How Much of These Hills Is Gold - C Pam Zhang - 3 stars

[Robin P]

This book got high praise for its originality and its anti-Romantic view of the American West. The problem for me was that last year I read In the Distance, which did the same things better. Both books have a certain quality of myth and the land is a character in itself. People are often cruel and daily life is a struggle for survival. I loved In The Distance and this one just didn't measure up. I think in a way it tried to do too much, incorporating several people's stories.

[Meli]

I just realized, I don't think I ever posted a review for this book 🤔

I think it was a 3 for me too, mainly the time jumping didn't work to propel the story. The Sam parts were most compelling. It got a little dull in parts.

Great concept, mostly enjoyable read with some lulls.

I will have to check out In The Distance.

[Robin P]

Book Concierge recommended In the Distance to us last year and although none of us had ever heard of it, I think everyone liked it. It also has some unusual storytelling methods.

I agree about the time jumping, I don't know why that is the norm in literary fiction (Hamnet and others do it). For instance, we know the characters are in a bad situation and then we have to go back and find out all the details of how everything bad happened. It's not that I find time jumps confusing, it just ruins the suspense and storytelling.

[Meli]

Usually I love that kinda literary device, but in this case it didn't add anything to the story or suspense or to propel the action along so it kinda fell flat. I wasn't sure what the author wanted to accomplish with it.

[Booknblues]

The time jumping in this book really bothered me. I remember thinking "Can't anyone write a book in consecutive order from start to finish anymore?"

I read In the Distance prior to this book and wasn't a fan. I guess I am the odd one out. I called it a Dali landscape without the melting clocks.

I rated both 3 stars and they both have merit which I underappreciated. Looking back if I were to rate, I prefer How much of these Hills.

[Meli]

@Booknblues - interesting comment regarding In The Distance! I like that description :)

[Robin P]

In the Distance is on sale today on Kindle for 1.99!

[Meli]

Robin P wrote: "In the Distance is on sale today on Kindle for 1.99!"

Sweet, thanks for the heads up!