The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah – Details
Book Title: The Four Winds
Book Author: Kristin Hannah
Audio Narrator: Julia Whelan
Date Published: February 2, 2021
Number of Pages: 464
Audio Length: 15 hours and 2 minutes
Achievements: An Amazon Top 5 Book of the Year (2021), A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick, Goodreads Book of the Month Book of the Year Award (2021)
My Rating: ★★★
Discussion: Do you feel a connection to the place you live?
The Four Winds – Summary
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel about a family living during the Great Depression. The story is centered on Elsa Martinelli, the mother of two children, who must figure out the best way to raise her children during times of hardship and discrimination.
In the beginning, Elsa Wolcott is a young woman in the 1920s. Unlike most other women in the 20s, Elsa is kept home by her overbearing parents and it seems she is destined to live life alone. One day, she meets Rafe Martinelli, who sweeps her off her feet and ends up having to marry her when she becomes pregnant.
Living with her new family, life is good until the Great Depression hits and the Dust Bowl becomes the worst place for farmers to survive. Thinking only of the welfare of her children, Loreda and Anthony, Elsa decided she must leave the home she loves and move her family to California.
Life is hard in California. Elsa and the children face discrimination everywhere they turn.
The four winds have blown us here, people from all across the country, to the very end 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.”
― Kristin Hannah, The Four Winds
The Four Winds – Book Review
My least favorite part of this book was the main character, Elsa Wolcott. Despite all of the problems throughout her life, she always had the correct attitude and seemed like a wonderful woman. Don’t get me wrong, I liked her, but there was no room for her to grow as a character when she already started out as a great person. It seemed a bit much to me that she never lost her composure or that she always knew the right thing to do or to say.
Occasionally, the POV switched from Elsa to her daughter, Loreda. I was more of a fan of Loreda because of how much she grew during the story. I liked her story a lot more, but by the time Loreda started to really interest me as a character, the book was almost over.
The depiction of the Great Depression was good. Kristin Hannah’s descriptions of life during this time really brought me into the story. I vividly pictured the hard work on the farm, the chaos of the dust storms, the fear of traveling across the country, and the discrimination that people faced in California.
Overall, I have to admit I was a little bored. I wish there had been a little more “oomph” to characters, especially the main character Elsa. It seemed like the book was more about the time period than the family it followed.
The Four Winds – Audiobook Review
Julia Whelan is an incredible narrator. She brings such emotion to the characters and I enjoy the voices that she gives to them. I honestly don’t know if I would have stuck with this book had I read it instead of listening to it.
If you search her name on Audible, there are 473 results (as of March 24, 2023). There’s no doubt in my mind that Julia Whelan is one of the best audiobook narrators out there.
Discussion – Do you feel a connection to the place you live?
My land tells its story if you listen. The story of our family. We plant, we tend, we harvest. I make wine from grape cuttings I brought here from Sicily, and the wine I make reminds me of my father. It binds us, one to another, as it has for generations. Now it will bind you to us.” ― Kristin Hannah, The Four Winds
During the time of the Dust Bowl, many families went West in search of a better life while others stayed behind. Many of those that stayed behind felt a deep connection to their land. In this story, we see both. Despite the love she had for her home, Elsa moved her family West for a better future while her in-laws stayed behind on the land they loved.
Do you feel a connection to the place you live? How difficult would it be for you to pack up and leave? Do you think you would have the courage to pack up and leave with no idea of where you were going and what you would find there?
I listened to this as well and enjoyed this history.
Kristin Hannah did an amazing job with the history in this story. It was really interesting to listen to that part.
I do understand why you would be frustrated with a character who seem to have no flaws. At least the history aspect of the story made it interesting.
I really enjoyed this book and the historical information that I gleamed from it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
I enjoyed the historical information too. I’m glad you liked the book.