How Much of These Hills Is Gold

Last updated

How Much of These Hills Is Gold
How Much of These Hills Is Gold (C Pam Zhang).png
First edition cover
Author C Pam Zhang
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Riverhead Books
Publication date
April 7, 2020 (1st ed.)
Pages288
ISBN 978-0525537205
OCLC 1085621460
813/.6
LC Class PS3626.H35 H69 2020

How Much of These Hills Is Gold is a 2020 debut novel by American author C Pam Zhang. It was longlisted for the Booker Prize [1] and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Adult Fiction. [2] [3] The book was published by Riverhead Books in North America and by Virago Press in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. [4]

Contents

Development and writing

Zhang began the novel after waking up with the opening sentence in her head. [5] She did not originally intend to write a novel, [6] and after completing the first chapter, Zhang stopped working on the project for a period of time. [5] The novel takes place in the American West, a setting explored in novels Zhang read when young, including East of Eden , Lonesome Dove , and Little House on the Prairie . [7] The first chapter was written without conducting research, as Zhang did not want research to "stifle" her writing. [8]

Though this novel was the first published by Zhang, she says that she has another "drawer" novel "that will never see the light of day". [9]

Reception

Reviews

How Much of These Hills is Gold received positive reviews [10] from Kirkus , [3] Library Journal , [11] The New York Times Book Review , and many other publications. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]

Critics highlighted the lyrical quality of Zhang's writing. [18] [30] In his review of the book for The Irish Times , Oliver Farry wrote that the book's prose was "reminiscent" of authors Cormac McCarthy and Toni Morrison. [26] Alexis Burling, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle , called the author's prose "exquisitely crafted," saying that "Zhang captures not only the mesmeric beauty and storied history of America’s sacred landscape, but also the harsh sacrifices countless people were forced to make in hopes of laying claim to its bounty." [14] Kirkus called the book "[a]esthetically arresting and a vital contribution to America’s conversation about itself." [3]

NPR's Annalisa Quinn provided a mixed review, stating, "Zhang's style can be densely, airlessly lovely. Self-conscious lyricism fills the page like all that California dust, sometimes making it hard to breathe." [31] The Asian Review of Books also proffered a mixed review. [32]

The audiobook, narrated by Catherine Ho and Joel de la Fuente, received a starred review from Booklist 's Jane Philbrick, who stated, "The discrimination the family experiences brings an almost constant feeling of danger; Ho leans into its menace by emphasizing slurs, threats, or speeding through the adrenaline of violence. De la Fuente['s] ... tired drawl reflects that history’s toll. " [33]

The New York Times listed Zhang's novel as one of "100 Notable Books of 2020." [34] Barack Obama listed the novel as one of his favorite books of 2020. [35]

Kirkus [3] and NPR [36] named How Much of These Hills is Gold one of the best books of 2020.

Awards

YearAwardsResultRef.
2020 Booker Prize Longlist [1]
Booklist 's Best First Novels on AudioTop 10 [37]
California Book Award for First FictionGold [38]
Center for Fiction First Novel Prize Shortlist [39]
Goodreads Choice Award for Debut NovelNominee [38]
Reading Women Award for FictionNominee [38]
2021 American Academy of Arts and Letters Rosenthal Family Foundation AwardWinner [40]
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Adult FictionWinner [2] [3]
Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Fiction Finalist [41]
National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize Finalist [42]
PEN/Hemingway Award Finalist [43]
Young Lions Fiction Award Finalist [44]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dara Horn</span> American writer, novelist and professor (born 1977)

Dara Horn is an American novelist, essayist, and professor of literature. She has written five novels and in 2021, released a nonfiction essay collection titled People Love Dead Jews, which was a finalist for the 2021 Kirkus Prize in nonfiction. She won the Edward Lewis Wallant Award in 2002, the National Jewish Book Award in 2003 and 2006, and the Harold U. Ribalow Prize in 2007.

<i>Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty</i> Graphic novel by Greg Neri

Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty is a 2010 graphic novel by Greg Neri with art by Randy DuBurke, published by Lee and Low Books. The story is about Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, who was eleven years old in 1994 when he became a fugitive from justice after killing a neighbor girl while he was shooting at somebody else during a gang initiation. Neri creates a fictional narrator who watches what happens to Yummy when he seeks help from the gang he is trying to impress. Instead, they turn on him when he becomes too much of a liability to them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Lauren</span> American writing duo

Christina Lauren, the combined pen name of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, is an American author duo of contemporary fiction, teen fiction and romance novels.

<i>Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe</i> 2012 young adult novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age young adult novel by American author Benjamin Alire Sáenz which was first published February 21, 2012. Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Since its publication, the novel has received widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwame Alexander</span> American writer of poetry and childrens fiction (born 1968)

Kwame Alexander is an American writer of poetry and children's fiction.

Amie Kaufman is an Australian author. She has authored New York Times bestselling and internationally bestselling science fiction and fantasy for young adults. She is known for the Starbound Trilogy and Unearthed, which she co-authored with Meagan Spooner; for her series The Illuminae Files, co-authored with Jay Kristoff; and for her solo series, Elementals. Her books have been published in over 35 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angie Thomas</span> American author (born 1988)

Angie Thomas is an American young adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019.

<i>Stamped from the Beginning</i> Book by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America is a non-fiction book about race in the United States by the American historian Ibram X. Kendi, published April 12, 2016 by Bold Type Books, an imprint of PublicAffairs. The book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Brandy Colbert is an American author of young adult fiction and nonfiction.

C Pam Zhang is an American writer. Her debut novel, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, was released by Riverhead Books in 2020 and was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award and long-listed for the 2020 Booker Prize. The same year, Zhang was named a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" Honoree. Her second novel, Land of Milk and Honey, was listed in The New York Times 100 notable books for 2023.

<i>Blackout</i> (young adult novel) Young adult novel

Blackout is a young adult novel written by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The book contains six interlinked stories about Black teen love during a power outage in New York City. The book was released on June 22, 2021.

Aiden Thomas is a Latino-American author of young adult novels, best known for the book Cemetery Boys which was a New York Times bestseller and won numerous awards, including best of the year recognition from the American Library Association, Publishers Weekly, Barnes and Noble, NPR and School Library Journal.

<i>Firekeepers Daughter</i> 2021 novel by Angeline Boulley

Firekeeper's Daughter is a young adult novel by Angeline Boulley, published March 16, 2021, by Henry Holt and Co. The book is a New York Times best seller and won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult Novel in 2022.

<i>Look Both Ways</i> (novel) 2019 novel by Jason Reynolds

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks is a young adult novel written by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum, and published October 8, 2019 by Atheneum Books. The book is a New York Times best seller, National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist (2019), Coretta Scott King Award honor book (2020), and Carnegie Medal recipient (2021).

<i>You Exist Too Much</i> 2020 novel by Zaina Arafat

You Exist Too Much is a debut novel by Zaina Arafat, published June 9, 2020 by Catapult. The book won the Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Fiction in 2021.

The Sea of Ink and Gold trilogy is a three-part young adult fantasy novel series written by Traci Chee, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. The trilogy includes the following books: The Reader (2016), The Speaker (2017), The Storyteller (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Barba Higuera</span> American childrens book author

Donna Barba Higuera is an American children's book author. Her debut novel, Lupe Wong Won't Dance, was a Pura Belpré Award honor book and PNBA winner in 2021. Her middle grade dystopian novel, The Last Cuentista, won the 2022 Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Medal.

<i>When Stars Are Scattered</i> 2020 nonfiction young adult graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

When Stars Are Scattered is a nonfiction young adult graphic novel written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy, and published April 14, 2020, by Dial Books.

<i>Everything Sad Is Untrue</i> 2020 young adult novel by Daniel Nayeri

Everything Sad Is Untrue: is a young adult/middle grade autobiographical novel by Daniel Nayeri, published August 25, 2020 by Levine Querido. In 2021, the book won the Michael L. Printz Award, Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature, and Middle East Book Award for Youth Literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Tinghui Zhang</span> Chinese-American writer

Jenny Tinghui Zhang is a Chinese-American writer from Austin, Texas.

References

  1. 1 2 "The 2020 Booker Prize longlist announced". The Booker Prizes. July 27, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Winners Selected – APALA". January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "How Much of These Hills is Gold". Kirkus Reviews. January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ "How Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam Zhang coming Spring 2019". Virago Books. October 13, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Etter, Sarah Rose (April 16, 2020). "Fool's Gold: C Pam Zhang Interviewed by Sarah Rose Etter - BOMB Magazine". Bomb Magazine. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  6. ↑ Cary, Alice (April 7, 2020). "Author Interview - C Pam Zhang, author of How Much of These Hills Is Gold". BookPage.com. BookPage. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  7. ↑ Chang, Alexandra (April 7, 2020). "Can Two Chinese American Orphans Find Home in the Wild West?". Electric Literature. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  8. ↑ Watson, Alexandra (April 7, 2020). "Making Space for Imaginative Empathy in the Historical Record". Apogee Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  9. ↑ Jurczyk, Eva (April 8, 2020). "Panning for Gold: A Conversation with C Pam Zhang". The Rumpus.net. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Book Marks reviews of How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang". Book Marks. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ Bankhead, Henry (February 1, 2020). "How Much of These Hills Is Gold". Library Journal. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  12. ↑ Southgate, Martha (April 7, 2020). "A Haunting Debut Novel Brings New Faces to the Myth of the American West". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ Bidisha (March 29, 2020). "How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang review – an impressive debut". the Guardian. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Burling, Alexis (March 31, 2020). "Review: 'How Much of These Hills Is Gold' is a fierce reimagining of the American West". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ Pham, Larissa (September 8, 2020). "C Pam Zhang's Radical Retelling of Western Myths". ISSN   0027-8378 . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. ↑ Chai, May-Lee (April 3, 2020). "Review: 'How Much of These Hills Is Gold,' by C Pam Zhang". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Fiction Book Review: How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang. Riverhead, $26 (288p) ISBN 978-0-525-53720-5". PublishersWeekly.com. October 22, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Mrjoian, Aram (April 16, 2020). "Mining the American Mythos in "How Much of These Hills Is Gold"". Chicago Review of Books. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  19. ↑ Berger, Erin (April 8, 2020). "This Novel Reclaims the Western Expansion Myth". Outside Online. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  20. ↑ Weishar, Lindsey (April 7, 2020). "How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang". Ploughshares. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  21. ↑ Morris, Bill (September 23, 2020). "Correcting History: On C Pam Zhang's 'How Much of These Hills Is Gold'". The Millions. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  22. ↑ Wang, Emma K (October 28, 2020). "Land, language and legacy in 'How Much of These Hills Is Gold'". The Stanford Daily. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  23. ↑ Cline, Jake (April 6, 2020). "Review | C Pam Zhang's 'How Much of These Hills Is Gold' brilliantly reimagines the cowboy narrative". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  24. ↑ Moore, Taylor (April 6, 2020). "How Much Of These Hills Is Gold mines a Western from an immigrant tale". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  25. ↑ Thomas-Corr, Johanna (April 10, 2020). "How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang review — a wild western told through eastern eyes". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  26. 1 2 Farry, Oliver (April 26, 2020). "How Much of These Hills Is Gold: A haunting debut". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  27. ↑ Thomas, Mark (May 16, 2020). "Oddly mesmerising American journey". The Canberra Times. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  28. ↑ Hong, Terry (March 1, 2020). How Much of These Hills is Gold . Retrieved January 11, 2022– via Booklist.
  29. ↑ Athitakis, Mark (April 6, 2020). "Review: C Pam Zhang's ambitious novel turns the Western on its head with Chinese myth". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  30. ↑ Quinn, Annalisa (April 10, 2020). "In 'How Much Of These Hills Is Gold,' This Land Is Not Your Land". NPR. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  31. ↑ Quinn, Annalisa (April 10, 2020). "In 'How Much Of These Hills Is Gold,' This Land Is Not Your Land". NPR. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  32. ↑ Blumberg-Kason, Susan (April 20, 2020). ""How Much of These Hills is Gold" by C Pam Zhang" . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  33. ↑ Philbrick, Jane (May 15, 2020). How Much of These Hills is Gold . Retrieved January 11, 2022– via Booklist.
  34. ↑ "100 Notable Books of 2020". The New York Times. November 20, 2020. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  35. ↑ Simret Aklilu (December 18, 2020). "Barack Obama lists his favorite books of 2020". CNN. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  36. ↑ NPR Books. "Best Books 2021: Books We Love". NPR. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  37. ↑ Booth, Heather (November 20, 2020). Top 10 First Novels on Audio: 2020 . Retrieved January 11, 2022– via Booklist.
  38. 1 2 3 "How Much of These Hills is Gold". Goodreads. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  39. ↑ Saka, Rasheeda (October 1, 2020). "Here's the shortlist for the Center for Fiction's 2020 First Novel Prize". Literary Hub. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  40. ↑ "2021 Literature Award Winners – American Academy of Arts and Letters" . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Here are the finalists for the 2021 Lambda Literary Award". Literary Hub. March 15, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Announcing the Finalists for the 2020 NBCC Awards". National Book Critics Circle. January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  43. ↑ "PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel". PEN America. March 23, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Announcing the 2021 Young Lions Fiction Award Finalists". The New York Public Library. April 9, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.