Beasts of a Little Land: The International Bestseller
Beasts of a Little Land: The International Bestseller
byJuhea Kim
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,365 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Korean War History
See all formats and editions
Winner of the Yasnaya Polyana Award * Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize
'Unforgettable' Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, author of The Mountains Sing
As the Korean independence movement gathers pace, two children meet on the streets of Seoul. Fate will bind them through decades of love and war. They just don’t know it yet.
It is 1917, and Korea is under Japanese occupation. With the threat of famine looming, ten-year-old Jade is sold by her desperate family to Miss Silver's courtesan school in the bustling city of Pyongyang. As the Japanese army tears through the country, she is forced to flee to the southern city of Seoul. Soon, her path crosses with that of an orphan named JungHo, a chance encounter that will lead to a life-changing friendship.
But when JungHo is pulled into the revolutionary fight for independence, Jade must decide between following her own ambitions and risking everything for the one she loves.
Sweeping through five decades of Korean history, Juhea Kim's sparkling debut is an intricately woven tale of love stretched to breaking point, and two people who refuse to let go.
Longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Longlist 2022 * Longlisted for the Nota Bene Prize 2023
'A stunning achievement' TLS
AmazonShopper
5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful story
Reviewed in Germany on 6 August 2023
Verified Purchase
I read this whilst on holiday in Japan and south Korea. Interesting read for a holiday that encompasses both countries and showed how much times have changed
Report
Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime
Reviewed in Canada on 7 June 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a work of such astonishing elegance and beauty that it merits all five stars, despite the fact that it is seriously marred by poor editing. Because I skipped the intro and the "About the Author" blurb, I initially attributed the problem to clunky translating. But having since discovered that the book was written in English, I can only remark that although its excellence somehow manages to transcend the problem, the work abounds with not only atrociously bad grammar and "newspaper style" mistakes, but jarringly era-inappropriate vernacular phrases like "the economy tanked," and "It's not going to happen," etc. And worse, the author's casual use of vulgar and even rudely obscene slang in a non-literary way makes one wonder whether she has sufficient facility with the language to properly appreciate the meaning of these words, let alone understand that they are not proper English.
The affected use of profanity in books purported to be works of "literature" has, of course, become so commonplace that it is difficult to imagine what words writers might use in contrast, should they ever wish to convey actual obscenity. But its use is very different here, and the reader gets the feeling that the author is not aware that she is being vulgar, and/or doesn't quite grasp the connotations of the terms that she has chosen to incorporate into otherwise poetic prose. But even if she does, her editor ought to have substituted terms that are contextually appropriate.
Nevertheless, the story itself is such a rare treat that it is worthy of multiple awards for its own sake. Even apart from its insight and historical window into a faraway world which we in the West can never truly comprehend from the outside, the tale is compelling, and takes us in, in every possible sense. It is an Asian tale, written in classic Asian style, which paints with tender poignance the pain of longing and loss, startlingly juxtaposed with scenes of stomach-turning violence and brutality -- but masterfully, and all with the same gentle brush. Were it only written in proper English, it would be flawless.
Report
Shivangini
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Reviewed in India on 28 July 2024
Verified Purchase
Beautiful book with characters that live through the pages!
Report
Elisa Day
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt journey
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2024
Verified Purchase
Beautifully written, with wonderfully developed and memorable characters. The background of political turmoil in 20th century Korea and how it reflects on the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people. It is a deeply moving story, that shines through the complicated political context and complexities of societal and economical changes that follow our characters. Epic book with a soul.
Report
Laura
4.0 out of 5 stars Overwhelming
Reviewed in Italy on 5 June 2023
Verified Purchase
The story is set in Korea, in the years before and after the Japanese occupation. A plot about Korean courtesans, Japanese soldiers, war, love and friendship. 'Beasts of a Little Land' is a historical novel, in which political events and the struggle for Korean independence are the beating heart of the plot. Juhea Kim explores the ideology of an occupying nation from an objective point of view and to this she adds an exciting plot that brings to light the condition of Korean women in this historical period.
The novel follows the lives of a girl named Jade, sold at the age of ten as an apprentice to a courtesan, and JungHo, a poor boy who befriends her. The story, which begins in 1917 and ends in 1965, takes place against the backdrop of a tumultuous century of occupation, hunger, and political upheaval as Koreans yearn for independence. Along the way, we encounter a wide range of characters, including Japanese military officers, famous courtesans, communist revolutionaries, and tigers.
The story of Jade is a story of strength and survival. JungHo's life is just as difficult as he transforms from petty criminal to revolutionary.
From the fragrant rooms of a Pyongyang school to the glamorous cafés of a modernizing Seoul and the forests of Manchuria, where war is raging, the incredible characters of Juhea Kim forge their destiny while betting on that of their country. Immersive and elegant, “Beasts of a Little Land” reveals a world where friends become enemies, enemies become saviors, heroes are persecuted, and beasts take many different forms.
In conclusion, an overwhelming novel in which a chance encounter between a Korean hunter and a member of the Japanese military forces will kick off a fifty-year chain of events.
Customer imageCustomer image
Report
Translated from Italian by Amazon
See original ·Report translation
Marloes
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
Reviewed in the Netherlands on 19 June 2023
Verified Purchase
I wanted to have this edition specifically and it didn’t disappoint. Beautiful paperback and beautiful book as well. Totally recommend.
Report
JacqueF
5.0 out of 5 stars Sad, beautiful story
Reviewed in the United States on 4 May 2024
Verified Purchase
I've never known much about Korea and I'm grateful that I was able to learn a bit as I read this beautiful story. I loved the female characters in the story; the male characters were harder to love, save two. I would recommend this book to those who like historical fiction and those who would like to learn about Korea.
4 people found this helpful
Report
Sandra Iler Kirkland
4.0 out of 5 stars A Story Of Korea
Reviewed in the United States on 30 August 2024
Verified Purchase
This novel follows the lives of three Korean women, courtesans for decades. Luna, Lotus and Jade came to Seoul as young girls, accepted by the best courtesan school in the country which was run by Dani. Dani was acknowledged throughout the land as the most beautiful and accomplished courtesan. Luna and Lotus were sisters while Jade was Lotus's best friend. They received lessons in dance and song, art and music and etiquette.
When the girls were young women, each went a different way. Luna was the victim of a horrific attack and became a recluse. Lotus became a noted singer while Luna was a dancer and movie star. Both Lotus and Luna had men that they loved above all else but no man was willing to marry a courtesan no matter how much he loved her. The men were involved in business and politics as Korea was desperate to break away from Japanese rule.
This is a debut novel for Juhea Kim. She received her BA from Princeton in Art and Archeology and is very tied up in animal conservation. The substory of a tiger which runs through the novel is an indication of her love for these animals. Readers will be exposed to the history of Korea as it broke out from Japanese rule after World War II and became broken into the two Koreas existent today. The women, no matter how accomplished and how lauded were doomed to solitary lives. This book is recommended for readers of historical and women's fiction.
4 people found this helpful
Report
Peimiror
5.0 out of 5 stars Good condition
Reviewed in India on 11 June 2024
Verified Purchase
Got the product in good condition. Cover and Paper quality as expected.
The book so much more than what the blurb tells. Overall a captivating historical saga that explores love, resilience and the fight for survival in a tumultuous time. It's a great choice for readers who enjoy immersive historical fiction with strong characters.
Customer imageCustomer image
Report
Phyllis Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Love andlove
Reviewed in the United States on 1 May 2024
Verified Purchase
This book was wonderful to trad. It explained the history of Korea before and after two wars. Characters were wonderful I cried and laughed at some parts,, but overall loved loved loved this book.
2 people found this helpful
Report
No comments:
Post a Comment