The Four Winds

And she's done it again! Kristin Hannah has a way of taking me on a journey into the past and leaving me with feelings of shock, sadness, anger and more knowledge than I started with, but she's also a master at taking all of that and showing there are those who, with the courage, strength and resiliency to survive, can change their stories in history, even change history itself. Lift themselves up, carry on and show the strength of the pure human spirit when everything around them is in tatters. The Four Winds is not the book for you if you're looking for an easy read that you can just blow through (no pun intended) and say, "Yeah, that was great." No it's a real story of a horrible time in American history. I chose this one to read right away because it dealt with The Great Depression, it seemed especially relative to me right now. What I would call a timely book for these times. As we go through what's being labeled as the worst economic disaster since The Great Depression, I wanted to know what went on to the marginalized people of our nation in the 1930's. Historically it's the underserved, poor and devastated that suffer in times of crisis, we're seeing it happening again and I wonder will we ever learn? What's it going to take? When is enough enough? Elsa Martinelli hasn't had an easy life, her family shunned her, she just wasn't pretty enough to warrant attention from them. But it's her life after marriage that the book concentrates on. Elsa finds herself in a new town, living on a farm with her in-laws within the Great Plains of America, what will soon be called The Dust Bowl after years of drought and failing farms, hungry families, mountains of dust being blown and covering everything in it's wake and little hope for change. She's a farm girl now and calls the Plains her home, but after years of trying to live in a place where the dust is burying them more every year, crops will not grow without water and it's become dangerous for her to stay, Elsa decides to migrate West to California with her daughter and son. A feat that she never dreamed she'd be able to do. They suffer greatly trying to make it across the country in an old, broken down truck, just the three of them. I would think in the 1930's a woman alone, with only her two young children would have to have been the bravest of the brave, the determined few who would do anything to find the American dream! Once they reached the Golden State their hopes and dreams of a new home, friendly neighbors and jobs, soon becomes a real life disappointment. There are no jobs for the thousands and thousands who are like Elsa trying to escape their dire circumstances and continue with their hopes of the American dream. Soon they'll have to settle for a spot in one of the many immigrant tent cities, where Elsa is again challenged to provide for her children as best she can. She finds a job picking cotton, but then goes through the injustice of the greedy owner. Her soul is constantly being chipped away, but she persisted! The residents of California are nothing short of mean and nasty to these immigrants and won't even give them a chance. They are taunted with names, discriminated against at every turn, left to suffer on their own, but Elsa is not giving up. It's so important to her to teach her children what's important in life and try to keep them in school, education will further their dreams for a better future. This will not be an easy task for Elsa, but she's become a tougher than nails kinda gal and doesn't stop trying any more than she'd stop loving her children, After meeting up with an activist/communist who has a heart for the downtrodden and wants to help, she encounters the other side of greed. Someone finally understands the nightmare she and thousands of other families are living through. She's hesitant at first to get involved, after all he is a communist, and during the 30's that was not the label you wanted attached to your name. Elsa's daughter has grown up to be a smart, independent thinker with ideas of her own, I loved to read that teen girls in the 1930's were not that much different from the 1990's when I was going through the hell of a teenage daughter with a strong independent personality who thought she knew it all. Anyway, her daughter sees things as a simple right and wrong conversation, but the realities of surviving are left to her mom, the one whose been particular about how honest she is with her for fear of scaring the kids or allowing them to think they're less than. She's one heck of a mom in a time when trying to care for oneself is hard enough, but to raise strong, resilient children is almost impossible. This will be another book that doesn't leave me soon. Both my parents survived the Great Depression, but for personal reasons never talked much about it. Every once in a while when my dad would tell a story of his childhood I could detect from the settings he used that he was one of the very poor in the 1930's. Little food, torn and outgrown clothes, no jobs, no money and hardship at every turn, but then I listen to stories my mom told and she was of the upper class and didn't go through any of this. I've always wondered how can this be? They lived miles from one another as kids, both of their sets of parents were hard working and caring people, the difference was money. It angers me that those who have are always making the decisions for those who don't . Blame it on capitalism, racism, cronyism or any other ism you can think of, to me it all boils down to a lack of humanity towards your fellow man/woman. When does kindness, caring and assisting those less fortunate come into the conversation? Are we again going to argue over ism's and whose right or wrong, or are we going to say enough is enough and begin treating others like we'd like to be treated, you know the golden rule we all learned as kids! I love Kristin Hannah and the way she can take a story of horrible circumstances and people's struggles and turn them into a need to read novel. Her research is always impeccable and her characters are real people with real problems and desires. Their stories need to be told, even though these are fictional characters, there are millions of everyday people who can relate to Elsa's strength, determination and persistence in her quest to better themselves in a world that's never on their side. The everyman/woman we all want to see make it. Through Hannah's books we get the chance to go back in history, hear the stories and see the resiliency of the human spirit again and again. Some are saying this one is just too depressing, yes it is, but sometimes we need to be uncomfortable in our own skin to have our eyes opened. Maybe because this story is being retold all over the US right now. Greed over need, power over what's good and just. sound bytes over action. This is a timely read and one that needs to be told. I suggest also reading Hannah's acknowledgements in the back of the book, it gave me insight into how she decided to write this one, what her inspiration was and a bit about where she stands on this nation in pain. Yes folks she's done it to me again, I don't cry over books, but this really rocked me. The Four Winds will be blowing through my mind for some time to come. Happy Reading!

Kristin Hannah is one of my absolute most favorite authors. I've read several but had missed this one, although I don't know how. THE FOUR WINDS is historical fiction at its best. I've read about the horrible drought during the Great Depression, but this story, focused on one family in the Texas Panhandle, is very intense; it grabbed me by the throat. Living on her parents' farm and abandoned by her husband as things become tougher and tougher, Elsa Martinelli attempts to raise her two children, a younger boy and a blossoming teen girl, with little money and almost no supplies and in worsening conditions. A dust storm sickens her vulnerable son, and a decision is made to take the car and drive to California, where everyone believes things will be better and healthier. What they imagined and what Elsa finds in the Golden State are two very separate things. As immigrants, she and her family struggle more and more to go on living. This is an incredible story and is about something undoubtedly true for thousands of Americans caught in the 1930s dust bowl tragedy. I highly recommend this book as intensely affecting.

I loved this book, but did not like the ending. The Four Winds was a powerful and emotional read. I loved the story and was completely drawn into Elsa’s journey; her strength, sacrifices, and determination as a mother during the Dust Bowl era felt raw and deeply human. Kristin Hannah does an incredible job bringing this period of history to life, and I found myself fully invested in the characters and their struggles. The story gave me a deep respect for what people endured during that time and really put into perspective how those struggles still echo in today’s world. While I truly loved the story, the ending didn’t quite land for me and felt a bit abrupt compared to the emotional build-up. That said, it didn’t take away from how impactful the journey was overall.

It's now 3:00AM and I'm sitting in my living room, and I'm so moved and ready to fight.. As we enter a new year with the same pandemic and political strife, so much of this book will open your eyes to the plight of those less fortunate trying to feed their families and make a living in dire times and trying to right wrongs. Sound familiar? It's Heartbreaking that we are fighting for the same BASIC human rights as we did 90+ YEARS AGO!!! The hardships faced by Elsa are simply relentless. Kristin Hannah wrote a visceral, richly detailed and atmospheric novel that will transport us back to the Dust Bowl and to the migrant settlements in California afterward, This is such a fascinating tale filled with captivating historical detail that gets glossed over in history books, Learning about the "company store" and how American citizens were forced to be basically slaves to these large farmers was eye-opening to me and I felt the desperation and hopelessness these people must have felt because they had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. By the end of this book, I cried, I raised my fist in the air.. and I also wondered Kristin Hannah has written so many great novels that one can only ponder if she can continue on the winning streak.. Her writing will break you, move you, and heal you -all at once and she offers no regrets only explanations of why, how, and when she decided to choose such subjects to tackle with the upmost of respect, dignity, and courage. Kristin Hannah began writing this novel over three years ago, before the pandemic, before the skyrocketing unemployment that would follow. And yet, this story is so relevant to our current days, the isolation, dwindling funds, people, as she says in her note at the end, frightened for their future, men in power shushing voices in order to further their own desires, wanting us to pay attention to what they say and not what they really mean or what they show by their actions. Or, as the Wizard of Oz said: ’Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.’

I write this review with the same heavy heart that I wrote for “The Nightingale.” Ms. Hannah has a gift that, in my opinion, VERY FEW authors possess; storytelling with off- the- chart passion, vision and heart. As with my last read I am compelled to state that readers will be transported into the story and literally become one with the environment, the people, and the adverse conditions they experience. The stellar writing makes it virtually impossible to distance oneself from the story at hand. The drought, the deprivation, the betrayal, tests the human spirit beyond comprehension. Elsa and her children, Loreda and “Ant” must make a difficult decision. I don’t want to offer any spoilers because I believe readers need to allow the story to unfold for themselves naturally as they read. I will say, however, this story epitomizes the bond between mother/child that is cemented at birth and is life long. It is also a true self discovery novel for the main character, Elsa. Her mother in law, Rose, is an amazing woman and so insightful. One of my favorite passages is this one shared at the birth of Loreda…. “Believe me Elsa, this girl will love you as no one ever has… and make you crazy and try your soul, often all at the same time.” Elsa and Loreda’s relationship is similar to many mother/daughter relationships in life. But… LOVE endures despite the volatility. THAT is the definition of motherhood. “” Elsa: “You taught me love. You, first in the whole world, and my love for you will outlive me.” I STRONGLY recommend this book. I’m convinced it will enlighten you as it has me about a time and place in our country’s history known as the Dust Bowl in the central plains, the severe drought and The Great Depression. It helped me understand the plight of proud, hardworking families forced to migrate to the West for a perceived better life and the fight for a fair wage and living conditions. You go, Jack Valen! It is not a light read for the purpose of entertaining only. This story will touch you, soul deep. As with The Nightingale, I will never forget the story and its relevance in modern times too. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟…..♾️! The Audible narration is superb! 👍🏻👍🏻

The incredibly talented Kristin Hannah’s newest effort, “The Four Winds,” once again, showcases her writing ability: a remarkable story with unforgettable characters, reader appeal, and grammatical sparkle. There are not many authors like Hannah around, so it is refreshing to get a new book from her every now and then. As usual, my counsel is to not miss it. Elsa Wolcott, enters the 1920s at a stressful time for her. After being newly married at an age considered too mature by most, times get hard in Texas. She and her husband, Rafe, struggle on their Texas farm until 1934, when husband, worn down to a life of morbid desperation caused by poor weather and even poorer soil and failing crops, can’t take the tough life anymore, packs up and leaves for parts unknown, abandoning his equally disparate wife and two raggedy children, all of them sick and hungry. Elsa struggles to keep it together through relentless dust storms and droughts that continue to ravish the already crusty soil, further diminishing the skimpy crops until it also becomes too much for her to handle. She is forced to make a choice. She will probably perish if she stays on the land she loves or she can move to golden California where life is easy and much kinder, or so she is told. Making a hard decision, she packs their meager belongings, gathers what little money they have, and, with children in tow, begins the trek to an easier life in an old, broken-down truck. But California is not that golden. Too many people like her have fled their horrible existence and reached the promised land already, making harsh demands on the land that can’t be met. So now she has to continue working like a dog, picking cotton for little or no money, struggling to get food for her family, fighting the resentment of California natives over “Okies” moving in, and trying to find jobs where none exist. Living in a huge farm worker settlement alongside a dirty water ditch, her existence is worse than before. But she struggles on. This story is about unbending willpower. The author has piled immense hardship on her characters and has ways of communicating the privation that will bring tears and gut-wrenching pain to her readers. Her protagonists struggle along, dragging readers with them actually passing along their pain and discomfort as actual physical events to those that are reading about them. Think of Jack London and his characters suffering the immense cold of below zero temperatures or tortured slaves as they suffer through their chained existence in the stinking holds of sea-tossed slave ships. The adversity is actually physically felt by the reader. Hannah has that kind of reality in her writing. No spoilers here. You’ll actually have to read this book to get relief from the agony, and I recommend that you do. Schuyler T Wallace Author of TIN LIZARD TALES

Kristin Hannah is an excellent writer. I was glad to learn more about my home State and the history of the migrant workers. I gave it 4 stars because I felt it dwelled too much on the hardships and difficulties. Yes it’s sad and the depression is as well. There were times in this book where it could have gone other directions. Re- uniting with loved ones or even a follow up on folks she parted ways with. Some character development and depth on those people. The ending was abrupt and could have gone differently as well. Granted every book doesn’t have a happy ending, like life, but this is about fictional characters and should be more geared to the reader. This is her audience.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is the story of resilience, courage and the will to survive in the face of impossible odds. When growing up inside her family home, Elsa Wolcott never pictured herself married with children of her own. Led to believe she was sickly and plain, Elsa was resigned to the life of a spinster for the rest of her life. But a bold and daring move one night leads her to meet Rafe Martinelli and her world is forever changed. Finding herself in the family way, Elsa is shamed and cast from her parents home and coerced into marrying Rafe and living with the Martinellis. Life is difficult at first, but Elsa is determined to win Rafe’s love and his parents’ approval. As time goes by, Elsa becomes attached to her in-laws and they to her, as well as the two children the marriage produces. However, Rafe has other dreams that don’t include life on the farm with a family to raise. When the depression hits, followed by financial ruin due to dust storms caused by excessive drought and years of overfarming, Rafe abandons his family and farm for what he believes are greener pastures. As the years go by and the drought and dust storms continue, Elsa is encouraged to head west for the health and well being of her children. Marketed as the land of milk and honey, Elsa heads to California with her children in tow and the few precious possessions they have. Unfortunately, the living conditions are terrible at best in the migrant camps and work is scarce. With her resources starting to run short and three mouths to feed, Elsa must stand her ground and do whatever it takes to survive. The Workers Alliance uniting migrant workers to fight for fair wages and work practices seems to offer hope. But all actions have their consequences as Elsa soon finds out. The only question that remains is how much is she willing to lose in order to gain. I have read so many of Kristin Hannah’s books and like all her books they stay with you long after you finish reading them. This book put me in the same frame of mind as The Grapes of Wrath. The heartache and the struggle of families that were promised a grand life of fruitful work and good wages, only to find little work, paltry wages and unsanitary living conditions was heartbreaking. As with all her novels, her characters in this story exuded so much strength and love for one another. I especially liked Rose and Tony Martinelli, but Elsa and her daughter Loreda were my favorite characters by far. Their inner strength to continue living, working and hoping for a better tomorrow despite all the insurmountable odds was truly amazing. To watch Elsa’s transformation from a diminutive young woman that nobody gave a second glance to, to a strong independent woman with a heart so full of love and strength was extremely gratifying. Anyone who reads this novel will love her spirit and tenacity to survive and pass this fearlessness on to her children. The only thing I would have liked to have known is what happened to Rafe. Never seen or heard from again, I would have liked to have known his outcome. In closing, The Four Winds is a great novel worth the time to read. From the very beginning to the end, you will be caught up in the life of Elsa Wolcott Martinelli and travel with her from the Texas panhandle to the coast of California. You will cheer with her and cry with her, but most of all you will come to love and admire her.

Amazing story and beautifully written. The only thing i could criticise a bit would be the ending,it felt a bit forced and unrealistic, but overall i highly recommend.

No puedo creer que me salga mas barato un libro importado! y en inglés!!!

Elsa is a young woman growing up in Texas in a well-to-do but emotionally distant family. Frail after a childhood bout of rheumatic fever, she feels unloved and unwanted, convinced she is plain and undesirable. At 25, still unmarried unlike her sisters, Elsa longs for a different life. When she meets Rafe Martinelli, a charming young man from a working-class background, she falls in love. But when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock, her parents disown her. Forced to leave her privileged life behind, Elsa moves in with Rafe’s family on their farm. Life there is tough and unrelenting, but she adapts and builds a life with Rafe, raising two children, Loreda and Ant. As the Great Depression sets in and a devastating drought destroys their land, Elsa is faced with an impossible choice: stay and endure, or flee west to California in search of a better future for her children. What follows is a gripping portrayal of Elsa’s journey as she faces poverty, discrimination, and brutal working conditions in California. Yet through every hardship, her love for her children give her strength. The Texan dust storms, once unbearable, almost seem gentler than the cruelty she encounters in the so-called land of opportunity. The Four Winds is a powerful story of maternal love, female resilience, friendship, and sacrifice. It also makes us see the inequality, work exploitation, and the myth of the American Dream, asking whether it is truly attainable for all, or just for a privileged few. Elsa is a deeply developed and compelling protagonist. However, some of the secondary characters, particularly Rafe, could have been more developed. That said, the emotional impact and historical richness of the novel more than make up for this. A thoroughly moving and unforgettable read, both heartbreaking and inspiring.

I gave this novel a try after all the positive accolades. I wasn’t expecting much, but was hoping it would be better than the Nightgale, which was a generous 4/5 for me. This met and exceeded my expectations. It’s much better written, very gripping, with flawed characters that you want to root for. There is so much history and I loved learning what I wasn’t taught in school. The daily hardships of life at that time and in that region were brought to life in such a moving way. The struggles of a single mother were so eloquently developed and described. The dialogues felt real and human. This kind of book makes you appreciate life in the 21st century, and be grateful for all the things we take for granted. To those giving this book a low rating because of the ending: 1) grow up; 2) perhaps you should stick to the Hallmark channel; 3) what better ending than your child achieving what you wished them to be when they were born? You won’t regret reading this one.

Another great Kristen Hannah read!