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Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

4.25

challenging dark emotional 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

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.

Content Warnings