An unforgettable and deeply moving novel that captures the resilience of the human spirit. Set during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, the story follows Elsa Martinelli, a woman who finds her inner strength amid unimaginable hardships. Hannah's writing beautifully portrays the harsh realities of that era, painting vivid scenes of dust storms, poverty, and the struggle for survival, while also highlighting themes of love, family, and hope. Elsa is an incredibly relatable and inspiring character, and her growth throughout the novel is one of the book's greatest strengths. The emotional depth of the story is gripping from start to finish. You truly feel the weight of each decision she makes and the sacrifices that come with them. I couldn’t put it down and was deeply moved by the end. The Four Winds is not just a historical novel, but a testament to human perseverance in the face of adversity. Kristin Hannah has, once again, crafted a masterpiece that will stay with readers long after the final page. Highly recommend!
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A tale of hardship, loss and human kindness based on real events. This was a great read and very descriptively portrayed how desperate people living through the great drought in the ‘dust bowl’ of the USA pulled together and shared the little that they had with each other. Harrowing and heartwarming in equal measure.
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Elsa Woolcott knows she isn’t an attractive woman. She is considered too much of everything. Too tall. Too thin. Too pale. Too unsure of herself. We learn her self-esteem has been destroyed throughout her life by her parents who are forever reminding her she is “un-marriageable”. But at 25 years old, Elsa yearns for love. Intimacy. Propelled by her longing for acceptance, Elsa meets Rafe Martinelli, an 18 year old Italian migrant who convinces her to sleep with him on a number of occasions. Soon enough, Elsa becomes pregnant, and her father compels Rafe to marry Elsa so as to preserve the Woolcott family reputation, after which, Elsa is swiftly disowned. Twelve years later, Elsa is living on a farm in 1930s Texas, slap bang in the middle of the Great Depression littered with merciless dust storms and unending droughts jeopardising the livelihood of the farm she calls home. Her plight is worsened when Rafe abandons her, devastating Elsa who hoped he would one day grow to love her. With the water drying up, farmers fighting for their land and the dust storms threatening to bury anyone and everything that dares get in the way, Elsa must make the most agonising decision of her life: fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children west to California in search of a better life. 🥀 MY THOUGHTS 🥀 The author paints a poignant picture of despair while telling a powerful story of survival during one of the darkest economic crises in American history. As a primarily character-driven tale, Elsa was the perfect protagonist. I felt I resonated with Elsa’s pain on a strikingly personal level. It was as though I was reading about my own fears; my own heartaches; my own insecurities, which gave me an unexpected feeling of comfort and validation. It’s no surprise I cried (many MANY times) throughout my reading experience of this absolutely stunning book. An indisputable 5 ⭐️ read; beautifully written and perfectly paced.
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I learned a lot from this book. Although I was aware of course of The Great Depression, I don't think I'd really heard of The Great Drought or the Dustbowl before. I have since read more about it and seen some photographs from the era and it is sobering indeed. I could hardly believe the conditions that the hardy people of the Great Plains somehow managed to survive. It was an incredibly hard life for the farming community and even though it is now known that farming practices of the time contributed to the difficulties, it is clear that the harsh climate made it a struggle to live. Almost 100 years later, the environmental issues raised still resonate today. I admired Elsa enormously. Her strength and resilience were admirable and her determination to do absolutely anything to ensure the survival of her children. I really respected her quiet dignity in the face of adversity. It was eye-opening to read how badly the Americans moving west in the hope of a better life were treated by so many. It almost felt like deja vu as I thought about how immigrants today are often treated. And yet these were Americans moving from one state to another, perfectly legally but treated like dirt. My heart went out to Elsa and her family reading about everything they had to endure. Just when it seemed things couldn't get any worse, they did. The Four Winds is a powerful story about a remarkably strong woman and the love she has for her family. At times I felt heart-sorry for Elsa but for the most part I was just filled with respect and admiration for Elsa and the real-life women like her who did what they had to to survive. 4.5* rounded up
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The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a breathtakingly powerful novel on par, in my opinion, with classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird and The Color Purple. A magnificent blend of history with an emotionally gripping narrative, Hannah masterfully captures the spirit of survival and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children. The vivid descriptions, rich character development, and themes of perseverance and sacrifice make this book deeply moving and unforgettable. Absolutely riveting.
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Enjoyed, it took me too long h too read, due to it being Quite traumatic lots of dust & not much hope etc, there wasn’t much joy, something I think I have needed of late. A moving ending
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I struggled at times to read this book although it is well written and is based on real events. I then realised it is very similar to John Steinbecks classic the Grapes of Wrath.
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The book looks like new! highly recommend. Excellent value for price
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I write this review with the same heavy heart that I wrote for “The Nightingale.” Ms. Hannah has a gift that, in my opinion, VERY FEW authors possess; storytelling with off- the- chart passion, vision and heart. As with my last read I am compelled to state that readers will be transported into the story and literally become one with the environment, the people, and the adverse conditions they experience. The stellar writing makes it virtually impossible to distance oneself from the story at hand. The drought, the deprivation, the betrayal, tests the human spirit beyond comprehension. Elsa and her children, Loreda and “Ant” must make a difficult decision. I don’t want to offer any spoilers because I believe readers need to allow the story to unfold for themselves naturally as they read. I will say, however, this story epitomizes the bond between mother/child that is cemented at birth and is life long. It is also a true self discovery novel for the main character, Elsa. Her mother in law, Rose, is an amazing woman and so insightful. One of my favorite passages is this one shared at the birth of Loreda…. “Believe me Elsa, this girl will love you as no one ever has… and make you crazy and try your soul, often all at the same time.” Elsa and Loreda’s relationship is similar to many mother/daughter relationships in life. But… LOVE endures despite the volatility. THAT is the definition of motherhood. “” Elsa: “You taught me love. You, first in the whole world, and my love for you will outlive me.” I STRONGLY recommend this book. I’m convinced it will enlighten you as it has me about a time and place in our country’s history known as the Dust Bowl in the central plains, the severe drought and The Great Depression. It helped me understand the plight of proud, hardworking families forced to migrate to the West for a perceived better life and the fight for a fair wage and living conditions. You go, Jack Valen! It is not a light read for the purpose of entertaining only. This story will touch you, soul deep. As with The Nightingale, I will never forget the story and its relevance in modern times too. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟…..♾️! The Audible narration is superb! 👍🏻👍🏻
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I just finished reading the book today. The story is sad but full of empathy, sympathy, deep feelings and crying. This is a spectacular novel written by Kristin Hanna . I love her work. It’s been another masterpiece besides the rest of three books I recently read. The brutal events, raw feelings and emotions in form of an unforgettable fictional story. It was a great reading and I recommend it.
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Excelente romance ambientado no período da grande depressão Americana e do Dust Bowl na região do Texas panhandle, abordando o sofrimento e as mudanças dos aspectos sociais, econômicos, educacionais, migratório e de sáude, vivenciados por uma família de moradores daquele local
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I’m “hooked” on Hannah’s novels. Her writing is beautiful and full of historical detail. Her books bring imagined pleasures but also an insight of pain and agony when reading about injustice. She is both teacher and politician, bringing smiles and tears in her writing. A must for us all in understanding life.
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A really powerful story, a masterpiece; Vividly describes a phenomenon that until now I was unaware existed - the terrible dust storms that afflicted Texas, penetrating the lungs of animals and humans alike giving rise to often fatal illness. The poverty and cruelty of the Depression years is depicted with an intensity that makes you cry. It is above all the story of a family and a mother who fights to feed and care for her children against terrible odds.
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