World Book Club Juhea Kim - Beasts of a Little Land
Aug 2, 2025
Juhea Kim, a Korean-born novelist and author of 'Beasts of a Little Land,' engages in a captivating conversation about her debut novel set during Japan's occupation of Korea. She delves into the intertwined destinies of her characters Jade and Jung Ho, highlighting themes of identity and survival amid tumultuous historical events. Kim also discusses the significance of the tiger in Korean culture and the moral choices between peaceful resistance and violent protest, offering a profound look at love, ambition, and the complexities of human connections during conflict.
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Tiger As A National Symbol
- The tiger is a multifaceted Korean symbol representing freedom, cleverness, mercy, and kinship with nature.
- Juhea Kim uses the tiger to evoke national spirit and ancestral reverence rather than pure ferocity.
Novel Structured Like A Symphony
- Juhea Kim structured the novel like Bruckner's Symphony No.8, imagining characters as cathedral walls built around movements.
- She planned a keystone ending that ties multiple character arcs together across time.
Use Fiction To Illuminate History
- Use fiction to illuminate under-told history without aiming to shame; aim to heal and open dialogue.
- Juhea Kim found her novel brought awareness and healing to readers unfamiliar with Korea's occupation period.
