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The Black Book Blog

A blog to encourage you all to diversify your bookshelves

2020 Round-Up Series

My Top 10 Favourite Reads of 2020

December 31, 2020
2020 Round-Up Series
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And we’re here…the very last day of 2020. I had to conclude this…wild year with a round up of...

December 24, 2020
2020 Round-Up Series
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This is part 1 of my blog series: 2020 Round-Up. I spent ages thinking about my favourite characters from...

theblackbookblogg

Book Blogger • Writer • Avid Reader
Jeremiah 29:11🤍
📍: 🇬🇧

BOOK REVIEW📚: Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nels

BOOK REVIEW📚: Babel by R.F. Kuang
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨; 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙖 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙞𝙣 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧.”
Generally, I consider myself a smart person.
Then I read Babel.
And it was the ultimate reality check.
Because what I want to know is how? HOW? How does a normal human come up with a concept like this? Like how BIG BRAINED does one have to be?
We're introduced to Robin Swift from a young child living in Canton, China. He's the last in household alive, barely. That is until he's discovered by Mr Lovell, who adopts him and brings him to England. In return, Robin must train to join Babel. The hub of translation and languages. The centre of the British Empire if you will. There he meets three other students, Ramy, Victoire and Letty. A family is formed and Robin is convinced he's finally found where he belongs.
That is until Robin uncovers secrets and is forced to face the truth about the British Empire. He's forced to make a choice. A choice that will ultimately decide his fate.
This book reads like a PHD dissertation on languages. Where they originate from, how they change and adapt, how social, economic and cultural influences can affect them. I mean the book has footnotes! How this was then tied to the British Empire and colonisation is beyond me.
But it works. It works phenomenally well.
Ms Kuang does not hold back in dissecting the ignorance and outright racist attitudes that the British Empire had. There were times when my mouth would drop open at the sheer ignorance from some of these characters.
Albeit an enjoyable read - please do go into it knowing that it’s incredibly intense and the writing is detailed. Perhaps at times, too detailed, which is rather strange criticism to have. I would sometimes lose focus but as a grim and harrowing read you can tell that this piece of fiction is written by a scholar. Someone who took time researching bits and pieces to make sure everything worked when she decided to dissect the empire.
{Continued in comments}

Happy Publication Day to Friendship Never Ends by

A Sunday Bookish Dump - Chapter 4 entitled ‘Let’s live in delusion because this life thing is hard as it is🫶🏾🥹’
I wish I could explain why I took that blurry photo but there aren’t any reasons so let’s just do a What This Week🤩
Reading📚: I’m currently reading Vagabonds and I’m really enjoying it. I also didn’t know it had magic realism in it? Maybe I missed all the posts about this but it took my brain a while to wrap my head around that
Watching 📺: During the week I went to watch For Black Boys with one of my good friends and it was SO good. I definitely cried during the show. I’ve also started my kdrama journey with The Business Proposal and I’m loving it🥺
Listening🎧: I’ve just finished listening to Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan and whew, it was fantastic. Does she have a bad book? Also, I’ve been keeping up with The Receipts and listening to a bit of everything music wise.
Although, I’ve been having serious music discussions about r&b recently and I refuse to hear Bryson Tiller slander. My heart can’t take it.
Looking forward to😍: I can’t lie, I’ve got a ridiculously busy month up ahead but it’s the start of Summer so I refuse to complain🥹
#qotd - what are you all looking forward to this summer?

Happy Publication Day to “IT’S NOT THAT RADICA

TOP READS SO FAR🎉✨ #qotd - Tell me what’s

BOOK REVIEW📚: Raybearer and Redemptor by Jordan

BOOK REVIEW📚: An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses M

✨Author Interview & Review: with the talented Je

MINI BOOK REVIEW📖: Take Note and I Wish I Knew

✨AUTHOR INTERVIEW: with the incredible Joya Goff

✨MY MOST ANTICIPATED READS OF 2023✨ Happy 202

✨MY TOP 10 FAVOURITE READS OF 2022✨ It’s th

❄️WINTERY YA ROMANCE BOOKS❄️ Hey lovelies

✨AUTHOR INTERVIEW with the talented authors of W

I finally got to see one of my favourite author in

BOOK REVIEW📚: You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Th

🍂AUTUMN/FALL TBR🍂 Hey lovelies, how we all

✨4 Faves So Far✨ I was tagged by both @hernov

✨PHOTO DUMP✨ Hi lovelies, it’s really been

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About Me

The Black Book Blog is a blog designed to encourage you all to diversify your bookshelves. My name’s Rachel and I will continue to give a platform to books that encourage individuality of thought.

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