THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah

 

One of "27 of 2021's Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Novels That Will Sweep You Away"—Oprah Magazine
One of "The Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2021"—Parade
One of the "Books Everyone Will Talk About in 2021"—PopSugar
One of "The 57 Most Anticipated Books Of 2021"—Elle
One of "The 21 Best Books of 2021 for Working Moms"—Working Mother
One of "The Most Anticipated Winter Books That Will Keep You Cozy All Season Long"—Stylecaster
One of the "Most Anticipated Books of 2021"—Frolic

"Through one woman’s survival during the harsh and haunting Dust Bowl, master storyteller, Kristin Hannah, reminds us that the human heart and our Earth are as tough, yet as fragile, as a change in the wind." —Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing

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 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.

My thoughts:

I have to admit this is my very first Kristin Hannah book. I am truly ashamed to admit that but it will not be my last. There are so many and each sounds so good. I even own a couple. How's that for crazy.

This book is so good. It made me laugh, cry, get angry, yell and cry some more. It will give you so many emotions. That is what makes a book great in my opinion.

Elsa had a hard life. From the time she was fourteen years old she was told she had a weak heart and was kept from doing anything that she truly wanted to do. Not because her parents really loved her enough to protect her but because they were somewhat ashamed of her. She was not like her two sisters. She was not like all the other girls. She was so much more though. You will get to know the true Elsa and how incredibly strong she really is. You will love her too. Or at least I did. I think she is probably one of the strongest females in any book I have ever read. She's a daughter, mother, wife, friend. She's a hard working woman who has given so much to others. Her life is hard but she is not one to give up. She fights for her children. She works so hard for them. She's all they have and they are all she has.

This book is based on an awful time in America's history. When crops died and there was no rain. No rain. Can you imagine that? Absolutely no rain for so long. Things go from bad to worse when the dust storms hit too. This is a deep historical fiction book based on real life in the early to mid thirties. What families went through. What they did to just survive. How cruel some people could be. It's a book that will keep you turning pages until the very end. Then you have to read the Author's Notes.. I'm so very sorry for the loss of you and your husband's friend Ms Hannah. I've lost a few too and it hurts. 

This book makes you feel the desperation that the people in this era went through. The hopelessness they felt. The need they felt. You will feel Elsa's pain in different places. When she is alone and thinks it's all her fault. When she feels love and finally knows she is worthy. When she feels so much pride for her children. When her daughter finally looks at her as if she is a human being. You know teenagers. They are always the same....

This is a great book. A very deeply touching book. One that will stick with you. It's just a great all around story of hope, loss, love and forgiveness. Of seeing your hard work pay off.

Thank you #NetGalley, #KristinHannah, #StMartin'sPress for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 stars and the highest recommendation to you all. Grab this book as soon as possible and read it.