How Much of These Hills Is Gold: A Novel

In How Much of These Hills is Gold, we begin in 1862 when Sam and Lucy's parents have both died and they are orphaned in the hills of California. Nobody cares. They are Chinese-American and look different from almost everybody else. Thus they're left to wander the hills alone to find a place to bury their 'ba'. They come across buffalo bones and 'tiger?' paw prints. There's more to the story than this, though. There are family secrets, glimpses of what life -could- be like, and sibling rivalry. I can't lie. This book is difficult to review. The story isn't straightforward, but one that takes the reader back and forth in time and examines several facets of life. Living in the West during this time was difficult for everyone, even more so for this family, who had their different race and appearance to contend with as well. Racism has always existed, but at this point in time it was much more socially acceptable. Seeing how they were treated was difficult. Sometimes I found the language of the story stilted, choppy, but overall it succeeded because I was left feeling something after I finished reading. I still feel it after sleeping on it. Melancholy. Thus, I'd say that aspect was a success for this tale. I found it very easy to empathize with both Lucy and Sam, and even Ba during his section of the story. Nothing about their relationships was straightforward. There was much love, but it HAD to be tough love, because life wasn't going to hand these girls anything easily. They were well-rounded characters with several virtues and flaws. They weren't always likable, but they felt real. The setting for this story was the correct choice definitely. It was an integral part of the tale, nearly as alive as the characters at times. What I didn't like, however, was talk of 'tigers?' in the Wild American West. Tigers. Like orange with black stripes. Maybe they meant jaguars? I don't think tigers have actually ever naturally inhabited the US, and I can't find any evidence that suggests they have. There is description of metaphorical tiger at one point. That works, but there are several instances of supposed physical tiger paw prints. It's just not factually accurate and that bothers me. So. At times gruesome, other times there were moving acts of true love for one's family, and a single act of betrayal that left me breathless, as I couldn't fathom it. I recommend to fans of historical fiction who would enjoy examining multiple aspects of life for a poor immigrant family in the States.

This work is the first novel of C Pam Zhang. The time span runs from 1842-1867, though chapters are not always in chronological order. The setting is primarily in northern California. Lucy is the main character and it is through her that the reader learns about the very difficult life of her parents and sibling. Lucy's family is Chinese. Her father was born in California. Her mother, like many Chinese, endured a long trip across the Pacific to the United States to find what they hoped would be a better life working initially on the transcontinental railroad. Many, including Lucy's father, caught "gold fever" and began mining. Lucy's parents speak pinyin and some English. Extreme poverty, severe weather events, and anti-Chinese prejudice weighed heavily upon the family. The author juxtaposes opposing elements throughout the narrative. This creates tension between and among characters in the story. Some of these opposing forces include male vs. female, son vs. daughter, family vs non-family, truth vs. falsehood, life vs. after-life, love vs. hate, past vs. present, home vs. homelessness and present vs. future. Often Zhang's prose is so beautiful, it morphs into poetry before reverting back to prose. These passages are a pleasure to read. The weakest part of the book is the ending. The protagonist, Lucy, so smart and so strong throughout, appears to settle for a life not of her choosing. This seems very much out of character and a great disappointment to this reviewer.

After hearing a glowing review and listening to the author being interviewed on NPR I immediately ordered this book and couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately I found the writing style extremely difficult to accept and the story and plot slow and uninteresting. I couldn’t make it past a few chapters and I really tried! What a disappointment as I rarely purchase hardcover books. I really don’t understand the acclaim it’s gotten and do not recommend it at all.

This book mesmerized me. I’ve read historical fiction all my life and this is a story I’ve never heard told. The writing is gorgeous without being cloying or pretentious. I don’t imagine it would be to everyone’s taste but I loved it.

I read this on a recommendation from Jia Tolentino, so came in with high hopes. While a compelling start drew me in, I finished only reluctantly. Despite being a book of the old West, it is ultimately a novel very much of the moment - a queering, and in some sense, a decolonizing of old Western tropes. But I never had the sense that what I was reading was an authentic voice that truly inhibited characters. Instead it felt like ideas of the current moment re: identity overlayed on clumsy historical fiction. At no point did I feel Zhang truly understood the West or even Lucy or Sam, not in the way, for example, Maxine Hong Kingston did in China Men. There are too many moments that that are either unbelievable (carrying a body in a trunk for weeks) or awkward (twice in three pages she notes how fish could block out the sun when seen from above??? Lucy's hand disappears in front of her in the fog? SF's cliffs are described as crumbling, "plunging unwary creatures to their deaths") which took me out of the experience. At times, it felt as if Westworld had informed the characterization -- as in, Lucy and Sam felt a bit like blank slates with disjointed ideas and dreams and desires implanted in them, without congruity to past or future, and without true feeling, just some displays of what might appear emotion to an outside observer, but which in a novel indicates immaturity. I didn't dislike the book - it is compelling enough to read to the end. But I don't think it's a book that will endure.

Stunningly touching, this book struck me the most as an ode to the heroic lives lived by ordinary immigrant families. Set in the California hills from the Gold Rush era, the story about how two newly orphaned young siblings, Lucy and Sam, struggled and survived, resonates nonetheless strongly with the experiences of today's immigrants. The uniquely C Pam Zhang's lyrical and grammar flavors make the book all the more unforgettable a read--not only for what's sung by it but also for how beautifully it sings the song.

An incredibly beautifully written book. The landscape and the atmosphere are rendered bleakly and seem to mirror the hopeless quest of Lucy and Sam - two sisters setting out to find a burial spot for Ba - their father. At the same time Lucy wants to define home - what compromises home - for her fathers burial, for herself, for Sam who reckons with her/his very nature. The historic setting is one we rarely if ever visit especially told from the views of the Chinese immigrants who endured ghastly living conditions and treatment. I think, however, in spite of the writing, the plot, and organization of the novel, I shall have to revisit it again...perhaps because of the bleak times we are all enduring through this universal pandemic. The rendering of the landscape reminds me of Tea Obtect’s last novel — where the harsh and deathly landscape contained a hopeless and sad story, yet quirky, lively story/history. That book I enjoyed and was one of my favorite books of 2019. So I blame our times for my lack of enthusiasm for this beautifully written novel. It is on the long list for the Booker Prize, after all!

Good story but the writing is terrible. Short sentences. Half the sentences are actually fragments. Uses adjectives as adverbs - maybe she thinks that is being edgy. Made-up words. I couldn't bear it and gave up. It is quite a short book too. It's a shame because the subject matter is fascinating and ought to be written about.

I have always loved reading about China . . but this book is not enjoyable and I cannot finish reading it. I made it to Chapter 2 and that was it. I would definitely not recommend this book.

This is an interesting vague portrayal of the harsh realities of the 'early west' although coal was never a big component of the mining. It is never clear however where the characters are trying to get to or why. Even the author seems unsure ending with an incomplete sentence.

In How Much of These Hills is Gold, we begin in 1862 when Sam and Lucy's parents have both died and they are orphaned in the hills of California. Nobody cares. They are Chinese-American and look different from almost everybody else. Thus they're left to wander the hills alone to find a place to bury their 'ba'. They come across buffalo bones and 'tiger?' paw prints. There's more to the story than this, though. There are family secrets, glimpses of what life -could- be like, and sibling rivalry. I can't lie. This book is difficult to review. The story isn't straightforward, but one that takes the reader back and forth in time and examines several facets of life. Living in the West during this time was difficult for everyone, even more so for this family, who had their different race and appearance to contend with as well. Racism has always existed, but at this point in time it was much more socially acceptable. Seeing how they were treated was difficult. Sometimes I found the language of the story stilted, choppy, but overall it succeeded because I was left feeling something after I finished reading. I still feel it after sleeping on it. Melancholy. Thus, I'd say that aspect was a success for this tale. I found it very easy to empathize with both Lucy and Sam, and even Ba during his section of the story. Nothing about their relationships was straightforward. There was much love, but it HAD to be tough love, because life wasn't going to hand these girls anything easily. They were well-rounded characters with several virtues and flaws. They weren't always likable, but they felt real. The setting for this story was the correct choice definitely. It was an integral part of the tale, nearly as alive as the characters at times. What I didn't like, however, was talk of 'tigers?' in the Wild American West. Tigers. Like orange with black stripes. Maybe they meant jaguars? I don't think tigers have actually ever naturally inhabited the US, and I can't find any evidence that suggests they have. There is description of metaphorical tiger at one point. That works, but there are several instances of supposed physical tiger paw prints. It's just not factually accurate and that bothers me. So. At times gruesome, other times there were moving acts of true love for one's family, and a single act of betrayal that left me breathless, as I couldn't fathom it. I recommend to fans of historical fiction who would enjoy examining multiple aspects of life for a poor immigrant family in the States.

This work is the first novel of C Pam Zhang. The time span runs from 1842-1867, though chapters are not always in chronological order. The setting is primarily in northern California. Lucy is the main character and it is through her that the reader learns about the very difficult life of her parents and sibling. Lucy's family is Chinese. Her father was born in California. Her mother, like many Chinese, endured a long trip across the Pacific to the United States to find what they hoped would be a better life working initially on the transcontinental railroad. Many, including Lucy's father, caught "gold fever" and began mining. Lucy's parents speak pinyin and some English. Extreme poverty, severe weather events, and anti-Chinese prejudice weighed heavily upon the family. The author juxtaposes opposing elements throughout the narrative. This creates tension between and among characters in the story. Some of these opposing forces include male vs. female, son vs. daughter, family vs non-family, truth vs. falsehood, life vs. after-life, love vs. hate, past vs. present, home vs. homelessness and present vs. future. Often Zhang's prose is so beautiful, it morphs into poetry before reverting back to prose. These passages are a pleasure to read. The weakest part of the book is the ending. The protagonist, Lucy, so smart and so strong throughout, appears to settle for a life not of her choosing. This seems very much out of character and a great disappointment to this reviewer.

After hearing a glowing review and listening to the author being interviewed on NPR I immediately ordered this book and couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately I found the writing style extremely difficult to accept and the story and plot slow and uninteresting. I couldn’t make it past a few chapters and I really tried! What a disappointment as I rarely purchase hardcover books. I really don’t understand the acclaim it’s gotten and do not recommend it at all.

This book mesmerized me. I’ve read historical fiction all my life and this is a story I’ve never heard told. The writing is gorgeous without being cloying or pretentious. I don’t imagine it would be to everyone’s taste but I loved it.

I read this on a recommendation from Jia Tolentino, so came in with high hopes. While a compelling start drew me in, I finished only reluctantly. Despite being a book of the old West, it is ultimately a novel very much of the moment - a queering, and in some sense, a decolonizing of old Western tropes. But I never had the sense that what I was reading was an authentic voice that truly inhibited characters. Instead it felt like ideas of the current moment re: identity overlayed on clumsy historical fiction. At no point did I feel Zhang truly understood the West or even Lucy or Sam, not in the way, for example, Maxine Hong Kingston did in China Men. There are too many moments that that are either unbelievable (carrying a body in a trunk for weeks) or awkward (twice in three pages she notes how fish could block out the sun when seen from above??? Lucy's hand disappears in front of her in the fog? SF's cliffs are described as crumbling, "plunging unwary creatures to their deaths") which took me out of the experience. At times, it felt as if Westworld had informed the characterization -- as in, Lucy and Sam felt a bit like blank slates with disjointed ideas and dreams and desires implanted in them, without congruity to past or future, and without true feeling, just some displays of what might appear emotion to an outside observer, but which in a novel indicates immaturity. I didn't dislike the book - it is compelling enough to read to the end. But I don't think it's a book that will endure.

Stunningly touching, this book struck me the most as an ode to the heroic lives lived by ordinary immigrant families. Set in the California hills from the Gold Rush era, the story about how two newly orphaned young siblings, Lucy and Sam, struggled and survived, resonates nonetheless strongly with the experiences of today's immigrants. The uniquely C Pam Zhang's lyrical and grammar flavors make the book all the more unforgettable a read--not only for what's sung by it but also for how beautifully it sings the song.

An incredibly beautifully written book. The landscape and the atmosphere are rendered bleakly and seem to mirror the hopeless quest of Lucy and Sam - two sisters setting out to find a burial spot for Ba - their father. At the same time Lucy wants to define home - what compromises home - for her fathers burial, for herself, for Sam who reckons with her/his very nature. The historic setting is one we rarely if ever visit especially told from the views of the Chinese immigrants who endured ghastly living conditions and treatment. I think, however, in spite of the writing, the plot, and organization of the novel, I shall have to revisit it again...perhaps because of the bleak times we are all enduring through this universal pandemic. The rendering of the landscape reminds me of Tea Obtect’s last novel — where the harsh and deathly landscape contained a hopeless and sad story, yet quirky, lively story/history. That book I enjoyed and was one of my favorite books of 2019. So I blame our times for my lack of enthusiasm for this beautifully written novel. It is on the long list for the Booker Prize, after all!

Good story but the writing is terrible. Short sentences. Half the sentences are actually fragments. Uses adjectives as adverbs - maybe she thinks that is being edgy. Made-up words. I couldn't bear it and gave up. It is quite a short book too. It's a shame because the subject matter is fascinating and ought to be written about.

I have always loved reading about China . . but this book is not enjoyable and I cannot finish reading it. I made it to Chapter 2 and that was it. I would definitely not recommend this book.

This is an interesting vague portrayal of the harsh realities of the 'early west' although coal was never a big component of the mining. It is never clear however where the characters are trying to get to or why. Even the author seems unsure ending with an incomplete sentence.

This book was recommended to me by a good friend, and I had no idea it would be as powerful as it was. I dove in right away and, being a huge lover of the American West and its history and landscape, I immediately felt transported. More than the engaging story, the way this book influenced my view of the story's world was a true testament to the skill and vision of the author. I felt, at different times, that I was looking through the eyes of a child, then young adults, then grown people who have suffered, learned, and grown with me as I read. All of the trials that the protagonist(s) faced were nuanced and gripping - it was rarely a book which I could place expectations on or predict. The elements of the trans experience were so powerfully woven into the overall story, and as a cis woman I felt grateful to engage in that aspect of the story and character arcs so fully. As a white woman, I was also moved and bettered by the multifaceted insight brought about by looking through the eyes of PoC in a world that not only didn't understand them, but which had never even seen anyone like them before. This is a perspective I have honestly never read before and which truly touched me as a reader and as a human being. This is one of the finest literary works I have read in a very long time, and I hope to see many more books come from this author.

This book kept me on my toes. As a riveting fever dream, How Much of These Hills played with grand hopes and desires and turned them into a story that is heavy without being weighed down, dazed without being confused. I loved how it threw me into the wild heat that Lucy and Sam experience. The novel has a permanent spot on my list of favorite books of all time. That being said, I don't think it is for everyone. It is mostly character-driven and it's sad (albeit not depressing) because of the destitution it describes. However, for those who want something gritty and uncomfortable, yet shimmering, poetic, and serene, this is a great choice.

Promising writer, and the book delivers on poetic and thoughtful prose with fully, fleshed-out characters, but I did not love the ending, nor the bits of pinyin interspersed throughout the book. I wondered how frustrating it would be for non-Mandarin speakers to understand certain phrases, even if the gist of it is implied. It was a bit irritating even for me. But mainly, my beef is with the plot and the turn it took in the sisters' stories which was a let down. I realized it was not going to be a fairytale of a story just by it's title and subject matter, but I wished for a little bit of a silver lining that we just did not get.

This book provided me with a small escape from the monotony of quarantining. It is beautifully written- the type of writing where you have to fall into a sort of rhythm with the text, and the reward is a poetic experience akin to reading Willa Cather or Steinbeck. Zhang’s depiction of the dry hills of the west, the bleached buffalo bones, and the hunger for gold made me thirst for more than water. Her ability to weave together tragedy and fairytale provides the reader with a haunting experience. Like life, this story is full of contradictory opinions and hidden sorrows. The same world is perceived differently by each character, so that truth spoken from each mouth is sacred, yet flawed. I highly recommend it. The novel will be living on a bookshelf with the rest of my favorites.

Didn’t hold my interest, difficult to invest but I did read half of the book!

This is the best novel I've read this year. It has everything -- plot with many surprises, historical relevance, unforgettable and well-developed characters (Sam!), themes that relate to our society today, and a poetic style. I listened to the audiobook, which is excellent, then read the e-book, which gave me more insights. This was a selection of my literary book club, and it was the highlight of a year filled with books.

This was one of the books I read as part of a book club. The book was recommended as a debut novel and we were excited to read it. I was a little disappointed though. The book was written in a way that used minimal description, and because of the use of Chinese transliteration, passages became confusing. Perhaps that was the intent that the author wanted. A few people could not finish the book. I did but was not blown away.

I could not put this down, I blasted through it in 2 days. This story, to me, was fresh and interesting. From a narrative perspective that isn't terrifically common and from a time period I don't personally often visit. The author does a lot with the classic orphan premise, and makes an easy entry point for those new to learning about the early days of Chinese immigrants becoming part of the American diaspora.

Written with sensitive and deep observation of the land around her and the people who inhabit it. Throughout the read, it carried me with curiosity and awe to the next page. The author’s prose is light and flowing, and inspiring. It makes me wish for a way to express myself with the intensity of feeling that her words contain. Ultimately it is a story of contradictions,of opposites, and of the universal flow of life.

I was entranced by the first half, both by the details of life for a Chinese family in the wild West and descriptions of why Chinesse men and women came here in the first place. The mixture of realism and magical realism was enchanting. But by the time the two girls at the center of the story had grown up, I had the feeling the author did not quite know what to do with them and the conclusion does not match the dense beauty and insight of the first half. Gorgeous writing all the way through but by the end, the beauty of the writing was the only thing that kept me reading.

This is a complex, layered book that engendered a spirited book club discussion. Themes packed into the book include: searching for home, rascism, family, greed, poverty, sacrifice, and many others. Although the style of writing is unique and interesting, I found the book difficult to read. The characters hold few redeeming values. The ongoing hardships described in detail became tedious and depressing.

At first I almost gave up. The language was heavy and unfamiliar and it made it difficult to read. I searched for reviews and found out that people felt the same but kept going and it was worth it. So I did. And truly it was worth it. A so surprisingly different story. About the west, about once upon a time in America. About newcomers forgotten by white history. About girls, about family, about lost, about sadness of life. About endings , real life endings. It made me sad, it made me cringe,it made me put it down and abandoning it and then taking it back to continue. A story not to ever forget.

The story is definitely a unique idea but the writing style just didn't do it for me. It's very disruptive and lacks cohesion. Overkill with the symbolism that it's almost irritating. It is a debut novel after all. Unfortunately, the book isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I would have skipped this one if I took the time to read the sample before buying the book.

Part madness, part ghost story, part ache, part song, part lament. This book is beautifully written. It is not a book particularly to my tastes, but once I started I couldn’t put it down. It is incredibly sad. Heart breaking my sad. But it doesn’t ask for pity.

Loved this story. The goldrush days as told by the a Asian viewpoint. The protagonists were American born but treated as aliens. It as an interesting tale told by an unique viewpoint. I was mesmerized from the first chapter and could not put the book down.

I just finished reading "How Much of These Hills is Gold". It is a riveting, lyrical and groundbreaking work of fiction set in a detail-rich landscape of historical non-fiction. I could hardly put it down. She masterfully re-weaves untold stories of Chinese Americans back into tales of the old American West. It's at times heartbreaking and brutal and other times stark yet beautiful and tender. The nuanced storytelling really sets it apart. It reveals history in a very intimate human scale unlike most fictional narratives I've read which often have stock Chinese characters that hew closely to a standard heroic narrative (e.g. the Chinese struggled against all odds and triumphed.)

A new aspect of the Gold Rush in the American West from the point of view of a young Chinese- American, this novel is a raw exposure of the difficulties of life as experienced by Chinese immigrants in the USA. The novel is both devastatingly sad and yet inspirational. The author brings us into the struggle for survival of her characters and keeps us involved in spite of the difficult journey they experience in a land that treats them ever so cruelly. The story is original, realistic, and fantasy all in one. I won't forget this unique work.

It took me a long time to finish this book. It was very descriptIve, and a different storyline of a Chinese family in calif during the gold rush and beyond. However, although there were parts that held my attention, mostly I found myself waiting for something to happen.

The characters are interesting and complex. While I appreciated the use of Chinese language between characters, without translation I missed some of the detail and meaning. (I did look up some but certainly not all). A different perspective on piece of history.

I enjoyed this journey through the old west. It felt a little magical and dream like and also painfully real at times as well. The imagery and points of view were fresh and the writing was very lovely. I enjoyed this book a lot. I felt like I was on a real journey back in time.

It took me a while to accept the less than standard sentence structure, but once I did, I appreciated the author’s sensitive portrayal of immigrants, the fallibility of the American Dream and get rich quick lures, and the fraught nature of family relationships. This book offers a perspective not often encountered, which is a good thing.

Strange yet profound. If you have weak stomach, do not read this. It is brutally honest about customs of years ago. Beautifully written about period of history Americans should not be proud of.

This book was read for my book club. Unlikable characters, obscure plot, and I was always unsure what was going. This required looking back to previous chapters which were equally ambiguous.

Extremely well written and moving with great observations on the American West.

Beautifully written. For a debut novel, this is outstanding. Full of rich prose and historical notes and interesting characters. Take your time with this book and savor excellent writing.

I know that people r raving about this book. But while I found the period & subject of great interest, I thought the author was trying a bit too hard.

This is a very well written travel log that exposes the beauty of Northern California , the savagery of bigotry, and the greed. I'm the end unfulfilling.

It took me a while to get into this, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Beautifully told. Great characterization.

this book made me work for it! the prose felt so unlike contemporary literature in its structure, and the actual plot felt familiar in the best ways possible. i have read elmore leonard just as much toni morrison, and this book was such a great blend of tropes and unheard voices. very excited to see where Zhang's career is going after this!

read for the Goop book club and enjoyed the story. Well written ... I would say not a must read but good.

Zhang takes us on a journey. You’ll walk through plains. Wade through creeks. Travel on horseback. Laugh. Cry. Reflect. A story of a family that is not from any particular geography, but from experiences. I guess you could call it an immigrant’s story but that would be too simple. A book to remember for sure.

I don't understand the good reviews. Not for me. I did not find the book a pleasure to read.

My wife did not enjoy the book at all. Subject was different than expected.

Zhang's use of imagery and characterization really shows you the importance of duality in life. This is a new look into the 'wild west' and mining towns. The book I got was in great condition as well. VERY GOOD READ!!!

I have not read this book yet, but am looking forward to discovering new author.

Lyrical yet disturbing. I really loved the book but it is a downer.

I really enjoyed this.

Love it. Thanks.

Engrossing novel. I learned about some of California's history, and was captured by the characters. Some of it was surreal, some of it was graphic, all of it was interesting.

A great and easy read

Not liked by the bookclub

I'm awed by the beautiful literary prose of this novel. Reading this book is akin to hearing music that elicits emotion.

Clever & well written.

We read this for our book group last month. Only one member liked it. Hated the ending.

Terrific, complex read. Page turning.

Wonderfully written.. the rolling adjectives, the well-constructed capture of flow and essence of time passing caught in the authors style: this book is a keeper.

6 people disliked it. They found themselves slogging through the book. 2 did not find nishbit. I thought it was ok.

Book damaged when received due to bad packaging. About the book itself, it is printed in low quality type of paper. I am going to return the book because it was damaged.

the epitome of why historical fiction is the best genre of all time

An honest look at the struggles of two siblings seeking to survive a harsh world of dust, coal, and gold.

Language tight, imagery emotive, plot/storyline engrossing

Arrived in perfect condition.

I was drawn in by the reviews by major players and was impressed with cover when I bought the novel. I wish that there had been a rating for the cruelty in it before I paid for it though. I'm not looking for Polyanna but I am looking for a comfortable escape...this wasn't it. It is getting much harder to get excited about a book because of the big reviews...I just don't understand where they are coming from.

Thanks to Virago and to NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review. My father was a fan of Westerns, and although as a child I was tired of always having to watch old Westerns (as a young man, my father used to read the Spanish equivalent of the Western dime novels as well), I must confess that that world, its mythology, and its true history, captivate me as well. And never more so than when the stories chronicle the people who hardly ever make it into the history books (although there has been a move towards redressing that in recent years). So this novel had all the elements to intrigue me, and it is a debut novel as well. And one I won’t forget in a hurry. This new author has been compared to Cormac McCarthy (but I’ve only read one of his novels, so I don’t feel I can comment), and her choice of characters reminded me of recent books I’ve read and reviewed by Sebastian Barry. I know it is common place to write that you’re surprised a novel has been written by a debut writer, or it is their first novel, but it is the case here, and it’s clear that the author has a talent for writing (and I don’t doubt she has worked very hard at it as well). The novel, set around the time of the Gold Rush, is divided into four parts, covering a period of around a decade in the life of Lucy (and her sister/brother Sam). The first three parts tell the story of how they got to the situation we find them in at the beginning of the novel, in reverse chronological order (sort of). The fourth part moves forward and we see what happened to Lucy afterwards, and we meet Sam again, albeit briefly. We meet the two sisters when they lose their father (they had lost their mother a few years earlier), see them struggle to try to bury him in the appropriate way (their mother had come from China and had taught them plenty of stories and traditions that they try to follow and live by), and eventually split up. The second part chronicles the events that had happened before, providing a background story of the family and also explaining how they lost their mother. Part three is hauntingly beautiful, and rather than the third person narration from Lucy’s point of view (that grows more insightful and elaborate as the novel advances) we get a narration from Ba, her father’s point of view. It’s not clear if this is his ghost telling the story or some memory that lives on, but it is addressed to Lucy, and it explains things that she does not know, some tragic and terrific, and some beautiful and lyrical. In part four we catch up with the siblings, years later, and learn what happened next. This is historical fiction gold, a revisionist story/history of the West, and a look at some of the forgotten figures and peoples in history. Many themes are touched upon on this novel. I’ve mentioned history, but this is history from the point of view of outsiders, who although born in the country will never be accepted, and people will always look at them as if they were an exotic plant or animal (the tiger is a symbol hovering over much of the novel), either heaping abuse at them, exploiting them for entertainment or enjoyment, or trying to turn them into object of curio and study. Race and gender are at the forefront of the novel but remain somewhat ungraspable and ambiguous (is Sam a boy in a girl’s body, or a girl whose father’s wish for a son she internalised to the point where she no longer has a will of her own, or something entirely different?). Ultimately, there are myths, lies, pretences, stories we tell others and ourselves, gold prospecting, mining, the building of the railroads, migration, different models of womanhood, of culture, of family… It’s a novel about identity and how we build ours, and how others also cast upon us their own labels and prejudices. It’s a novel about survival and about much more. Lucy, Sam, and their parents are unforgettable characters. If Lucy is the girly-girl, studious, and prim and proper, and Sam is the tomboy/boy, always following his father, they all play specific roles in their family, and when the family breaks, it’s difficult to keep going. The young sibling is far less naïve and weak than Lucy thinks, and they are both the children of their parents in more ways than they realise. It’s impossible not to feel for these orphans and their terrible circumstances, and the author does a great job of making us share in and understand why they are how they are. The story is at times breathtakingly beautiful and at others horrifyingly ugly, true to life. Although perhaps the style of the writing and the narration might not suit all tastes, I think most readers will connect at an emotional level with the characters, empathise and suffer with them. The writing style changes throughout the novel, growing with the main character, and becoming more articulate and less impressionistic. The beginning of the novel reminded me of Sebastian Barry’s recent book A Thousand Moons, which also has a young girl as the protagonist, and there is a strong focus on description, not only of the physical world, but also of the emotions and the feelings the character experiences as she is confronted with her personal tragedy. For all her fascination with books and the intelligence that’s supposed to be her strong point, she can be naïve at times, and places too much trust in appearances. Later in the novel she is more insightful and the writing also reflects her progressive enlightenment and what it truly means. I’ve talked about the third part of the book, which is the jewel of the crown for me, but I truly enjoyed it all, although, as usual, I’d recommend prospective readers to check a sample first. A couple of examples from the book (although I must remind you that I read an ARC copy, so there might be changes in the final version of the book): ‘And Lucy is reminded that what makes Ma most beautiful is the contradiction of her. Rough voice over smooth skin. Smile stretched over sadness —this queer ache that makes Ma’s eyes look miles and miles away. Brimming with an ocean’s worth of wet.’ ‘A land stripped of its gold, its rivers, its buffalo, its Indians, its tigers, its jackals, its birds and its green and its living. To move through this land and believe Ba’s tales is to see each hill as a burial mound with its own crown of bones. Who could believe that and survive? Who could believe that and keep from looking, as Ba and Sam do, always toward the past? Letting it drag behind them. Letting it make them into fools.’ The ending might not satisfy readers who prefer everything to be tied up and a clear conclusion, but for me, I couldn’t think of a more fitting ending. I won’t go into details and leave readers to decide. In sum, this is a book that has a distinct style of writing, tells a fascinating story, full of myths, tales, imagination, and also some truly awful realities of a historical period that has often been written about and represented in films and popular culture, but the official depiction glosses over many of the events and ignores a lot of the people that were there as well, just because their race, gender, lifestyle choices, or a combination of those, does not fit into the traditional history books. Its characters are unforgettable, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy a different perspective on historical events and who don’t mind taking up a narrative whose style might be challenging at times but it’s ultimately rewarding. A great novel.

Terribly disappointing. The reviews lured me into buying. The book is written in the present tense, which does not work even in this relatively short, 273 pages, novel. It seems much longer. One asks why was it written. Abused children, mysterious mean strangers. Nothing new. Waste of money and time.

What makes a gook book a good story? HOW MUCH OF THESE HILLS IS GOLD follows the lives of two Chinese-American siblings - Lucy and Sam - when their Ba has just died. In the context of California Gold Rush, these newly orphans strive to find purpose of their lives and somewhere to call home. It took me awhile to get invested in the story while I found myself wondering which direction the plot was going plus getting used to the writing style in the beginning, yet once I figured out the bigger picture, I could not put this book down. At first I thought it was a weird family dynamic, however, soon I understood how the characters' behavior is affected by circumstances that happen in their lives - the reason the siblings were apathetic dealing with situations that people would normally despair. Through non-linear narrative, Zhang writes with a singular and lyrical style the hardships that this family has to endure and the heartbreaking experiences that fall upon them. The author also weaves in a lot of Chinese culture with a bit of magical realism elements, making specific cultural references and using pinyin(which can be a challenge for non-Chinese readers to understand but this fact only increased my familiarity with the story). Moreover, Zhang creates well-crafted and complex characters that I grew to care for as I was utterly interested in their development and backstory. In the latter part, this book was filled with such tenderness that not only warmed my heart but also left me wanting more. How much of these hills is gold is an unforgettable storytelling that offers a rich perspective about American West family's life during the Gold Rush and deep exploration of immigrant experience, complexities of family, home, identity, loss, belonging and queerness. It is an intimate look that evokes raw emotions and I am looking forward to reading more Zhang next title. [ I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review ]

How Much Of These Hills Is Gold by C.Pam Zhang While not a literary style in my wheelhouse, I appreciate the author’s intent and the complexity of her story. Immigrant siblings Lucy, the elder, and Sam, the younger leave their home on horseback after both Ma and Ba have passed and left them young unattended orphans. There is no way for them to stay in their gold rush town now. Ba must be buried and is carried along with them for 2 months before that happens, because they must bury him properly. In the meantime, every aspect of their lives with Ma and Ba, including beatings, must be rehashed between them to be sure they understand the family traditions and values. Their many years’ search for a new home takes them along a path to meet strangers and barter for their needs. There is a magical realism about all this in the reoccurrence of Ma’s tiger drawings, reference to bones and visions, with very little dialog between the siblings. They are very different beings. This story seems to be very well respected by other reviewers. Though it was not my cup of tea, I will give it four stars, as I know there is a special place for it with an audience for this genre. My thanks to #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and #NetGalley for an ARC for my review.

I'm afraid I didn't do my due diligence before picking up this book -- I had gleaned that it was an adventure story featuring two orphaned Chinese girls in the California hills around the time of the Gold Rush. However, I quickly realized that the writing style was not one I responded to at all -- I found it to be working very very hard to convey tone, and somewhat stilted and removed as a result. At the same time, I recognize that every reader's results may vary, and other folks love this kind of writing. And I probably could have lived with it better had there been any kind of adventure or pacing to the story, but there isn't. The story unfolds in sections over several periods, first in 1862 as the girls are orphaned and are wandering the hills, seeking to bury their coal-miner father's corpse. Then back three years to the point where their mother dies in childbirth and the younger Samantha cuts her hair and identifies as male. Then back to 1862, after they've buried their father The girls part ways, and then we hop ahead to 1867, as they are teenagers who meet again in the town of Sweetwater. Somewhere in there (I forget where), there's an extended section where the father's spirit addresses the elder Lucy and explains his surprising life story. There are some interesting scenes and images (I especially like the idea of coal dust getting embedded in cuts in the hands), and one or two stunning revelations, but some of the strands don't work very well. One of the themes is the elder sister Lucy's desire for a stable home and the stability of a civilized town -- but this gets spun into a completely unconvincing friendship with a rich girl, and then turns based on a coincidence involving her beau. There's a very important plot element revolving around Sam's involvement in a theft, and it's kind of quickly glossed over, as if the author was tired and just wanted to get to the end of the book. There's an overt effort at weaving elements of Chinese mythology into the story, but they were too subtle for me to get a hold of. In the end, I appreciate the different approach and voice to mythology of the American West -- especially the bleak and violent realism. But the characters all felt constructed, rather than true, and so I could never really read this without a level of remove from it all.

I waited for months to get it from the library (I don't buy books till after I have read them), and when I settled down to read it, full of anticipation, I was horrified. I don't understand the glowing reviews. I made it past the 2nd chapter before I realized I was doing anything (cleaning the silverware drawer) to avoid picking it up again. If you are into smelly dead bodies, maggots, and unbelievable situations then perhaps you would enjoy this book. I found it repellant and the events so unlikely as to be an unpleasant fantasy.

Two young girls discover their father is dead one morning. They steal a horse and set out wandering around the American West during the gold rush looking for a place to bury him. They have no money, food, water or shelter. It was absolutely ridiculous to think they would have survived. I stopped reading at page 55 and decided to find something worthwhile to read.

This was a laborious read for me. An inventive plot centered on two young Chinese children left to fend for themselves after the death of their abusive prospector father in the midst of the dog eat dog world of the gold rush, the book feels like a new age take on Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. C Pam Zhang has undeniable talent. The first-time author already has a well defined voice, and she plays with some interesting themes on gender and cultural identity, using it to juxtaposition up against American machoism in a time dominated by cowboys. She strips away the veneer too often used to idealize the wild west era — the cowboy who saves the damsel in distress through his heroic deeds — and instead hammers home the point that the time period was more accurately marked by dirt and death. Creative points aside, the plot development was far too slow. The story meanders on as the children struggle to find where they fit in as they encounter obstacle after obstacle. Though critically praised far and wide, this book just wasn’t for me.

How Much of these Hills is Gold is set during the American Gold Rush from 1848. Brother and sister, 11-year-old Sam and 12-year-old Lucy, are orphaned when their Chinese parents die after migrating to America to strike it rich. With their mother ‘long gone’, they need to bury their father in accordance with their traditions, but this is not easy in this western mining town, because this is not their home. They need to find a home. They travel eastwards towards the coast, across the harsh landscape, with their father’s body. Hunger reshapes them. They need to hunt and fend for themselves. ‘For three months, although they’ve travelled in fear and in hiding, Sam saw it as a game. People, mountains, weather, jackals, snakes: there is a lot to fear. This is about their travels, their rivalry, and their bonding. During their journey, the words of their faher haunt them: ‘Stick by your family.’ It is also about the traditions that Sam and Lucy have learned from their parents, and the new traditions they need to gain in order to survive and thrive in a new land. Original in its use of language and style, this is nevertheless not my preferred style. However, the symbolism is effective, as is the way it portrays people lost in the countryside and lost in a country where they hope to belong. For me though, it doesn’t evoke the sensitivities that I was expecting, and therefore some intensity is also lost.

Lot of hype for this one so I was excited to read. The concept and set-up was interesting (and that's mostly what all the praise has been about) but the story and the writing itself weren't very engaging. It was a bit of a struggle to finish it.

Bizarre story that doesn’t make sense, Chinese language inserted too frequently without explanation, and the Chinese that was inserted should be Cantonese to be historically accurate, not Mandarin.

I don’t understand why this was on bestseller lists. Jumps around time periods-I counted 5, but you can’t tell which you’re in for a long while. Once I searched for a character’s name trying to understand what was going on. Nope. This was the first mention. Didn’t like the way it was written . Still not sure if one of characters is a lesbian. Maybe. Or not. I finished it, so 2 stars instead of 1, which I use for the ones I give up on.

When their Ba, father, dies, Lucy and Sam are left alone in the mining camps of California. Their parents were immigrants from China but Ma has been gone for a while and now Ba has died. Lucy and Sam are young girls, not even teenagers as they decide to pack up what they can and move on. Their father hoped to become rich mining gold but that didn't work out. He took a job as a coal miner and as pay got cut, left Samantha cut her hair and masquerade as a boy in order to work alongside of them. As Lucy and Sam travel, Lucy takes charge. Sam is the hunter but Lucy is the one with a plan. They ward off men on the trail and those who would try to map out their lives for them. After they bury Ba, they travel to a town. Lucy longs for other people, education and a structured life and she moves into town and finds work. Sam is less settled; her life working alongside Ba in the mines and the gold fields has left her with a quest for adventure and she takes off after a while by herself. The two girls try to interpret the family stories they know bits and pieces of. As they unravel the past, they learn about the family secrets and how they impacted their family life. The two eventually reunite and decide to move back to China and find themselves there in their parents' first home. This novel was nominated for the Booker Prize. It is a fascinating view of an underreported minority in the immigrant stories of the American West. The hardships the girls meet and conquer are daunting and will make one wonder if our children today could be as hardy. The love the two girls share and their quest to understand their family and to carve out a life for themselves is inspiring. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Wow! What an unusual and powerful novel. I was a bit put off at first because the writing was kind of choppy, as if the story is being told by a non-native speaker. It’s a deliberate and very effective choice by the author. I was soon drawn in to the mesmerizing tale. The story is realistic, yet also has a fantastical feel to it. The hardships of the Gold Rush era are made clear, as are the difficulties faced by Chinese immigrants. Themes of family, home, gender, and being accepted for who you are run through the story. The writing is exquisite and the novel almost shape shifts as it unfolds, changing and going in unexpected directions. It’s definitely not your run of the mill historical novel. It’s much, much better than that. I highly recommend it to anyone willing to read something out of the ordinary.

Although it's not necessarily my typical sort of read, I've found this novel about a pair of Chinese-American siblings amid the California Gold Rush to be utterly captivating. It's a deeply personal and well-realized tale that somehow avoids the performative artificiality that marks much of the Western genre, and its distinctive focus on the first-generation prospecting experience and a gender-nonconforming child would make it worthwhile even without debut author C Pam Zhang's flair for evocative figurative language. This is a very literary project, with a nonlinear timeline and one section narrated by a dead man, a stylistic choice that may not be to everyone's speed. We also only ever see Sam through Lucy's eyes, which entails an awkward avoidance of pronouns and the occasional use of words like 'sister' even though Sam is quite clear that he's a boy. I've still really enjoyed these characters -- who are prepubescent for much of the narrative -- but they are put through the wringer in any number of ways, as my content warnings below should highlight. The book is a fairly recent new release, and I'd like to see some reviews from transgender readers dissecting that aspect of the text. But for now, on the strength of its reclaiming space in the American myth and its themes of the ache of cultural loss and the generational divide from immigrant parents, it gets my highest rating. [Content warning for racism including slurs, sexism, transphobia, rape and forced prostitution, domestic abuse, descriptions of a rotting corpse, and eating disorders.]

This is not an easy book to follow at the beginning, but about halfway through the story becomes clearer. I can’t say that it was a fun read but still interesting .

First of all, I dislike novels written in the present tense and I had to overcome my aversion in this case. Some of the descriptions of the land, the hardships (the mother eating dirt during her pregnancy, the casually dropped in description of the main character Lucy's lanugo due to starvation) and other aspects of frontier life are really lyrical, sad, and beautiful. However, the Sweetwater town section is weak; it's a stereotype with no flesh and blood. What I really appreciated was the twist on the typical frontier novel. It's west to east, for example. "Ma" holds everything together, just like Laura Ingalls, until she doesn't. Etc. This book is very self-aware of the the genre of the US western bildungsroman. Ultimately it is a polemical argument for the inclusion of Chinese Americans into the mainstream of the immigrant experience narrative. The book's epigraph, "This land is not your land," is kind of shocking because it challenges Woodie Guthrie's main point. At the same time, the book does not champion a return to the motherland as a solution to the problems of immigrant belonging. Fondness for the old country is a damaging myth. Love for the real soil you're living in is the only real way.

The debut novel by C. Pam Zhang titled, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, describes the struggles of two Chinese American orphans, Lucy and Sam, in the American West during the 19th century. Zhang’s prose is finely written, and she creates appealing characters that will lead readers to care what happens to them. Memory, family and finding the place where one belongs in the world are all themes that are explored with great skill. Fans of historical fiction and good writing are those most likely to enjoy this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it)

This book is a wild haunting—I won't easily shake the lonely tension of this living landscape. There was so much unexpected magic in these characters. Sam's gender play, Lucy's self-loathing, Ba and Ma's fierce love and fierce secrets. I feel like I'm in the wake of a tornado, even though the language and storytelling often felt as gentle as a wandering creek. I wanted to eat the words and drink the spaces in between them. I can't remember the last book that's left me with so much longing. It's like being transfixed by an enormous bruise, filled with swirling colors. This story of survival, family, dreams, and desertion is just such a tangle of beauty and pain.

Wow! What a story! This thoughtful meditation on home, gender, and identity takes readers on a wild adventure through Gold Rush California. Lucy and Sam are forced to grow up when they are orphaned before they are in their teens. They travel in search of a mythical home where two Chinese-American kids can be themselves and live in peace. The story leaps between the past and present - their parents' story and their own. How Much of These Hills is Gold took me in, sent me on a rollicking adventure, and left me considering big questions about what home is, where we find it, and how precious it is to be able to be ourselves.

I absolutely could not put this book down, and stayed up way too late for many nights as I read it. So, why did I not give it a rating of 5? The ending was a complete disappointment! It's as if the author had no idea of what might happen to the character, so rather than write a feasible end, Ms. Zhang simply leaves a very annoying cliff hanger! Perhaps there is a sequel; and if so, I would read it with the hope of finding character resolution.

1860's - foothills in California - two orphaned siblings, Chinese descent but born in California. Story starts a little slowly but it builds, layer upon layer. The writing is unusual and evocative. There are twists and turns. Themes of what family means, what home means, what treasure means... It is a book that will stay with you. Highly recommended.

I powered through to the end but at great cost to whatever reserve of patience I have left for reading books like this. Should have stopped after 20 pages. On the bright side, my OCD completist tendencies viz-a-viz reading challenging novels I think are now resolved, the author of this book having done everything she can to bury them in the swirling sands of this dry word desert along with her protagonists’ Ba’s decaying penis. Life is too short, and I thank the author for this reminder. With every tortured flip of the pages of this novel, each one feeling like three, I could almost taste her disciplined daily writing schedule. Did she enjoy writing this? She clearly has talent (and perseverance); would a short story or essay not have been enough? I hope she’s ok. For myself, never again will I let myself be reeled in by cool cover art, Booker prize candidacy, or the knowledge that Obama liked it (fwiw I sincerely believe that he actually did read and enjoy this novel). I realize I’m projecting here. It’s nobody’s fault but my own. On a more fair and objective note, the novel has a lot about hills (walking through them, talking about them, making the reader feel like he’s climbing one) a tiger mythology, themes concerning what makes beauty, what makes home, what makes…queerness? I think? Oh and gold. Lots of gold. And fools gold. And decaying penises.

After reading about he story line I believed this book was about two Chinese children left orphaned during the Gold Rush. While it seemed it was about survival in a turbulent time, it delves more deeply. The books is about so much more- family, loyalty, perseverance and deeply rooted prejudice. The plot trajectory explores all of this and more. My only reservation was the author’s choice of language, which distracted from an otherwise good novel.

Like others I was drawn to this book based on ubiquitous rave reviews, until I actually started reading the work. The author should have focused on a compelling storyline rather than painfully overdone prose. I couldn’t make it past the pedestrian scene that involved the burying of a decomposing penis. Really? This is a story we want to elevate with all of these accolades? As I jumped ship on this waste of precious time, I had in mind Russell Crowe’s famous line from Gladiator.

I'm mostly writing this just to offer the sea of good reviews. When s book is just ho-hum, most people aren't motivated enough to rate it, such is what Amazon is counting on, when they require a written review. The story is ironically both predictable and unrelatable, and the ending I found pretentious; a charactature of a meaningful literary ending. Save your time.

I always love survival stories, and this is a stunningly written page-turner about two siblings trying to survive, and trying to reimagine what a home could be for them. I was torn between reading quickly to see what would happen, and slowing down to sit with the beauty of the writing and imagery. I love that it tells the story of a whole world of the American West that we have never heard before. Hugely recommend.

What a remarkable story. I savored every word of this unique observation of the brutal, beautiful early American West throughout the dark evenings of a dreary, lockdown January. As a writer and a Western history fan I was utterly fascinated by the author's unique approach to storytelling, her use of language, her stunning bringing to life of the land through the eyes of the unforgettable Lucy, Sam, Ma and Ba. Bravo.

I almost gave up on this book. At the beginning, the protagonists are outlaws, unknowable and rugged. But a friend encouraged me to finish Part 1, and I am grateful he pushed me to keep reading. This is a book about history, movement, siblings, death, the elements, gold. It's a Western that travels east in more ways than one. And on horseback, we explore gender, language, ghosts and burial rites. Part 2 anchored me and Part 3 awed. This book breaks ground and is worthy of literary award gold.

This was a compelling read from the beginning. I would finish a section and ruminate on it and look forward to reading the next one. Read it!

It might get better, but the first half hour of the audio was absolutely disgusting and disturbing. Maybe if I could get past the beginning it would be worth it, but I am sorry I listened to the first half hour as it felt like an assault.

In the first 1/4 of this book I was unsure that I cared to keep reading, but I’m so glad that I did. Before I knew it I found myself immersed in the world of these characters. I could see them, their home, their hopes and their demons. This book is haunting, beautiful, heart wrenching and somehow manages to be hopeful.

Horrible. Disgusting and unpleasant events. Complete suffering. No redeemable characters. Stopped reading when I realized my face was held in a position of disgust. Why would anyone read this for pleasure?

Not for the faint. Deep and filled with magical writing, this story is told in a way that illuminates all of the individual choices these characters make.

Surprised by the good reviews of this book. I could barely get through it. Not much happens in the whole book. I can't recommend this one.

I liked the premise of this book but ultimately it was way too dark and depressing (especially for now....). I hate reading about animal abuse and just about ever animal in this book dies a terrible death. Disturbing.

Not at all what I expected. Some historic past did come into the story. But I was a little disappointed.

I found nothing worthwhile in this book. At one point I finally asked myself why am I reading this? And at that point I stopped.

I liked this book but it was more poetic than I prefer. I rather like lots of action and conversation as opposed to deep thoughts.

Riveting read. Powerful account from the point of view of an outsider’s outsider. Makes one not want to pan for gold, though....

WHAT I LOVED MOST: A nugget of history; Idiosyncratic voice; Exotic time and place; Literary quality; Emotive experiences; Memorable characters; Multi-layered themes. WHAT I LIKED LESS: The starkness of place, people, and prose make it a challenging read.

A story that holds your interst.

Wow. This was a wonderful novel. Like a thick, rich stew full of aromatic herbs and spice. Words that paint pictures and words that erase all the color and lines. Left me full but wanting g more...

Zhang's unique voice paired with her grand reimagining of gold-rush country make for a stunning read. Fans of Annie Proulx will love this book

Wonderful rich story with well-drawn characters. Sad an inspiring tale.

Beautifully written. I felt transported and couldn’t put the book down.

I wasn’t sure I would like this book. American West, gold rush, two orphans on the run with a stolen horse and their dad’s rotting body in a trunk—all I could think was “cowboys and outlaws, meh” when I read the synopsis. The first few chapters didn’t quite suck me in; there’s something about the prose that’s lyrical yet clinical, and I needed to adjust to its unique rhythm. I also found the pinyin jarring even though I understood it perfectly. At first it bumped me out of the story because no way would Ma and Ba, coming from those backgrounds, during that era, be speaking Mandarin Chinese. But I also understand that this takes place in an alternate reality, leaning more towards fantasy than historical fiction. Details are ambiguous—the dates are written as XX42, XX62, XX67, and Ma’s country of birth is never named, just referred to as the land across the ocean, the land beyond the sea. There’s more than a touch of the fantastical, the mythical, the paranormal. It’s a reimagined American West, a reenvisioned history, but one that cannot escape the taint of sexism, racism, settler greed and exploitation. After my initial skepticism and nitpicking, I got wildly lost in the story and finished the book in half a day, desperate to learn the fates of Lucy and Sam and the truth about their Ma and Ba (because those two definitely have their secrets). “What makes a home a home?” they keep asking each other, a loaded question for people who look like them and have only known American soil. What an inventive, atmospheric narrative that overturns all my preconceived notions of the Western adventure.

HOW MUCH OF THESE HILLS IS GOLD is an utterly astonishing feat. Zhang's sentences sing; she writes with the keen eye of a master jeweler, polishing each facet of the California landscape—its glory, its beauty, its brutality—until it blazes. Lucy and Sam's journey is epic in scope, rivaling (if not surpassing) anything Cormac McCarthy has written, yet the reader is also given breathtakingly intimate access to their emotional routes. These characters, this setting, and this book are so firmly lodged in my heart and brain that I don't think I'll be able to shake them for years to come. I'm sorry that this masterpiece was published in the midst of a pandemic, when it hasn't been given the attention it deserves. But I'm willing to bet that this book will be a major contender for literary prizes this year, and that it will soon find its place in the canon of California literature. Watch your back, John Steinbeck.

An "Obama pick" for 2020...well worth the read.

Rarely will you read a book in which so much care has been taken over each word. The authors daily word writing count must have been well below the average. Each sentence is crafted meticulously. Throughout the book, the author takes time to reveal the character’s backgrounds and therefore the context of their actions. Whilst this means the reader’s connection with the characters is initially less personal, the impact of the discovered empathy later in the novel is more profound. This is not a book about cowboys, saloon brawls and Clint Eastwood characters. It is about poverty, immigration, the destruction of native lands and sexual identity. It also a story of family; their collective and individual hopes and aspirations. Often unfulfilled, those dreams illuminate the harshness of the times and the circumstances of not being white or male in the American gold rush. I have read all of the 2020 Booker longlist and this book should have at least made the shortlist. Whilst Shuggie Bain was the justifiable winner, in another year with a different judging panel this book could have taken the top prize.