Re: Babel

Scott Dorsey wrote:

jerryfriedman <jerry.friedman99@gmail.com> wrote:

I thought it was good but not great.  The story and characters were engaging,
and the magic system was original.  One problem was that criticizing 19th-
century colonialism and especially the Opium Wars seemed too easy and
out of date.  And nothing was said about China's conquests or suppression
of dissent.

Or other forms of oppression.

Those problems were EXACTLY why I was surprised it didn't get a nomination.
Because those problems are very much advantages for promoting the book in
China.  That's what I found so boggleworthy.

Seems strange to me. Maybe there's something that only Chinese people, or
people very knowledgeable about Chinese culture, would object to.

A minor criticism is that, after Kuang makes a big deal about researching
Oxford slang of the 1830s, she gives her characters a lot of 20th- and
21st-century dialogue, which I found jarring.

I didn't find it that jarring because I am living in the middle of it, but
I agree that it won't age well.

I disagree with your spoiler, though.

Did I miss a counterexample?
--
Jerry Friedman