During Korea's colonization by Japan, during the struggle for independence, during World War II, during the time of struggles between the communists and those wanting a free Korea, author Kim intertwines the lives of beggars, courtesans, military personnel and businessmen.
…more Jade, a young girl sold into courtesan training, and JungHo, an orphan beggar from the country, meet, become friends, helpers, and wishful lovers, adversaries, antagonists, but often thinking about and dreaming about each other. Surrounding Jade and JungHo are Jade's fellow courtesans and madame, and JungHo's gang of fellow orphans and thieves. Both main characters develop into enterprising young adults, Jade a widely known actress, and JungHo a trusted protector of a leader of the independence and communist movements.
In many ways the story is a tragedy, few of the characters reach their potential and many have rough broken relationships and lives. The novel begins with hunters (JungHo's dad and Japanese soldiers) of one of the few "beasts"' of the wild, and ends again in the wild. Non-wilderness beasts like poverty, colonization, a feudal type stem were larger problems. The writing is magnificent, especially the descriptions of nature and the use of color words to develop visual pictures. Kim also stays true to the stylized and dignified writing anticipated from Asian writers who are true to their heritage. A well written historical fiction novel stays true to the historical facts that helps the reader learn more than those facts. The reader learns about everyday life, the nitty gritty of daily living, the culture. Kim does that well in Beasts.
The timeframe and Korea/Japan conflict for Beasts of a Little Land is the same as that for Pachinko by Lee (Grand Central Publishing , 2017). While not a read alike, the two compliment each other well. Memoirs of a Geisha by Golden (Vintage Books, 2005) provides a comparison with the work and role of Korean courtesans with the Japanese geisha. (less)
