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There are currently 18 member reviews
for Beasts of a Little Land
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Margaret R. (Claremont, CA)
Unrealized Brilliance
Beasts of A Little Land grabbed me immediately. The first chapter was elegantly written, with the setting, character, and plot poised to launch a great book. Then the writing continued as if two different authors were writing the book. While it introduced us to compelling characters during a time many of us have not read about until recently, the plot fractured and did not flow well. The people we had been introduced to appeared and disappeared without maintaining their "wholeness" in the story. Who is this? What was his/her background? Most disturbing, was the all too often 21st-century slang, "...so don't look so fucking hurt, moron" and "This is all great, but have you anything else?" The last chapter felt as though it had been dovetailed from another book altogether, leaving the reader untethered and unsatisfied.
There was so much potential in Beasts of A Little Land and I was both frustrated and disappointed that this was not realized.
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Jennie W. (Denver, CO)
Beasts of a Little Land
I did like this book. However, I found myself putting it down and forgetting to pick it back up. The story was good and it had great characters, but just when I was getting interested in one character's story, the story would change to another. I liked how the story spanned fifty years of each persons' life. It was well written and once I did start reading I wanted to continue. All in all, an enjoyable read.
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Ruthie A. (Jersey City, NJ)
Decent Read
The author writes beautiful descriptions of Korea, it's people, clothing etc. Sadly I was disappointed with this novel. The story was very disjointed, with too many peripheral characters. Pacing was erratic, with some portions being long and drawn out, and then suddenly it is eight years later. There were times when modern phrasing/dialogue popped up. I found most of the characters unlikable and flat with the exception of Jade and JungHo. Most were not needed, others were missing - other courtesans in the homes, Silver etc. Characters suddenly had traits (yearning for motherhood) that came out of nowhere and/or they disappeared and only were mentioned again at the end, as if to wrap up the story. Long scenes would be introduced, only to come to nothing. Important historical elements were not really explored; the horrors of the comfort women, the actual war/fighting, the introduction of the courtesans to the realities of their job. It seemed that the author had elements personal to her that had to be included, whether they fit the story or not. The final chapter felt like it came from a totally different book, trying to circle back to the beginning but not realistic. For me the novel felt very disjointed and choppy.
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Scott M.
Strong on the History/Not So Much On the Romance
This work offers some great historical insight into Korea in the years of the Japanese Occupation and beyond. For an American audience, it will offer accounts of actions that few know about and fewer understand. There is an element of romance, but the stronger aspect of the work is the historical environment. A ok read that might inspire further study of the Japanese Occupation, but not much beyond that.
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