Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah, February 2021

Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah, February, 2021, St. Martin’s Press

Kudos to Kristin Hannah, the author of “The Four Winds” for writing such a powerful, poignant, captivating, dramatic, thought-provoking and memorable novel. The genres for this novel are historical fiction, family drama and women’s fiction. The timeline for this story is between 1921 and around 1934. The author describes the dramatic characters as complex and complicated. There is a comparison and symbolic relationship between the land, the family and the people. I love that Kristin Hannah shows courageous and brave women, and mothers, who show love to their families and the land.

In 1921, just after World War One, the authors describes the wonderful bounty of the land and how farmers are doing well. Elsa Martinelli is constantly reminded by her parents that she and her ideals are not good enough. When Elsa is thrown out, she is welcomed by her lover’s family, and gets married. Elsa loves her two children more than anything, and works and respects the land that provided food and money for them.

As the dust storms, and the land doesn’t provide sustenance or life anymore there is much anger and frustration. Elsa’s husband no longer can deal with nothing, and leaves. Elsa stays with her in-laws and children. The draught and the sand storms bring illness and financial ruin. The Dust Bowl era joins the Great Depression. People leave going to California for a better life. Elsa is shocked that they aren’t welcome. Picking cotton and fruit seem to be a way to barely survive.

Elsa has tried to find a better life for her children and fights both the land and the people that take advantage that keep her in poverty. Elsa tries to show her children that you have to stand up for what you believe in. She shows that they have to be strong, believe and have courage.

I appreciate that the author describes the importance of working together, the importance of family, friends, love, hope and fighting for what you believe in. I would highly recommend this amazing and memorable novel.