Kristin Hannah did it again. This book is set during the Dust Bowl (a time period I am quick to say I don’t know a lot about). The characterization allows the reader to truly understand some of the hardships felt while helping the reader learn more about one of our Nation’s toughest times.

I am not someone who typically enjoys historical fiction, but Kristin Hannah has a way of bringing characters and time periods to life that draw you in, and Four Winds was no exception. I cried for Elsa and her hardships at several points in the story and rooted for her and children to find the stability and prosperity they so desired out West.

The four winds have blown us here, people from all across the country, to the very edge of this great land, and now, at last, we make our stand, fight for what we know to be right. We fight for our American dream, that it will be possible again.

One of my husband's favorite movies is the Grapes of Wrath which depict the time period of the dust bowl in the early 30's. Families that moved from the Great Plains to California with the dream of a better life. To find work and make a living to support their families. This movie is well watched in our family.

Elsa Wolcott is the main protagonist and her character is the many ironies of the time and the testing of what happened. Her character is filled with hard times, prejudice from her own parents, and a determination not to give up. Born to well to do parents, she was stricken with childhood sickness. Her parents resentments to Elsa was difficult to read. Her parents thru her out when she gave into her own desires. However, her new family taught her about determination and a love that remains. The Martinelli's farm was everything. Elsa found purpose and a love of the land that she lacked in her own family. Now with two children and husband that abandoned his family, and no relief in sight for the land, she must make the difficult decision to go west.

The relationships with Elsa was a big draw for me. Her relationship with her mother in law was encouraging while her relationship with her daughter was volatile. A daughter who was a dreamer and misunderstood her mother. Fortunately for her, her mother understood her. There is much heartache with this one. It is hard to read being a mom. Elsa had her breaking points but she continued on with love. A mother's love is the most misunderstood and it is difficult to judge. It is what makes dreams seem possible at a sacrifice.

A special thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

While this isn't my favorite from Kristin Hannah so far (that would be The Nightingale), this one was definitely worth the read. 

It was sad, poignant, and at the same time taught about a slice of history that I previously didn't know much about: the Dust Bowl. 

Really, though, this was much more a story of family bonds; especially that of mother and daughter and how no matter how distant you may feel from each other, that love never fades.

Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds was my first look into this part of American history (somehow I didn’t read the grapes of wrath?!) as a Texan, I could see the visual she was painting so clearly. I loved this story so much.

Elsa Wolcott was sick as a child. Now at 25 her family has labeled her a spinster and too weak and unattractive. Elsa loves books and would like to explore the places in her stories and maybe go to college. When she meets Raphael Martinelli(Rafe), a man who find her beautiful, life changes for them both.

Now married with a child on the way, Elsa has to give up her days at the library and become a farming woman and wife. 13 years, and 2 kids later, she finds herself with a missing husband and a drought that is killing off the land and making it very difficult to make money. With nothing to lose, Elsa takes her children west to either find work and money or her husband.

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but this book was very hard to put down. This story could have been about anyone who was trying to make a better life for themselves in this world. Highly recommend.

In all fairness, I might not be the most impartial reviewer...I've always loved everything Kristin Hannah writes, and The Four Winds was no different.

Similar to other books she's written, the theme of women facing challenging times and finding a way to survive is central. "The Four Winds" specifically explores the devastating impact of the dust bowl era on Elsa Martinelli and her family. Before reading this book, I had a limited understanding of the dust bowl and Great Depression in this context, but through Elsa's story, I gained a deeper appreciation for the horrors people endured. I was captivated by her story from the first page, and know The Four Winds will be one of those books that sticks with me for a long time.

An interesting, engaging, and well-written novel. Brings the time period to life on the page. Good characters. My first Hannah novel, and it won’t be my last.

I like this one better than The Great Alone, but not nearly as much as The Nightingale. Nightingale can never be topped, EVER.

Kristin Hannah books never seem to disappoint and Four Winds is no exception. While there can be a lot of detail and overly descriptive filler content that can sometimes seem to slow the story down the imagery and story telling is beautifully written.

This is a heart wrenching book about the dust bowl time. Decisions to make, where to go, what to do, how to make it. Kristin Hannah definitely knows how to pull at your heart when it comes to writing a book. Highly recommend this and any other book off hers

This was an amazing book. Set in Alaska around the time of the Vietnam War, it shows the struggles of a girl who is dealing with an unhappy home and her father's struggles with the aftermath of his service.

Hannah's writing is brilliant. She paints the desolation of their isolated home with bleakness, yet the book is not without hope. Her characters, as always, are true to life and read it is like being there in the room, watching it all happen.

Not my favorite Kristin Hannah (that's Firefly Lane), but a good book that was compelling.

What would you do for love?
I feel like this is the big question being asked throughout the whole of this book. I loved Elsa as a character and all of the ups and downs that we follow her through. Hannah did an amazing job in making the atmosphere of life during the years of the "Dust Bowl" come to life. I found every single character that we encounter on these pages interesting and to see how those years put a strain on so much of the country.
This is a story about a woman's love for her children and wanting to do what was best for them but having to fight tooth and nail to give them the bare necessities.
I would say for the last few chapters have some tissues near because I bawled the whole time.

Amazing read! Rich history that shined through in such a cohesive way along side the story of family, love and resilience.

This book felt like an emotional rollercoaster to me. I felt very quickly drawn in by the main character initially but then the pacing felt like it slowed down quite a bit after the first few chapters and I found it harder to like the main characters until farther down the line. The combination of the slower plot progression and feeling less connected to the characters made the second quarter of this book difficult to get through. Ultimately both the pacing and character development picked back up and I flew threw the second half of the book. The ending was beautifully put together and had me in tears. Having read a lot of Kristin Hannah's books, I would put this book in third behind The Great Alone and The Nightingale - still one of my top picks from her but not at the very top.

I really enjoy Hannah’s writing. I can tell she did a lot of extensive research on this one. At times it was hard to read because of the subject matter but I’m glad I stuck with it.

This is one of my top 5 all time favorite books. I did end up listening to this book on audio along with reading it - which I loved!

I also have never read a book during the dust bowl so it was a different read for me. But overall I really loved this book. I recommend it to anyone I can!

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a stunning masterpiece that takes you on a journey through the harsh realities of life in Texas during the 1930s. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the dust bowl, and the burning winds that destroyed everything in their path, this novel tells the story of Elsa Martinelli, an unremarkable woman who becomes a warrior in the face of adversity. The hardship, poverty, and prejudice that these poor farmers face are heart-wrenching to witness, but the message that love for one's family can survive everything shines through. The Four Winds is not an easy read, but it is an epic one that is beautifully written and will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Fans of Hannah's previous work like The Nightingale will likely enjoy this one just as much.

Elsa longs to be independent, to prove that she is stronger than her parents think, to live her life. Once she is out, married with children, drought hits – The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl. Now, she needs strength more than ever. Can she do what needs to be done to save her children, to save herself?

This story follows Elsa from her parents’ home to her husband’s and on to California, as she searches for a better life, or any life for her children. The first half to two-thirds of this move very slowly with much repetition, though it does include interesting historical details and situations. The final third is interesting, touching, and moves at a better pace.

I enjoyed this plot-driven book and the history was well researched. I would love to see another book like this that focuses on Mexican migrant workers. There was growth in the characters, even the ones I didn't like at the beginning. The ending was unexpected!