I’d wanted a book that would make me cry, and this one really delivered. The hardships faced by Elsa are simply relentless. This is a good book for the era of Covid when many Americans are publicly bitching about having to wear their masks at the Walmart. It’s set at the same time as The Grapes of Wrath: the Great Depression combined with the Dust Bowl. Now I’m going to have to re-read that novel, although this is a wonderful story from the point of view of a female of that era. The hardships she faces make wearing a mask at the grocery store seem pretty easy, and it’s a good reminder to be grateful for all the many ways our lives are no where near as bad as what Elsa and her family have to face.

The Texas panhandle is one of the places that the Dust Bowl decimated farms, so eventually Elsa takes her children west to California, the land of milk and honey, where there is supposed to be tons of work for everybody. One of the big money makers for migrants was picking cotton—I had no idea that’s ever been a crop in California. They face disgusting discrimination from the settled Californians because of how they have to live to scrap by. “People get scared when they lose their jobs, and they tend to blame outsiders. The first step is to call them criminals. The rest is easy.”

I highly recommend this novel. It’s wonderful.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 9, 2021.

Just finished The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, courtesy of NetGalley. The publication date is 2/9/2021. It is somewhat rare for me that a book can have such a strong effect on my emotions. But as I sit here wiping the tears away and smiling, I am once again struck by the amazing talent of Kristin Hannah and how she always transports me to a place and time so vivid. Just as she did with The Great Alone, in The Four Winds, she creates these incredible female characters that you want to know deeply. And with this story set during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, she evokes feelings that are striking a chord with what we are experiencing now in our place and time. Now I need to go read The Nightingale because I’m sure I will love it just as much and will be smiling and crying at the end (I know...I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet either) #thefourwinds #Netgalley

In the 1930s, the Great Plains of the United States and Canada suffered through a punishing drought which, along with destructive agricultural practices, caused 850 million tons of topsoil to be blown into the air, decimating farms and farmers in the Midwest and driving millions off their lands. These refugees overwhelmingly migrated west with the promise of jobs and as an escape from ecological destruction.

But in the West, especially in California, they were not welcomed with open arms, to say the least. Termed "Okies" because many came from Oklahoma, they were dehumanized and exploited by the big agricultural concerns of the California valleys, who leveraged their enormous numbers to squeeze labor from them for minimal pay insufficient to provide a livelihood for their families. They pitted desperate people against one another for the purpose of extracting fortunes from their lands.

This is the story of one family caught up in this horror. Elsa is a young woman, thought both frail and unattractive by her family, a narrative she incorporates into her own beliefs about herself. She is sheltered and not allowed an education, and the assumption is that she will never marry. This leaves Elsa bereft of all hope of bettering her circumstances. But one night, she determines to go out on the town (though she hardly knows herself what this might entail) and encounters Rafe Martinelli. He is kind and gentle, which seduces her and leaves her vulnerable to his ministrations. When the inevitable happens, her parents reject her and her unborn child, forcing Rafe to marry her and give up his aspirations to a college education.

When the drought and the deadly dust storms which follow make the Martinelli farm a dispirited place that sucks the life out of everyone on it, each reacts in the way that most reflects the people they truly are. Elsa discovers in herself a strength and capacity to love she had not previously thought possible. They stay on the farm as long as they can, but eventually Elsa and her children must join the migration west, where they will face more tests and tribulations to which they must rise or perish trying.

Based as it is in the truth of a catastrophe, this story is bound to be deeply difficult for both the writer and the reader. Still, this book is so unrelentingly grim it becomes a bit dull. Without any contrast, the sadness and struggle become a monochrome portrait. I realize this is what people in this time and place truly experienced, but novels are not merely retellings of grim truths and carry an obligation to be more than just a recitation of facts and portrayal of real-life situations; there must be some variety to the fare for them to be palatable at all. Many books have dealt with this tragedy and others even more dark and managed to be compelling reads, so I don't think I am being unjust is portraying this one as only moderately successful. Elsa is a compelling character, as are many of the members of her adopted family. The relationships she has in California feel real and heartfelt. But it's just not enough to make up for the relentless bleakness of the portrayal Hannah has given us. I also felt that the drama of the ending was far out of proportion to what came before it. I will not engage in any spoilers here, but suffice it to say that it feels artificially tacked on to provide some spice, even if it is one more in a long series of grim realities.

I admire this book far more than I like it. It is clear that Hannah has done her homework and feels a great compassion for those who went through such difficult, impossible, horrifying times. In fact, perhaps a bit more objectivity would have served her well. Empathy is all fine and well and gives us some of the best literature ever written, but it must be leavened with a sense of story that keeps us engaged and interested. Unfortunately, this book falls short of those aspirations.

Omg. The book hangover is real. I can feel it starting, and the tears haven't even dried on my cheeks. My eyes are still blurry, and yet I've already gone back to re-read passages. "Love. In the best of times, it is a dream. In the worst of times, a salvation." I think I've already read that a dozen times.

The Four Winds.... as someone who writes reviews it is odd to be at a loss of words when my soul is so full of emotion. This wasn't just a book, it was magnetic - pulling me into the story time and time again, even to the point where I was dancing with motion sickness simply because I couldn't put it down and the car ride took me away from the story for far too long.

Elsa Martinelli is one of the most compelling women I have experienced in literature. What sets her apart is not that she is verbose, grand, elegant, or witty, rather that she has this quiet tenacity. She has such beauty in her soul, and wants a life of passion, of love, of desire, and most importantly of belonging. Her whole life, told that she wasn't enough (pretty, smart, desirable) she humbly took it in and moved on.

Finally finding a way and a place to belong, the Depression hits and her life is upended. Now, her in-laws, her husband, and their two children fight for survival, holding on to dignity and pride. When Texas is no longer an option they go West, and you can feel the heartbreak. And through that heartbreak you can see the essence of Elsa as a warrior, "A warrior believes in an end she can't see and fights for it. A warrior never gives up. A warrior fights for those weaker than herself. It sounds like motherhood to me."

I'll end with this quote "Find your voice and use it...take chances...never give up."

Kristin Hannah is a genius! I was hooked from the moment the story began and there was not a single lull, which is common in historical sagas. Hannah’s strength is always her characters and Four Winds exceeds those expectations and so much more. Easily the best book I’ve read this year— in fact, I haven’t fallen in love with a novel like this since The Nightingale. This was so good for my soul. I can’t wait to read it again!

This epic family saga of the Great Depression spans the horrific dust bowl conditions of Texas farmlands to the sweltering California cotton fields. A story of one woman's grit and determination in the face of nearly-insurmountable tragedy and suffering, fans of U.S. historical fiction will find much to recommend in Kristin Hannah's newest novel, The Four Winds. Thoroughly researched, historically accurate, and carefully crafted, the story provides excruciatingly painful details surrounding the devastating effects of the Great Depression and the dust bowl conditions of the 1930s. Some readers may find the theme and tone somewhat maudlin and depressing, and at times the book's unredemptive bleakness threatens to overwhelm the plot, characters, and moments of sparkling insight.

Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #TheFourWinds from one of my favorite authors, #KristinHannah.

The Four Winds
Kristin Hannah
St Martin’s Press
Due to release: February 9, 2021

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this free ebook for my honest review.

Synopsis: Texas after the Great Depression when Americans were down as never before, out of money, out of hope and out of work a horrific drought strikes the Great Plains. A young woman, Elsa Wolcott Martinelli comes of age. Living on a farm during this great drought she is faced with a recurring decision of giving up the farm life and moving elsewhere to save her marriage and family.

My thoughts: Throughout the novel I kept thinking this sounds just like the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck written back in 1939. Here with Hannah’s novel we get the female perspective of what it was like to leave a land and people she loves and to journey to an unknown territory for the health and future of her children..

This was a gripping story that didn’t have the typical lull in the middle where a reader likes to skim through several pages/chapters to get to the meat of the story.

I loved the author’s reference to literary works such as The Illustrated Fanny Hill, the book that brought Elsa into her own sexuality and The Lady of Shallot when her parents locked her up for venturing toward her coming of age.

The imagery was very realistic as she described the cattle that died from the dust and wind storms when they were cut open there was no meat only dust. The children had to wear gas masks and when they didn’t Ant gets dust pneumonia, something I never even knew existed.

The idiom’s the author introduced were hilarious and I love learning usage of such figurative language from bygone ages such as bumping gums when someone is talking too much.

My biggest angst of the novel is the leaning towards communism is a good thing. The book turned completely political as Elsa’s daughter Lorena, when speaking with the librarian, says, “If there was only one class and everyone worked for the good of all, it would be a better world.” Loreda gets rescued by the communist organization after she ran away from home and she comes to understand the good the communist do and says of the communist organization, “Helping people [cotton workers] gets their attention.”

This is a heart-wrenching story of love and survival and family taking place during the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. So much of the story is heartbreaking, but it's also about triumphing over our trials and fighting unfairness. The characters in the book are well-developed and often drive the story more than the plot. This book is definitely reminiscent of The Great Alone to me in terms of the themes. It's a good read!

My gosh I loved this book. Thank you so much to the publishers for an early galley to read. Set in the early 1900s, our main character Elsa has been told since she was a child that she is ugly and infirm. When she gets pregnant out of wedlock, her family disowns her and she moves in with the father of her baby and his parents. They marry and set out to be farmers in Texas. Many trials and tribulations come Elsa's way as a farmer, mother, and wife.

I'm sad this book ended.

Just finished Kristin Hannah’s newest. Not sure where to start... this book will inspire everyone. It’s the story of a family caught in troubled times. The Great Depression has taken everything from the Martinellis. But it cannot take their courage and their love of each other. Elsa Lives her life believing she is not very worthwhile, but boy is she wrong. As usual Kristin Hannah proves how she can spin a story and give you “all the feels”. Don’t miss this one..preorder it now. And remember to read the authors note at the end of the book.

An incredible historical tale, depicting the story of the American people through the years of the Great Depression and its aftermath. Highly recommended!

A delicate, heartfelt and moving story. Kristen Hanna did it again, with a well written novel that makes you feel what the characters are feeling. So lively, so vivid, so real! I couldn’t stop reading this book, each page I read made me feel the most saddest, angriest and happiest feelings I could have experienced while reading this book. Highly recommend!!

Fans of Kristin Hannah will not be disappointed. She’s written a very well told story about the trials and terrible situations during the Great Depression. The story centers around Elsa and her children and begins in Texas and goes to California. The dust bowl, hunger, poverty and greedy landowners.
I’m so glad I’ve read this.

This book takes place in a time period that I know little about and honestly had very little interest in! But, I’m an avid reader of Kristin Hannah, so I was excited to read it! Within minutes I was hooked. Read it in one afternoon. Such a well crafted story about an environmental disaster, economic collapse, and politics in the 1930s.

What a fantastic book. If you loved The Nightengale, you will absolutely love this book. I feel like the market is saturated with WW2 historical fiction, but this book chronicles the devastating journey that a family makes to California during the Great Depression. The character development is so beautiful, and you will ugly cry at the end. This will easily make my top 3 books of 2020.

I loved this book! Kristin Hannah is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, and her writing is proof that she is well-versed in what makes up the human condition.

Elsa Martinelli was a fantastic heroine! Her strength and perseverance during a time when many were giving up hope was inspiring. She begrudgingly left the land she had come to love in order to make a better life for her children, but the journey west came with its own trials and tribulations. The “land of milk and honey” was not all it was cracked up to be, and life in California brought a whole new slew of struggles. But Elsa fought and sacrificed to provide for her family, and I truly admired her for never giving up hope.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful and often times heart-wrenching story, but I couldn’t give it any less than five stars. Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3538622742

The sweeping tale explores the history of the Great Depression in the dust bowl and also the exploitation of migrant workers. With beautifully written characters and a compelling story this book was a real page turner.

Would it really be a Kristin Hannah book if the end doesn't leave you ugly sobbing? You'd have to ask someone else, because once again, Kristin Hannah's newest book, The Four Winds, knocked it out of the park!

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher, who gave me this free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Two of my favorite Kristin Hannah books are The Nightingale and The Great Alone. They were about strong women who made difficult choices and many sacrifices. This story was also about a strong woman who never thought of herself as brave, but in the eyes of others, she was a true warrior.

As a young child, Elsa was stricken with rheumatic fever. After she recovered, her parents constantly made it known that she was not only unattractive but now also weak, and she would never be able to have that happy loving life that her beautiful sisters had with their husbands. Elsa felt this rejection by her family for over 25 years. She was lonely and alone. But she remembered the words of her grandfather, the only family member that ever loved her. He often told her to be brave. When she took this advice to heart, she snuck away for a night of adventure. She found this adventure in the form of an young Italian five years her junior. A few months later she was thrown out of her parents’ house and handed over to the Martinelli household with only her suitcase and life growing within her. This was the start of Elsa’s journey from a life unloved to truly knowing what it meant to be loved and give love under the most dire circumstances.

As per usual with a Kristin Hannah story, it was very engaging and extremely emotional. Tissues need to be close by because the characters experienced so much hardship during this time. It was the Great Depression. They lived in the Texan panhandle where Dust Bowls and endless days of droughts devastated their land and livelihood. Elsa and her children needed to travel west to California to protect her son’s lungs after he got sick. She was afraid, but once again she heard her grandfather’s words to be brave. When she reached California, life was not better. The farm owners took every advantage possible of these migrant workers. Elsa was beside herself with fear and worry. She struggled to keep her children safe and fed.But she heard her grandfather’s words once again to be brave.

I loved all these characters and they were so realistically written. They reminded me of those very real people captured so beautifully and hauntingly by famed photographer Dorothea Lange. But the one person who stood out, much like her famous photo of “Migrant Mother” was Elsa. I loved how Elsa developed into a strong empowering woman. With the guiding and loving ways of her in-laws, Elsa learned how to make what was needed to survive with what little was available. She was an example to her children of what it meant to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds and how love was the ultimate sustenance that kept them strong when most needed.

This was a very well written story, extremely captivating, and at times, heartbreakingly sad. This time period is always difficult to read, but sometimes those difficult reads are some of the best books around.

An ARC was given for an honest review.

Thank you for an advanced copy of The Four Winds! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Kristin Hannah really delivered, as always. This is a story about a family struggling to survive in the Dust Bowl and a mother who does everything for her family's survival. I loved the strong female characters, the historical fiction aspect of it, and the tiniest bit of romance sprinkled throughout. The themes are extremely relevant even today in the tumultuous times we are living.