The Four Winds
"The Bestselling Hardcover Novel of the Year."--Publishers Weekly
From the number-one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them. "My land tells its story if you listen. The story of our family." Texas, 1921. A time of abundance. The Great War is over, the bounty of the land is plentiful, and America is on the brink of a new and optimistic era. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a woman's only option, the future seems bleak. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows. By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail and water dries up and the earth cracks open. Dust storms roll relentlessly across the plains. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsa's tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive. In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa--like so many of her neighbors--must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family. The Four Winds is a rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it--the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
âThe Four Windsâ tells the story of Elsa Martinelli, a woman navigating the hardships of the Great Depression in Texas. Facing personal and societal struggles, Elsa must make difficult choices to protect her family and find hope amidst despair. The premise of resilience and survival during such a tumultuous time was compelling and promising.
However, I found this to be my least favorite book by Kristin Hannah. While I loved the idea behind the story, the writing felt choppy and lacked the lyrical quality that typically characterizes her work. The narrative seemed rushed at times, which detracted from the emotional depth I usually expect from her novels. Overall, while the story had potential, the execution left me disappointed.
However, I found this to be my least favorite book by Kristin Hannah. While I loved the idea behind the story, the writing felt choppy and lacked the lyrical quality that typically characterizes her work. The narrative seemed rushed at times, which detracted from the emotional depth I usually expect from her novels. Overall, while the story had potential, the execution left me disappointed.
This is my eighth Kristin Hannah novel and typically I really enjoy her historical fiction. The Four Winds was not as good as Winter Garden or The Great Alone in my opinion. One of Kristin Hannahâs strengths is really taking the reader to a place and time. In The Four Winds she didnât disappoint in her ability to transport to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. I can still taste and feel the dust that was everywhere. I also thought she did a great job with the mother/daughter relationship. That being said I have to agree with other reviewers that the plot dragged because it seemed like every possible bad thing that went wrong in this time period happened to Elsa. It was too much! So my overall rating would be a 3.5 rounded up for the beautiful descriptive writing. The ending was not my favorite.
I absolutely devoured this book! Its one of my favorites by Kristin Hannah now! I loved the main character, Elsa, who throughout the book you see a theme of her being brave, from the very beginning, when she cuts her hair and buys the red silk, to the very end! (I won't post spoilers) But her story is truly one of suffering and hardships, one right after the other, and she holds strong to her faith and is just a strong independent woman in general! I felt like Elsa's life was mostly sad, but she stayed positive and upbeat, even though awful things happen, there's so much to learn from her. It was incredibly inspiring to me, and I learned the grotesque way migrants were treated in California during the 30's. I felt angry whilst reading about California majority of the time. I felt like Elsa did have a choice to join the Communists at the end, & she chose to be brave.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.