Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim
Juhea Kim’s debut novel, “Beasts of a Little Land,” is a historic epic about the Korean peninsula during the first half of the 20th century. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea and its struggle for independence, this vast national story is conveyed primarily through the lives of courtesans and orphaned street thugs, as our protagonists struggle to survive during tumultuous times. Rich in detail throughout, Kim conveys a strong sense of time and place as her use of setting deftly serves to draw the reader in to the story.
Of the many themes that run throughout the story, a prominent one is the power of connections: How social interactions, even minor and incidental, can come back to prove meaningful. Kindness or respect shown, or the disregard and contempt held, frequently return in karmic fashion. Social capital serves as a valuable currency for survival in a world of power imbalances.
Societal shifts are also a recurring theme. The central protagonists evolve from courtesan to actress, and from thug to revolutionary, seizing on opportunities for upward social mobility. This shifting narrative further plays out in societal changes as Korea shifts from Japanese occupation to a modern but divided North and South Korea.
Societal norms and mores shift, and the actions one took to survive during the Japanese occupation come under scrutiny and censor in a post liberation society, highlighting the trickiness inherent in judging the past by the standards of today.
“Beasts of a Little Land” is a sweeping epic narrative told through the lens of a small set of central characters. The work should appeal to readers of historical fiction, literary fiction, Asian history and character driven epics. Visit wcls.org to find “Beasts of a Little Land” and other similarly themed stories.
“Beasts of a Little Land” is the November selection for the Books & Bites book group. Join Books & Bites at the Blaine Library at 1 p.m. Friday, November 15, 2024 for a time of community and lively conversation.
Reviewed by Jonathan Jakobitz, Blaine Library branch manager, Whatcom County Library System
(Originally published in The Northern Light, Wednesday, November 13, 2024.)