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How Much of These Hills is Gold

‘A tale of two sisters during the gold rush … beautifully written’ The i, Best Books of the Year
By C Pam Zhang
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3.78 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 26,117 ratings, 3,595 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang is a poignant tale set against the backdrop of the American gold rush. It follows two newly orphaned siblings of Chinese descent as they navigate a harsh and unforgiving landscape. The story explores themes of family, identity, and the immigrant experience in a rapidly changing world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This novel may appeal to you if you enjoy deeply moving narratives exploring themes of family, identity, and survival set against the backdrop of the American West during the Gold Rush. It offers a fresh perspective on history, blending myth and reality while delving into the experiences of Chinese American siblings seeking a place to call home. The evocative prose and rich storytelling may captivate lovers of historical fiction with a unique voice.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

'A wonder . . . gorgeous, soulful, feral' GARTH GREENWELL

'Ferocious, dark and gleaming' LAUREN GROFF

An untold story of the arrival of Chinese-American immigrants to the US during the Gold Rush. A novel about conflict between two siblings, carrying the body of their newly deceased father across a harsh landscape.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020

A Barack Obama Book of the Year 2020

America. In the twilight of the Gold Rush, two siblings cross a landscape with a gun in their hands and the body of their father on their backs . . .

Ba dies in the night, Ma is already gone. Lucy and Sam, twelve and eleven, are suddenly alone and on the run. With their father's body on their backs, they roam an unforgiving landscape dotted with giant buffalo bones and tiger paw prints, searching for a place to give him a proper burial.

How Much of These Hills is Gold is a sweeping adventure tale, an unforgettable sibling story and a remarkable novel about a family bound and divided by its memories.

'A daring and haunting epic' Sunday Times

'A unique reimagining of the American West adventure' The Times

'A fierce, feminist Western' Daily Mail

'Remarkable' Harper's Bazaar

'Reminiscent of both Cormac McCarthy and Toni Morrison' Irish Times

'C Pam Zhang's arresting, beautiful first novel is filled with myths of her own making as well as sorrows and joys' New York Times

A Gwyneth Paltrow Book Club Pick

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

How Much of These Hills Is Gold is heralded as a ferocious and darkly gleaming debut by C Pam Zhang. It weaves a vivid tale set during the fading days of the Californian Gold Rush, following two sisters in a feminist reimagining of the American West. The novel is praised for its lyrical prose, unforgettable characters, and exploration of themes like family, belonging, and the disillusionment of the American dream, rendering it both a timely and timeless epic.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349011455

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 April 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 233g

Pages: 336

Collections

C Pam Zhang Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Born in Beijing but mostly an artifact of the United States, C Pam Zhang has lived in thirteen cities and is still looking for home. She's been awarded fellowships and scholarships from organisations including Bread Loaf, Tin House and Aspen Words. Her work appears in Kenyon Review, McSweeney's Quarterly, Tin House and elsewhere. She currently lives in San Francisco.

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