Robin, was taught to become a translator in Britain’s best translating institute: Babel. Robin finds a home among his cohorts who, like him, had been uprooted from their mother nations to become part of Britain’s scheme of expansion. At Babel, students learn that silver is a metal that captures the meaning lost in translation. It is that very power that pushed the empire to where it stands. Cars correct their paths, steamboats sail faster, bullets find their targets… Great Britain has become exceedingly reliant on silver and the meaning they preserve. And that is where everything begins to unravel…

What I think of Babel

This is a book that I strongly recommend ALL bibliophiles and logophiles (if you know this word OR looked it up, you are definitely in this category) read. Babel delves into explorations of the nuances of translation, the subtlety of racism, and just how much humanity has come to rely upon its of creation. There is beauty and intricacy in every page, made possible only through detailed planning and research that made Babel so beautiful and so very real.

With their every move and every word, Kuang captures the individuality, vulnerability, and precociousness of Babel’s students. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Victoire; laugh along with Robin; and look to Ramy with respect. The way these wonderful souls had to carry so much weight upon their shoulders was heartbreaking yet rewarding all at the same time. I cried and laughed for these lovely people who were so real to me for the 545 pages they lived in.

Discussion Points!

Babel is the perfect book for book club discussions, and here are some points that you can use for you and your club!

• Compare silver-work to modern day electricity. What are the risks? What have we gained?
• Aggressors in racism often don’t realize what they are doing to others, how does this happen? Is there any example we can draw from the books? (think Letty and the men in Canton)
• How does Babel portray academics? Why ?
• Is sacrifice truly heroic? Or is really a show of cowardice?
• Is translating always an act of betrayal? Is there nothing beautiful that comes out of translation?
• What is language?
• What does it mean to belong to a nation?
• Why can’t the word ‘translate’ be translated through silver? Why does it devoid silver of its power?

P.S.

Find Babel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Babel-Necessity-Violence-Translators-Revolution/dp/0063021420

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, feel free to discuss with me in the comments section:D