Beasts of a Little Land audiobook

oh wow. this is not a happy book. its honest and raw and shows how life doesnt always work out the way we might want it to. and its because of that, because nothing happened the way i wanted it to, it made for such an infuriating and heartbreaking story. but thats life. its messy and complicated and doesnt always result in a happy ending. and this story showcases perfectly the specific challenges and difficulties the people in koreas history had to face. and even though im walking away from this disappointed, its only because of how invested and connected to the characters i felt and how differently i wish their lives had been. im going to be thinking about them for quite some time. ↠ 4.5 stars

‘Everyone dreams, but only some people are dreamers.’The 20th century was a whirlwind of change in Korea, from being annexed as a Japanese colony in 1910, to American occupation post-WWII and the Korean war and division along the 38th parallel in the 1950s. Beasts of a Little Land, the stunning debut from Juhea Kim, is a sweeping epic that takes us from 1917 to 1965 as it follows the lives and loves of many characters such as Jade, a young courtesan, and her childhood friend and potential love, Nam JungHo as their lives harmonize across the timeline and endure the whirlwind of history. Though this is less a romantic love story and more about the concept of inyeon (인연), the ties that bind people throughout their lives, Juhea Kim harnesses these interconnected fates to take us on a moving saga where fighting for freedom and survival seems a continuous struggle in the ever changing political landscapes. Deeply moving and with a rich historical context that propels the narrative and sends lives into action or disarray, this is a gorgeous meditation on fate, freedom and the ties that bind us and make life the bittersweet, emotional journey that it is.‘Now that I’m older I know that life is not about what keeps you safe, but what you keep safe, and that’s what matters the most.’I love a sweeping epic, and the criss-crossing lives of exceptional people during exceptional times of revolution and strife and decades of history culminating into important moments of love has a flair to it akin to Les Misérables or even Doctor Zhivago. The novel begins with an important lesson: ‘never kill a tiger unless you have to…. And that’s only when the tiger tries to kill you first.’ This comes as hunter Nam Kyunsoo is stirred into a moment of bravery where he saves the life of the occupying Japanese officers from a tiger who in turn allow him to live. This moment reverberates through the whole novel with these characters returning and their interconnected fates playing out over the course of history. Years later the ‘observant, intelligent, and hardworking’ Jade is sold by her family into the life of a courtesan and becomes fast friends with the ‘spirited, disarming, and confident’ Lotus, a friendship that redirects their lives as it intersects with the hunter’s now orphaned son, Nam Jungho as he arrives in town with nothing but a few personal effects of his late father. While just children, the stirrings of revolution can be felt around them.‘Life is only bearable because time makes you forget everything. But life is worthwhile because love makes you remember everything.’The coming-of-age stories, with Jade making headway into the world of courtesans and her education and Jungho organizing a band of orphans into a bit of a low-level organized crime ring, are mixed into a rather textured political drama that sees revolutionaries and local merchants butting heads or begrudgingly working together (jealousy of one another of a woman being a large impetus in one pivotal scene). Juhea Kim details a complex and varied political discourse of the times, with many factions disputing or trying to coalition build with the aim of Korean independence helping them set aside their ideological differences: ‘ It tied together groups from all points of the political spectrum under the one banner of independence: the Anarchists, the Communists, the Nationalists, the Christians, the Buddhists, and the Cheondoists. He was one of the senior leaders of the Communists, but among their ranks there were those who saw the struggle as primarily between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, the rich and the poor, and not between Japan and Korea, as MyungBo had always believed. The Anarchist credo was that any social order was destructive and oppressive. The Nationalists were the conservatives and some of them put more faith in America than in Korea itself. They also opposed the Communists almost as often as they fought the Japanese. Then some of the Christians were Pacifists, although a few of them had gladly assassinated Japanese generals and governors before putting a gun to their own heads.All the groups believed that Japan would send every Korean man to the mines and every Korean woman to the military brothels rather than admit defeat; their opinions diverged on what they could do to implode Japan from within before that point.’There are scenes of violent uprising, brutal prison sentences that later give way into scenes of war as freedom is paid for in blood over the decades. Characters are courted by various ideological members, threatening to tear apart friendships and lives. ‘Everywhere around them, life was happening without their knowing, and their lives were also happening in the presence of all else. All existences were touching lightly as air and leaving invisible fingerprints.’There is a great deal of symbolism present in this book that intersperses well with the attention of Korean mythology and folklore. The aforementioned tiger is brought up at various moments, a symbol of strength but also something elusive, symbolizing the idea of a united and free Korea. The cigarette case kept by Jungoho, given to his father by the Japanese officer Yamada, is a foreboding symbol that hints at the destruction of foreign forces and reappears late in the novel to close a fate. The image of a divided country comes alive in the many divided pairs that exist within the novel, such as rich vs poor, divided siblings, warring ideologies of capitalism and communism, and most notably, Japan and Korea. The class divide is particularly investigated, and there is a parallel of Jade being on both ends at different points of relationships thwarted by one party being of a social standing that would defile the reputation of the other. Much of this novel is heartbreaking, with lives pulled apart, yet there is the bittersweet romance of two souls ricocheting across history and continuously returning to each other's orbit. ‘The only thing she felt sure of was the firm grip of JungHo’s hand,’ Juhea Kim writes, ‘not letting go.’ The ground beneath these characters, both socially and politically is endlessly unstable and they feel like pieces on a gameboard where national identity and freedom are the stakes.The historical framework functions well to give context and weight to these characters experiences, but the author herself cautions against reading historical fiction for a history lesson and reminds us the narrative is the purpose. In an excellent article she wrote for LitHub, Juhea Kim questions why authors of color are expected to be a history lesson in a standard that seems less expected of white authorssuch as how she notices reviews seem to expect this book to be a dynamic history lesson of 20th century Korea in a way not asked of, say, Lauren Groff’s (quite wonderful) Matrix to be a working education of 12th century France. She writes ‘authors who write a non-white book must brace themselves for some serious othering,’ adding that ‘Asian female characters in a historical era can pigeonhole a book into a weirdly salacious mould and label it primarily as Asian Historical Fiction rather than Literary Fiction, with profound critical and commercial consequences.’ It should be noted that this is less a book about history and more an testament to humanity in the face of history and the emotional resonance far outpaces the historical lessons. The latter is the stage for which the performance takes place, but don’t overlook the actors for the scenery.‘Death was such a small price to pay for life.’This is a gorgeous novel that covers a lot of territory. It can be a bit dense and plodding at times, and it does unfortunately tend to tell more than show through the storytelling. That said, the prose is beautiful and cuts straight to the heart. This is a sweeping epic that lets you feel the weight of history and the passing of decades to paint a moving collage of lives caught up in the timeline of major events. Juhea Kim has delivered an impressive debut, bound in quite delightful cover art, and I look forward to anything she will write.3.75/5‘There are just two things in the world that give you true confidence. One is overcoming difficulties on your own, and the other is being deeply loved. If you experience both, then you will be confident for the rest of your life.’

Sweeping historical fiction that covers decades in Korea. Often brutal and gory but also fascinating and made me realize just how little I knew about Korea's Independence movement. Nothing like a good book to make you realize how stupid you are. I can usually read two books a day but this one took me two days alone so if you're looking for a long epic with lots of characters it's a good read.

A sweeping novel of friendship and forgiveness against the backdrop of Korea in its fight for independence. Emotional and all-encompassing, the characters struggle to find their place in a world filled with betrayal, violence, and unrequited love. But ultimately, forgiveness and new beginnings prevail. A beautiful debut.

❝ I tried to get rid of her but her soul clung to me by a thread. It’s an uncanny thing—inyeon. If it’s not meant to be, you can’t hold on to people no matter how hard you try. Some people you love deeply will turn into a stranger in an instant, if the inyeon has run its course. And sometimes people will be attached to you forever despite all likelihood. ——❝ Jungho didn’t understand much of what was said, but he saw around him the rapturous faces, many wet with tears, and was surprised by the hotness welling up in his own eyes. […] What he now understood was that the world was a desperately dark place, not just for his family and for the beggar boys, but for everyone standing there. Their shared pain reverberated through his body like a common heartbeat. ——— Do you love me?— Yes, I love you. I really do. — Why? Since when?— Why? Because you were you, standing there, and I was also standing there… It’s that simple and that complicated. But it couldn’t have been otherwise.——❝ Everyone dreams, but only some people are dreamers. ——❝ Death was such a small price to pay for life. ——❝ There are just two things in the world that give you true confidence. One is overcoming difficulties on your own, and the other is being deeply loved. If you experience both, then you will be confident for the rest of your life. —— ❝ Life is only bearable because time makes you forget everything. But life is worthwhile because love makes you remember everything. ——There is a Korean idiom that (roughly translated) says: even if two people, in passing each other, only brush their coat collars, it is karma. This idea is the heart of Beasts and 인연 inyeon — human thread — the belief that “connections and encounters between people are preordained,” is the driving force. What results is an epic saga in which every encounter between two people is meaningful and significant, eventually revealing its true purpose in shaping the characters’ lives.Beasts is a dazzling and captivating novel that had my heart in its grip from the prologue all the way to the last page of the epilogue. I absolutely loved it. 🐅——————Midway Impressions:I’m a visual reader - the kind that casts the characters and watches the plot play out like a movie in my head as I read - and this book is a cinematic experience. From the very beginning, I was drawn in by the dramatic and captivating encounter between a Korean hunter, a Japanese military group and a tiger in the dark, snowy mountains. And though the prologue itself sounds like a climactic episode, it aptly sets the tone and foundation for the political, societal and romantic tensions that follow in the rest of the novel. Something I particularly noticed (and appreciate) is how Kim shows us her characters’ vulnerabilities soon after we meet them. Within a few pages, I feel like I know a character’s central motivations, flaws and virtues. This is significant because as I turn each page and begin new chapters, I’m constantly afraid of what fate might have in store for these people I’ve grown to care for — an attachment and feeling that was distinctly lacking when I read Pachinko. Whether I’ve known a character for a few pages or a hundred, Beasts makes me feel like any character’s death would be a great injustice. If you loved Pachinko, get this book. If, like me, you found Pachinko lacking in certain qualities but still crave Korean historical fiction, GET THIS BOOK ASAP. The legends, dialogues, social etiquettes and nuances that Kim describes highlight Korean culture and mannerisms in a beautiful and subtle way. It’s the little things like hearts “fluttering” and not pouring one’s own soju when with company that makes this book so incredibly immersive.

To be published Dec 7, 2021Received an early copy from BookBrowse, for which I thank BookBrowse, the publisher and the author.The story takes place in Korea and starts in the mountains in 1917. We move to Pyongyang, currently the capital of North Korea. In that year, North and South Korea were not separated. A train ran between Pyongyang and Seoul. I love historical fiction because references within encourage me to do research and I learn much. This book is a prime example of one that makes me want to look deeper. The characters seem real and are well described.I loved what I learned and following the story ofJade-a courtesan in trainingSilver-her original teacherDani-her second teacher (Silver's first cousin)Luna-Silver's love childLotus-Luna's younger sisterNam JungHo-an orphan living in SeoulHanChol-a rickshaw driverNam's Father-saved the life of a Japanese CaptainThe story covers the years 1917-1964. Korea gains its independence from Japan upon the conclusion of WWII. The lives of those listed above change dramatically in the course of the 47 years.Very good and compelling historical fiction.5 stars

I was sucked right into the atmospheric first pages of this novel and while that level of literary detail didn’t necessarily hold throughout, I continued to learn a great deal about Korea’s fraught history of war as I read on the treadmill daily.What impressed me most about this book was the author’s juggling ability. She tossed an assortment of colorful characters into the air from the start – all of them seemingly disconnected – and ended up deftly catching them all in one hand, where each, as it turns out, fit together perfectly in her palm. Japanese soldiers, Korean businessmen, courtesans, movie stars, tigers, political protesters, zoo animals … this book has it all!Some of the language is quite lovely and evocative:Time was a winter fog – gray, shapeless, indifferent to his existence.Everyone dreams, but only some people are dreamers. The nondreamers, by far more numerous, are those who see the world as it is. Then there are the few dreamers, who see the world as they are.They were facing northwest, and to their right were the smooth dark green ankles of the Khingan mountains, sloping gently upward to meet the clouds.I would have liked to have seen a bit more depth to many of the relationships, but, overall, I found this to be an enjoyable and historically educational read, well worth my time as I burned some calories away! My overall 3.5 rating reflects a “3” on the writing (I liked it) and a solid “4” (I really liked it) on the story. So I rounded up.Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

“Everyone dreams, but only some people are dreamers.”Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim is a raw story filled with breathtaking prose and formidable characters including a poor hunter, an orphan boy and a young courtesan in 20th century Korea. The talented author explores “inyeon” which suggests that there are preordained threads of connection that tie humans together throughout the course of their lives. A sweeping historical fiction of Japan’s occupation in Korea, telling the interweaving stories of many people during Korea’s fight for independence. It’s a stunning story of resilience, love and life.

Another book I finished and was so glad I finally took it off my TBR. yeah it was amazing, I cried(it was painfully beautiful) and was highlighting furiously. Thanks to Libro.fm and HarperAudio for the ALC “It was amusing how, even until the moment a bullet entered their skin, people refused to believe that they could die—despite the fact that death was the only thing everyone could be certain of getting, sooner or later.”“Love was defined by how much one could suffer for another, by what you were willing to do to protect this person. It was a question of choosing the person with whom you’d like to hold hands on your last train ride.”“There came a point with hunger when even breathing became exhausting. ”“Don’t trust anyone, don’t suffer unnecessarily, see the truth behind what people say, and always find a way to survive. ”“But wild beasts had never frightened her—it was the humans who terrified her with their savagery.”“Maybe you only really died when no one assumed you were still living. ”“INYEON—human thread—and that connections and encounters between people were preordained. ”“ Death was such a small price to pay for life.”“Life is only bearable because time makes you forget everything. But life is worthwhile because love makes you remember everything.”“EVERYONE DREAMS, BUT ONLY SOME PEOPLE ARE DREAMERS. THE NON-DREAMERS, by far more numerous, are those who see the world as it is. Then there are the few dreamers, who see the world as they are. The moon, the river, the train station, the sound of rain, and even something as mundane as porridge become something else with many layers. The world feels like an oil painting rather than a photograph, and the dreamers are forever seeing hidden colors where others just see the top shade. The nondreamers look through glasses, and the dreamers through a prism.”“There are just two things in the world that give you true confidence. One is overcoming difficulties on your own, and the other is being deeply loved. If you experience both, then you will be confident for the rest of your life”“ Now that I’m older I know that life is not about what keeps you safe, but what you keep safe, and that’s what matters the most.”“if you really love someone you say goodbye without ever leaving”