In 1921, Texas, Elsa Wolcott is deemed many things… too old for marriage at 25, too tall, too plain, too – everything (according to her mother). The night she meets Rafe Martinelli changes everything in more ways than she could have ever imagined.
By 1934, dust storms are a constant threat. With failing crops, two children to feed, never ending work, never ending dust, and a barely there husband – Elsa once again is put in a position to make hard decisions that there seems to be no right answer to. Yet she is not alone. All over the country people are making these hard decisions to stay or to go – in hope that California will bring work and stability and a sense of peace for her family. And every day these options seem to be less of a choice, then a must is there is any hope for survival.
I had no idea when I picked this book up a couple of weeks ago that I would have trouble putting it down. I thought it was the perfect book in stature and content for the plane and the relaxing-in-a-chair time while in Alabama. I was right.
The Four Winds is not a light tale. You may see comments in reviews regarding it’s sadness, maybe even calling it depressing – and they wouldn’t be wrong. I would still recommend the book. For myself, The Four Winds, brought me to a time that I can only imagine the despair yet Kristin Hannah brought me close to getting a taste of the dust in my mouth, and feeling the weight of nowhere to turn.
And I couldn’t put it down.
Elsa’s journey is one I recommend. It’s a story of a hard life, yet a life all the same. There is hope and there is a fire within the book that you have to read to understand. I finished this book last night and I am still thinking about it. I am left with a feeling I have gained something special having read it.
I wish the same for you.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Book Journey 
Read and enjoyed this book. Her all time best was Nighingale IMO.
By the way, author is Kristin Hannah, not Kristin Higgins.
Oh good grief lol – thank you Joan, tired vacation brain 🙂
I’ve wanted to read this a while now…btw, check the author’s name hun
Thanks – I corrected that… I hope you read it 😉
I really enjoyed this book along another one you suggested–:The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.” Both winners of stories of strong women.
Yes – you are correct – strong women. Always appealing to me in books.
Great review. I loved this book, too. I wanted to stay with the characters a while longer, and felt I gained something special, too.
Agreed. I am still wondering where they went next. Almost like there could be a follow-up book of what happened with this next generation.
Somehow I have gone through life not having read any of her books. This one seems to speak to me the most of the ones she has written.
It’s heavy and even deeper than I prepared myself for – and probably an odd choice for vacation for me, but it worked.
I loved The Great Alone and The Nightingale by Hannah so am really looking forward to reading this one.
I think you will really enjoy reading this one Helen.
Definitely will pick this one up.