I love Kristin Hannah’s books!! The Great Alone was the first Kristin Hannah book I read, and I absolutely fell in love with her writing and storytelling. Since then, I’ve read many of her books. Her writing style emotionally draws you into the lives of each character. She makes you fall in love with them, and then shatters your heart into millions of pieces with their stories. You won’t want to miss her most recent!!
The Four Winds is a gritty historical fiction set in the Texas panhandle and California during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Kristin’s main character, Elsa Wolcott Martinelli, has had to struggle every day of her life. Her family withheld love, affection, and attention from her damaging her self-esteem. Elsa is timid, fearful, weak, and lonely. At the age of 25, Elsa decides to enjoy one night out on the town where she meets Rafe Martinelli. This one night leads to a pregnancy and a marriage to Rafe. Rafe and Elsa eventually have two children together, a boy and a girl. As bad turns to worse in the Texas panhandle, Elsa and her children are forced to leave Texas for California. As Elsa’s life moves forward, her many struggles begin to change her personality. She learns to be bold, fierce, strong, and courageous.
Hannah’s descriptions are so vivid you feel as though you are living on the Great Plains experiencing the drought, dying crops, heat, and dust storms. Hannah also gives great details of daily life in California’s squatter’s camps. You definitely want to add this book to your “to be read” list especially if you enjoy historical fiction from the 1920’s-1930’s time period. Fantastic book, Ms. Hannah!! You outdid yourself again!!
Availability: Book; Large Print Book; Book on CD; eBook & eAudiobook in cloudLibrary
Rating: ***** Stars (I loved it) Reviewer: Crystal, Branch Librarian
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS! The Four Winds
AWARDS: LibraryReads Favorites: 2021' Loan Stars Favorites: 2021
GENRE: Historical Fiction
WRITING STYLE: Engaging; Lyrical; Richly Detailed
TONE: Dramatic
LOCATION: California; Texas
TIME PERIOD: Depression Era (1929 - 1941) SUBJECT: Determination in Women; Dust Bowl Era; Family Relationships; Farm Life; Father Deserted Families; Land Use; Migrant Workers; Mother & Child; Moving to a New State; Strikes
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