Reviews with content warning for Rape - Wie viel von diesen Hügeln ist Gold

I think giving this any kind of rating is difficult, only because there are so many elements of this book that I can see will not be of interest to some. That said, for me, I found myself compelled by the story and, especially, Zhang’s writing style. It’s dreamlike and lingers in a way that captures what it feels to ruminate. The story isn’t exactly linear since the protagonist, Lucy, lets her thoughts run free into the hills (to be a little cheesy). However, it does so in an organic way, as she describes her surroundings and the people around her, especially her family dynamics. I was especially taken to this, because it captured such bittersweet moments between family members, particularly between siblings, that left a profound impression on me.

This novel is a fascinating take on the Western (during the Gold Rush) through the lens of a Chinese American, drawing attention to a group whose voices were/are rarely heard. And Zhang did so in a beautiful way, weaving Mandarin into the story so unapologetically, highlighting the lived experiences of millions who grew up with more than one language in the United States; then and now. Furthermore, I really appreciated the queer representation that was paradoxically subtle yet prominent in this space, making clear that queer people have always existed. Really, it’s truly impressive how Zhang managed to place a gentle yet firm touch on the reader. I think there could have been more development on some of the other complex issues that Zhang touches on (e.g., settler colonialism), but I also understand that this is beyond the scope of this book—

There’s a sense of mythos that’s built around the idea of golden hills and a tiger lurking that I really enjoyed. And this book reads like a tiger lurking in the hills, where everything seems quiet, but Lucy will reveal what tigers are really capable of without flinching.

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jourdanicus's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

I loved the poetic prose, and how the story was moved along with more showing than telling. I appreciate how the author explored "alternate" history (not really alternate, because POC were absolutely a part of the history of Western colonization, but their stories were erased and excluded) through the lens of a single character/family. The end and how Lucy was treated as a character didn't sit right with me, though. This is not necessarily a flaw with the book itself; it's probably more to do with what it meant to me as an individual reader. I would still recommend it to read for anyone interested.

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sarah984's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Parts of this book were beautiful and thought-provoking, but overall it was so miserable the whole way through that I couldn't really enjoy it.

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haley313's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

What an adventure!! A true western told from a different point of view. I loved Sam and Lucy with all their flaws. I loved the flow of the writing. The prose was both raw and delicate, delightful to read. The book moved fairly quickly and tackled some gruesome topics. I can just picture the rolling golden hills of California. A truly enjoyable read. If anything, it lost half a point for the brief departure into Sweetwater, which lacked the same depth as the rest of the novel.

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allison_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I got this as a pre-order when it first came out and now I'm finally getting around to it! It did not disappoint!

I initially found this via NYT. I remember the write-up mentioning something along the lines of 'adult Little House on the Prarie with Asian-Americans because the author realized Laura Ingalls Wilder's parents wouldn't let Laura play with her'.

This is such a great debut from C Pam Zhang. She really has the perfect balance of poetry and prose in her writing that takes you on a journey and pulls out the emotions that she wants. She also has this knack of hiding just enough from the reader that it causes them to think something else and then she pulls it back to the reality of the story. That element of her writing is so great since it reflects some other themes that pop-up during the novel. The main characters were amazing too. They were easy to sympathize with, distinct from each other, real, and acted as vehicles that helped propel the story.

I would recommend anyone pick this up!

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tam's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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