C. Pam Zhang’s How Much of These Hills is Gold was one of my favourite books of 2020 so to say I was looking forward to her sophomore novel is a bit of an understatement. And while Land Of Milk and Honey didn’t capture my heart in quite the same way it is an incredibly accomplished novel that has much to recommend it.

It is set in a near future where toxic smog envelops the world killing most of the crops and animals. The majority of the world grapples with hunger and starvation, except for a private enclave on a mountaintop in Italy where the very wealthy can enjoy meals and a lifestyle now totally unimaginable to most. That this novel is so different from its predecessor speaks volumes about Zhang as an author- she’s no one trick pony whose books will stay safely in a single wheelhouse.

The obvious standout feature of this novel is its food writing which is sizzlingly sensual - the smells, the texture, the visual appeal, and of course the taste. I’ve never before read a book that’s made me so hungry - even for foods that I don’t normally enjoy.

I also really loved the political commentary - the exploration of the privilege afforded to and extracted by the wealthy in times of crisis, a crisis very much of their making, and the moral and ethical implications of this. Is it okay for the powerful and privileged to enjoy a life of pleasure while most of the world suffers or could/should that money be put to other uses that would benefit more people? Trick question, obviously but Zhang really highlights the socioeconomic iniquities inherent in capitalism and their obsceneness. But she also raises the issue of whether the wealthy can do valuable things that democratic governments cannot.

Finally, I loved the characterisation of the main character which was nuanced and with lots of moral ambiguity. She’s not wholly likeable yet is written in such a way that the reader can still feel for her, understand her motivations and relate to her. It’s much harder to find the good in her employer or his daughter, yet they were written with enough depth that they never became mere caricatures

I think the characterisation of the protagonist, the unnamed chef, is a key reason this book didn’t capture my heart. But it did make her very memorable and in some ways I think it takes more skill to create a character like her than one who is totally loveable and who tugs at a reader’s heartstrings.

A very clever, well-executed and thought-provoking novel exploring some of the key issues of our age.

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savvylit's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Land of Milk and Honey is a triumph. An exquisite masterpiece. First of all, it is perhaps the most evocatively sensual book I have ever encountered. Food and the pleasure that it provides are a primary theme and each page is absolutely dripping with delicious imagery & description. Second of all, Land of Milk and Honey is a searing dystopia that raises many questions about ethics in a barren future. Is preserving what we've lost a worthy endeavor? Should we mourn our losses or should we adjust to the potential of an entirely new way of living?

Thirdly, Land of Milk and Honey is also a critique of anti-Asian sentiment and stereotyping in the culinary world and beyond. For one: Francophilia still dominates the industry to the detriment of nearly every other regional fare. Lastly, and certainly not least, this novel is a literary romance that is nuanced, sexy, and devastating. The sensual descriptions that Zhang so expertly applies throughout the novel don't only apply to cuisine.

Zhang's debut, How Much of These Hills is Gold, is one of my favorite books. Land of Milk and Honey has already joined its predecessor as a book that I will never stop recommending. C Pam Zhang is just such a brilliant writer. Her words are crisp, immersive, delectable, and - dare I say - near perfection. Consider me a lifelong devotee of her work.

Thank you so much @riverheadbooks for sending me an advance reader copy of Land of Milk and Honey in exchange for my honest review! I nearly cried when I opened this mail. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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