I felt this was a little slower to start than the rest of Kristin Hannah's previous books. However, as always, the reader is transported into the book and experiences everything that the characters experience. I could feel the dirt falling on me as I read about the dust storms. I felt fear and despair as they traveled into the unknown, in search for a better life. Kristin Hannah never fails to amaze me with her writing and her ability to submerse the reader into everything that the characters are feeling.

I always enjoy Kristin Hannah's book, her characters always have such depth and the story lines are so well researched and written. It took me a little longer than normal to get through this time but I believe that was because of the way some of the depression era stories of heartbreak, division and devastation mirror some of the trials of today. I just had to take longer breaks from it as I like to read as an escape from reality and this was just such an emotional read and at times just plain heartbreaking. I loved the character Elsa so much with her lack of confidence, low self esteem and yet such strength and grit to keep on going as well as helping others and sacrificing along the way. The historical information also has me wanting to learn more about the depression and the dust bowl eras.

The Four Winds is a masterpiece work of historical fiction, but it wasn't an easy read. Kristin Hannah succeeds in bringing this gritty moment in history to life; as a reader, it was difficult to vicariously experience every horrible moment of the Dust Bowl, as well as the fear and poverty of the Depression Era. This is not a "lost my business and have to eat canned soup" poverty, but an unbelievably terrifying, "will my children die?" reality that so many mothers lived through during this era.

Elsa Martinelli is born to a wealthy family, but she is unloved and lives a lonely, isolated life. When she meets the dashing dreamer Rafe Martinelli, she finally finds a sense of belonging through his loving and kind family. After several good years of prosperous farming and family life, the dust storms arrive in Texas and their lives change forever. Hannah writes so vividly and with so much emotion, that I felt like I was living through the pain right along with this family. She also does an amazing job writing about the migrant workers in California, and the prejudice and poverty they faced. I don't want to spoil any plot points, but this one is a must read for fans of historical fiction. Just be sure to read with a hankie (or two) nearby.

Thank you to St. Martin's and to NetGalley for the librarian preview copy!

I was holding off on reading this novel, thinking it may be too romantic or too historical and I was too restless, but I'm glad that I finally read it. Elsa Martinelli, our main character, starts out in the novel as the "homely" too tall sister who will never marry, and is basically housebound with her wealthy parents that are overly-protective of her because of her "weak heart," never showing her any encouragement. Fortunately, the sappy beginning changes quickly after, at twenty-five, Elsa, sneaks out of the house to go to a speakeasy, meets a cute eighteen year old Italian boy, and just like that has sex with him on his truck bed. Just like that, she's pregnant, and her parents dump her at the home of the boy, and his parents are heartbroken, since their son was leaving for college in three days, something that made them very proud.

We get through the slow opening of the novel, and the boy's parents grow to not only respect Elsa, but love Elsa, as Elsa becomes a vital part of their family during the Great Depression, working hard on their farm, which is basically in the middle of the Dust Belt, and nothing is growing, it never rains, and their son leaves her a note to say he's left to find a better life. He did ask his wife if she, and their two kids, would join him by going to California to find a better life, but she declined, something their older daughter never forgave her for doing.

The novel picks up when Elsa finally does leave for California and they live in migrant camps, hungry and broke, but she discovers that she is capable and liked by others. I found the historical details interesting of the "communists" who were supporting a strike, and how they organized, and how much they had to risk to fight for a living wage. Our author does love romance, so we did have a whirlwind of romance during all this turmoil and agitating, and we did get the Lifetime ending, but that wasn't necessarily bad, since it did bring the novel full circle.

Another great historical fiction!! I love this author's historical fiction writing. And to have read this story at such a volatile, but relatable time is so awesome. I loved the stories within the story and I love that Elsa fell in love.

Never miss a Kristin hannah book. Never disappointed. This one is as good as all the others. Great plot and character development.

A painful and poignant depiction of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. It dragged a bit in the second act, but I never stopped rooting for Elsa. I'd love to see a sequel that follows Lareda. And it seemed that seed may have been planted.

One of the best books I have read this year. Kristin really captures the fighting spirit it must have taken to survive the Dust Bowl. Going through history classes, you don't really grasp what actually happened and what that meant for those living through it. Even though all characters were fictional, it really gripped me and opened my eyes to the horrible conditions these people must have lived and died through.

Texas, 1921. Elsa, desperate for the love she can’t find in her own family, seeks solace in the arms of a younger man. When she gets pregnant, they marry, and she finally has a real family with her in-laws.
Texas, 1934. With the Depression and Dust Bowl, Elsa must decide between staying and fighting for her land or seeking better opportunities in California. What happens is raw, heartbreaking, and yet hopeful.

This was so good! Kristin Hannah has done it again-written a novel with a strong female protagonist who endures unthinkable challenges. Difficult times reveal what our true character is, and there is no stopping the fierceness of a mother’s love.

Wow, this book I could not put down! Reliving in a fictional world what farmers and their families endured during The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl, and The Migrant Worker strife brought me to tears. Especially seeing parallel instances that are occurring right now during the pandemic as it is very heart wrenching to read about. Kristin Hannah's writing is addicting and I love that she brings us real life historical events to capture our hearts and minds to show us what her characters must do to survive even if it isn't entire real. Thank you Kristin Hannah and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reading opportunity, I will definitely be purchasing once it releases in February along with recommending it to my friends and family.

This was another great historical fiction read from Kristen Hannah. Set during the Great Depression The Four Winds tells a story of Elsa and her children was they suffer through the dust bowl in Texas. She goes into great detail about the hardships and horrors of drought, starvation and dust. Elsa eventually reaches her breaking point and take her children out of one disaster or a journey to a better life that proves just as hard if not worse than the one she left behind. The details and research bring the hardships to life and are unfortunately relevant to life today. Than you NetGalley for letting me have an early chance to read this novel!

I am a huge Kristin Hannah fan. I have loved so many of her books. This one is an achievement in the technical aspect of writing. I felt every wrenching emotion I was meant to feel. But at this point, I must tell you something. This is not an uplifting book. Occasionally (very occasionally), there's a beautiful interlude thrown into the midst of despair. But that doesn't happen often. At first, I was disappointed because it felt like this story was a rewriting of John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath." Why was this very capable author rewriting a classic (that most of us have read) about a subject that in and of itself is so depressing and sad? Finally, in the last half of the book, I understood. It took a different turn than Steinbeck's did. And while some people might not appreciate the message, it was apt for the time and circumstances. America has a history that we sometimes can't be proud of. We always look back from the distance of time and think, "We will learn from this. We won't treat people like that anymore." And yet so often, we are doomed to repeat history in ways we later wish we hadn't. There were a couple of implausible things in this story, especially toward the end, that brought my rating down to four stars. But I can recommend this book easily. Just be sure to read it when you're in a good mood. And let's try to learn from the mistakes that were made during an unfortunate time in our history. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an advance reader's copy. I'm impressed.

I love historical fiction, but I tend to stick to my favorite go-to time period which is the WWII. Sometimes I may veer out of this era to something interesting that grabs my attention but I will admit the last time I remember reading a book set durng the Dust Bowl/Great Depression era was in high school for my senior research paper when I very begrudgingly read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I haaaaaated it. I don't think I even finished it and because it was such a long project it turned me off of books set in that same era. I figured if anyone could write a book about it that would hold my attention it was Kristin Hannah and I was right. I couldn't put it down. The book was interesting from start to finish. It was set in Texas (which may have been more interesting to me than Steinbeck's novel set in Oklahoma, because I am a Texan) and California and deals with not only a family's particular struggles but also protests about unfair wages and living conditions. I found it to be such a great book that all these many years later it made me feel like maybe I should give The Grapes of Wrath another chance. Kristin Hannah's historical fiction is always excellent. I recommend it to anyone who loves history.

In 'The Nightingale' Kristin Hannah takes us to the mountains between France and Spain where the brave traveled to escape the travesties of WW2. In 'The Great Alone' we learn about the harsh reality of life in Alaska. In 'The Four Winds' the author takes us back to the 1920s and 1930s, to the great plains, in north west Texas, and we are transported to life on farms in small towns, following the lives of the Martinelli's, Italian immigrants. The reader follows this family through prosperity, then the great depression and what came to be known as 'the dust bowl.' The author's descriptions are so vivid the reader feels what it's like for these people. living and breathing dust. From here, we follow the family as they migrate west towards California to escape the dust and survive. A running theme of this novel? You are brave because of your fear, that is courage.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life."

Good story. Like most good historical fiction, reading this had me looking for more information about the Dust Bowl. Incredible, almost unbelievable, what these people endured.

"Dust pneumonia. That's what they called it, but it was really loss and poverty and man's mistakes."

4☆

I was so excited to read this book. I’ve loved numerous other books by Kristin Hannah and the dust bowl is one of my favorite historical events to read about. There aren’t nearly enough books set during this time. This book was a tremendous disappointment to me. The ugliness of the main character was emphasized so much it was distracting. I felt like it was shoved down my throat, constantly. In fact, there were multiple times I quit reading simply because I couldn’t handle being reminded, repeatedly, that she was ugly. I wanted to love this book but ended up having to force myself to finish it. I never looked forward to picking it up. Very disappointing.

This is an amazing historical fiction story about the hardship of farming life during the 1920s and 1930s. Also, including life in The Great Depression of the United States. It focuses on the struggles of one family, but knowing there were so many others like this one, made it heartbreaking to read. At the same time, the story is lifting, that people will push forward in the most difficult situations to strive for a better future for themselves and most especially their children.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

You will be parched yet thankful for running water as you read this book. The misery of the Dust Bowl for individuals and communities unfolds for a young mother. I admired her courage and kindness despite the odds. Scenes still turn over in my mind.

One of my favorite Hannah books. A memorable and character-driven story highlighting a struggling American family led by a strong, amazing workhorse of a woman named Elsa. The setting takes place during the Great Depression, merging with the horrific dust storms of the Great Plains and one of the largest migrations in American History. Parched land, ruined crops and untold numbers of farm animals killed in the dust bowl states. The impact was devastating to hundreds of thousands hardworking Americans and migrants who lost everything and were treated with disdain by unsympathetic oafs who could not walk a mile in their shoes. Hannah’s portrait of Elsa, her tribulations and dedication to make a better life for her children was masterfully done. Children Ant and Loreda were lovely characters, innocents who had to grow up too soon and deal with things children never should have to deal with. Extraordinary story with well-drawn characters and brilliant writing.

4.5 stars

Kristin Hannah comes through again, and this time, it's in the Dust Bowl and on the California cotton fields.

This is my third Hannah read, and I have yet to find myself disappointed. The main character of this one, Elsa, is riveting from the start. She has a challenging family life, which is made worse through its visible and lasting impacts on her. The first signs of hope for her appear in her found family and carry on through additional found family members, as well as - especially - her own children. Her development and the growth of the people she encounters are what makes this novel great. I do think the California section of the novel is unnecessarily lengthy in places, but not in a way that degrades the overall quality of the narrative.

This is another solid product from Hannah, which incoming fans - and those new to Hannah's work - will equally enjoy. The author's note is not to be missed, by the way.