The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Title: The Four Winds

Author: Kristin Hannah

Release date: February 2, 2021

Length: 464 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

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****My Review****

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Books that take readers back to times that are seemingly familiar and yet so unexplored are my favorites. And whenever I have enough time, I like to embark on an adventure into the past that will offer me a new fictional world to explore.

The Four Winds is a haunting portrait of America and the American Dream, through the eyes of an unbreakable woman whose courage and sacrifice will define an entire generation.

Kristin Hannah will take you on a journey to Texas in the distant 1934. A period when a huge number of people lost everything: their jobs, their crops, their lands…
Additionally, an unprecedented drought was ravaging fertile lands. Farmers were trying to preserve their land doing everything in their power, but it was in vain. Crops die and everything dries up. Desolation and dust bring a gloom that can rival even the Great Depression.

One of the characters affected is Elsa. A young woman who is torn between the desire to preserve her country and the search for a better life. What should he decide without making a mistake? What is the right decision? Is there a correct decision?

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a book that I knew I would like from the very beginning. It was one of those books that hint at an interesting story that you just know will win you over. Undoubtedly I really love stories that include a dark period of history. And the fact that it is presented through the eyes of a suffering, but brave and extremely strong woman made it even more appealing.

Elsa as the main heroine in the story was a very dear and likable character. Quite modest, unaware of her values, and yet so brave. And as you read about her fate, it kind of hurts the way she has subjugated all her life in the circle of her own family.

Not only did her family underestimate her, but also labeled unattractive, ugly, and even undesirable. All of those things will touch you and make you angry. All her wishes and dreams were neglected and labeled as ridiculous. And all she wanted was to study.

An unplanned love situation brings consequences that she is not aware of at the beginning. Rejected by everyone, even her family, Elsa no longer knows where she belongs and where to continue her life.
In the end, she manages to find a small place under the sky. A husband she doesn’t love and in-laws that don’t like her become a family of hers. But because of her hard work and unobtrusiveness, she begins to fit in slowly.

From there, the story begins to lead us through Elsa’s life during the Great Depression. A period when she was starting her family, and struggling to survive and provide a better life for her children.

Readers discover everything about the condition and despair of many families who, in this dark period, were on the edge of existence. I was appalled by the greed of some people. I was saddened by the struggle to survive. But the truth was undeniable: while some were sinking into poverty, others were getting rich on their backs.

From the very first pages, you will feel the intensity that will suck you into the story. At times I felt like I was standing right there with them. This harrowing and heartbreaking period is so vividly conveyed that your heart will slowly break as you turn the pages.

Anyone who has read a story by Kristin Hannah knows that the author is a master at creating multidimensional and outstanding characters that do not leave you indifferent. As you read, you feel their struggles and pains. You empathize with them, even shed a tear or two. ( Or many more).

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is well-researched with all its excruciating details. Furthermore, the writing style is eloquent with rich descriptions and greatly balanced dialogues.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, I believe The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah will delight you. It is an emotional story about a family trying to survive during a difficult period that will awaken a whole range of emotions.