Any novel that attempts to have many interlocking storylines and points of view always piques my interest. This was certainly the case with Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim. Set during Korea's fight for independence and the struggles of World War II, the book follows the stories and fates of a handful of characters, each with their own goals, and ideas of how the world should be.
The Situation: It is 1917, and a poor hunter is saved from death by the very people who are oppressing his country. But a gift from one of the Japanese hunters will set the hunter's son on a course that none of them could have forseen. In another part of the country, a young girl is sold by her family to a courtesan school, and Jade almost surprises herself by being willing to go. While she takes to the lessons, and even finds a friend in Lotus, the owners impetuous and somewhat incorrigible daughter, times are difficult, and one event finds her being moved to another school. It is here that Jade will meet JungHo, and the two of them will continue to cross paths over the next few decades, even as struggles and war happen around them.
The Problem: As Jade grows into a great beauty, eventually carving out a wonderful career for herself, JungHo does everything he can to become worthy of her love. But their country is fighting for its independence from Japan, and the struggle is a difficult one. JungHo agrees to assist a wealthy advocate for the revolution, while Jade attaches herself to a young rickshaw driver, while also avoiding the intense attentions of a Japanese soldier. When war breaks out outside of the countries borders, things go from difficult to dire, and not everyone will make it to the other side alive. JungHo continues to have one focus, and that is the earn Jade's affection, but even that is proving to be a fight that may cost him everything.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in Korea between the years 1917-1965. At the start, the country is in a struggle for independence from Japan. By the end, its resources have been used to aid the Japanese in their attempt to take over China, as well as in the fighting during WWII. This is the backdrop to the interweaving stories of Jade and JungHo, as well as a myriad of other characters. Across four parts, each chapter contains its own sections that often switch between the different characters, often revealing secrets and ambitions that others know nothing about. Despite the character's issues and problems, there is a sense of everything being controlled by fate, as well as the idea that everyone is where they are, at any moment of time, for a specific reason.
My Verdict: I know I have pointed this out many times before, but creating a story that is told by many different characters as their lives intersect with each other is no easy task, so I always admire anyone who manages to pull it off. Kim has written such a story, and placed it during a time of extreme hardship and difficulty. And the characters are not flat, not even the more minor ones. It was difficult for me to not become invested in the fate of each person, even the ones I did not care for or like. I wanted to know what happened to each of them, and what their fate meant for the more central characters, since even the smallest instance seemed to have an effect on someone's future. It is a carefully crafted story that most any historical fiction lover will enjoy.
Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* Luna is Lotus' older sister, and has been dealt a difficult fate. Though she mostly keeps to herself, she secures the future she had hoped for her young daughter.
Favorite Character: Jade is not perfect, but she makes her own decisions and chooses her own way, no matter what other people may believe she should do (which would often mostly benefit them, and not her).
Recommended Reading: Though not a historical fiction novel, I recommend Star of the North by D.B. John, which takes place partly in North Korea.
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