Memory, Class, and Food in a Modern Magic Mountain

 Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang

Land of Milk and Honey book cover

I previously read Zhang’s How Much of These Hills is Gold, loving the story, characters, and how she used memory and trauma as a way to heal the wounds of the past. Land of Milk and Honey also has to do with memory and healing, but is also seems like more of a modern statement in dealing with and managing the kind of collective trauma we have lived in the past few years due to the COVID lockdowns. The book is much more than that, and I really enjoyed Zhang’s exploration of race, gender, class, and identity. However, the premise focuses on the narrator, a chef, who gains the opportunity to serve as a private chef for an exclusive group who manages to escape the smog and pollution that have basically eliminated sunlight and prevent food from growing. While she initially views this as an opportunity for which she may not be experienced (she somewhat exaggerated her resume), she comes to realize that the father and daughter for whom she works hired her for seemingly other reasons. It’s interesting to read about someone gaining an opportunity to advance professionally and have access and opportunities to perfect their craft, but yet, still be viewed as a kind of stereotype. I really liked that the narrator struggled with this, yet also seemed to take advantage of it at times. This is an excellent book that will challenge readers to think about their own identities, as well as how they might benefit from their statuses, and at what cost it comes to their identities. In addition to raising important questions about identity, class, race, and gender, Zhang also perfects the art of food writing, describing tastes, textures, and visuals in a descriptive way. I loved reading about the different dishes she created and the ingredients she used. I also think that like How Much of These Hills is Gold, the book also explores how trauma and memory (or -re-memory as Toni Morrison describes it in Beloved) shapes our perceptions and experiences in the present. The three main characters are all haunted by people in their past (mothers, wives) and how their mistreatment and regrets shape their own experiences and behaviors in the present. This is the kind of book I would like to revisit in a book club or to teach, as it is a well-layered book where I think a discussion with others might bring about other interesting aspects of the book. Looking forward to reading more from this amazing author.