The Four Winds

The Four Winds is an epic historical novel that takes the reader back to The Great Depression and a family who suffered through it all. This involves the greatest generation of all, for they were the strongest, most resilient and determined to make a life for themselves despite the dire circumstances of nature, other events, and heartache.

This was a tough book to read because it involved so much heartbreak as the author takes us through the daily life of this family and all their struggles. The main protagonist Elsa is a woman who has been unloved by her family, mistreated by her husband and not accepted by her daughter. All Elsa wants is to love and be loved, something that she has desperately needed all her life. She struggles to be a good wife, mother, and eventual daughter-in-law when she moves in with her in-laws after being ostracized by her parents when she realizes she is pregnant.

Elsa discovers that she is loved and needed by her mother- and father-in-law but not appreciated by her husband for what she is, a hard worker who is determined to make a good life for herself and her family. It was difficult to watch Elsa with her struggles and how she never gave up even after her husband abandoned her and their two children.

There is mention of how the immigrants from one state to another were mistreated and shunned by others, exploited by the cotton and fruit plantations, and forced to grovel and somehow survive reminiscent of some of the problems in our society today.

An unforgettable and epic read that I highly recommend. Be prepared to feel the heart wrenching despair of the characters told expertly through this amazing author's prose.

I think Kristen Hanna is a good author, in general, but I think that this book was too long, too drawn out, the suffering seemed to never end.. but of course, it wrapped up very nicely at the very end. I felt like I would never get to the end of it. It was very descriptive and no doubt very authentically historical. But I couldn’t wait to finish it and I only did because I needed to, Just because I had invested so much time in it. I did not expect it to get better, and it did not . It’s much like the classic grapes of wrath, but not nearly as well written. overall, I was disappointed. I feel like she had felt that she needed to write another book- and this is what it was.

The four winds have blown us here, people from all across the country, to the very edge of this great land, and now, at last, we make our stand, fight for what we know to be right. We fight for our American dream, that it will be possible again.

One of my husband's favorite movies is the Grapes of Wrath which depict the time period of the dust bowl in the early 30's. Families that moved from the Great Plains to California with the dream of a better life. To find work and make a living to support their families. This movie is well watched in our family.

Elsa Wolcott is the main protagonist and her character is the many ironies of the time and the testing of what happened. Her character is filled with hard times, prejudice from her own parents, and a determination not to give up. Born to well to do parents, she was stricken with childhood sickness. Her parents resentments to Elsa was difficult to read. Her parents thru her out when she gave into her own desires. However, her new family taught her about determination and a love that remains. The Martinelli's farm was everything. Elsa found purpose and a love of the land that she lacked in her own family. Now with two children and husband that abandoned his family, and no relief in sight for the land, she must make the difficult decision to go west.

The relationships with Elsa was a big draw for me. Her relationship with her mother in law was encouraging while her relationship with her daughter was volatile. A daughter who was a dreamer and misunderstood her mother. Fortunately for her, her mother understood her. There is much heartache with this one. It is hard to read being a mom. Elsa had her breaking points but she continued on with love. A mother's love is the most misunderstood and it is difficult to judge. It is what makes dreams seem possible at a sacrifice.

A special thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.