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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang is one of those books that really tugged at my heart, and/or punched me in the gut. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. The setting, the characters, their actions are rough, and reflective of the context they're in. This novel is gritty, violent, and, in the way I think of lit fic, especially when there's some heavy stuff involving animals. And children.
But let's talk about the writing. Zhang's prose is just beautiful, even poetic. The descriptions, the metaphors - they're a work of art. And those sentence fragments? They're used so darn effectively, adding an extra layer of depth to the whole story that makes the novel pulse in a way that feels alive, or echo in a way that evokes the wildness of the novel's setting.
And wow, there are some twists! I did not see them coming, not even a little bit. The foreshadowing is so subtle, you only really notice it in retrospect. And they hit like a ton of bricks, you may audibly gasp.
Lucy and Sam are the siblings at the center of this novel. What they go through is seriously messed-up, which just feels like an inadequate way of describing it. But what comes through the strongest is their relationship. It's complex and messy in a way that only siblings can have, but they also have a sibling bond, that, cheesy as it sounds is unbreakable no matter what. And which is why I cried at the end. It wrecked me.
I have to recognize Zhang for how she handles the historical context. It's subtle, but the commentary is biting (and deservedly so). And the Acknowledgements? Let's be honest, usually those things are an exhaustive, but very boring list of names that my eyes glaze over. In this case, Zhang makes it feel like an extension of the novel itself, using the same concise writing style that made it feel more personal. And it made me cry too (or keep crying, because I hadn't recovered yet).
Overall, I recommend How Much of These Hills Is Gold, but steel yourself because it's not for soft guys. I can't wait to read more of this author's work, and Land of Milk and Honey is already on my reading list.
But let's talk about the writing. Zhang's prose is just beautiful, even poetic. The descriptions, the metaphors - they're a work of art. And those sentence fragments? They're used so darn effectively, adding an extra layer of depth to the whole story that makes the novel pulse in a way that feels alive, or echo in a way that evokes the wildness of the novel's setting.
And wow, there are some twists! I did not see them coming, not even a little bit. The foreshadowing is so subtle, you only really notice it in retrospect. And they hit like a ton of bricks, you may audibly gasp.
Lucy and Sam are the siblings at the center of this novel. What they go through is seriously messed-up, which just feels like an inadequate way of describing it. But what comes through the strongest is their relationship. It's complex and messy in a way that only siblings can have, but they also have a sibling bond, that, cheesy as it sounds is unbreakable no matter what. And which is why I cried at the end. It wrecked me.
I have to recognize Zhang for how she handles the historical context. It's subtle, but the commentary is biting (and deservedly so). And the Acknowledgements? Let's be honest, usually those things are an exhaustive, but very boring list of names that my eyes glaze over. In this case, Zhang makes it feel like an extension of the novel itself, using the same concise writing style that made it feel more personal. And it made me cry too (or keep crying, because I hadn't recovered yet).
Overall, I recommend How Much of These Hills Is Gold, but steel yourself because it's not for soft guys. I can't wait to read more of this author's work, and Land of Milk and Honey is already on my reading list.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I bought this in the Femme Fire bookstore’s historical paperback bundle. This book is a loose historical fiction that combines magical realism with wild west narrative. Taking a lesser known angle of the ‘wild west' setting, Zhang’s story revolves around two siblings whose mother was a Chinese immigrant to the North American west coast, around the 1840s gold rush era. This book is raw and deeply poetic, both heartbreaking and soaring in its scope. It is truly a beautiful tale of sibling love, ultimate survival, and searching for belonging in a harsh time and place. The themes of belonging echo with the never-ending prospecting search for gold. This is the author’s debut novel, and they have since written another, Land of Milk and Honey, which I would also love to read. Easily 5/5 stars.
One of my favorite books read in 2024.
One of my favorite books read in 2024.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tried to do audiobook and the first chapter was both confusing to listen to and didn't pull me in. This isn't a hard "I will never read this" but if I pick this up again, it will be a physical book vs. audio.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
I quit this book at 75%, butnot because what I read wasn’t good. The story seems to be split into four sections, although there is a bit of jumping around at the beginning, and three novellas was enough. It’s a very raw story. Another reviewer likened the first sequence to a Tarantino movie, and I can definitely see why.
What makes a home at home?
It’s hard to believe that this was Zhang’s debut novel. It’s beautifully written despite the non-linear timeline. Broken down into four parts, How Much of These Hills is Gold explores the California gold rush from the perspectives of Chinese immigrants and their offspring.
If you searched the term “literary excellence”, I’m 100% sure How Much of These Hills is Gold would pop up. It’s a haunting and intimate story that begs the question of existence and an immigrant’s right to belong. It’s an expression of the grief and guilt that you carry long after your loved ones have passed, and it’s unanswered questions that are resolved years too late. It’s learning how to survive out of necessity with no place to run back to and watching your familial history come full circle.
So now, what makes a home a home? Is it love? Is it knowing that someone is up waiting for you? Is it basic needs like shelter and food? Is it a wide world that you can step out into and feel safe and protected?
You tell me.
It’s hard to believe that this was Zhang’s debut novel. It’s beautifully written despite the non-linear timeline. Broken down into four parts, How Much of These Hills is Gold explores the California gold rush from the perspectives of Chinese immigrants and their offspring.
If you searched the term “literary excellence”, I’m 100% sure How Much of These Hills is Gold would pop up. It’s a haunting and intimate story that begs the question of existence and an immigrant’s right to belong. It’s an expression of the grief and guilt that you carry long after your loved ones have passed, and it’s unanswered questions that are resolved years too late. It’s learning how to survive out of necessity with no place to run back to and watching your familial history come full circle.
So now, what makes a home a home? Is it love? Is it knowing that someone is up waiting for you? Is it basic needs like shelter and food? Is it a wide world that you can step out into and feel safe and protected?
You tell me.