Reviews

Wow!! Many tears were shed with this book.

Elsa who was disowned by her family after getting pregnant by teenage Rafe, makes a life for herself on the farm during the dustbowl era in Texas.

Then she ends up in California with her children picking cotton, and rising up against the crooked land owners.

But it’s so much more than that. It’s the the love she has for her children, it’s the strength she has to do this all on her own. It’s the length women go to to protect and provide.

It’s a beautiful book. One that will stay with for a long time.

mklug's review against another edition

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5.0

Another amazing historical fiction from Kristin Hannah! This book shattered my heart to pieces but I loved every minute of it!

kolson687's review against another edition

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4.0

This is my eighth Kristin Hannah novel and typically I really enjoy her historical fiction. The Four Winds was not as good as Winter Garden or The Great Alone in my opinion. One of Kristin Hannah’s strengths is really taking the reader to a place and time. In The Four Winds she didn’t disappoint in her ability to transport to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. I can still taste and feel the dust that was everywhere. I also thought she did a great job with the mother/daughter relationship. That being said I have to agree with other reviewers that the plot dragged because it seemed like every possible bad thing that went wrong in this time period happened to Elsa. It was too much! So my overall rating would be a 3.5 rounded up for the beautiful descriptive writing. The ending was not my favorite.

lindathorneby's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

thaonhi001's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I came in with high expectations because Kristin Hannah has such an amazing story telling ability and absurdly mesmerizing language choice. While the 2 points above still hold, I do find this book too lengthy and stretched for my liking. There was not much development I was hoping for, but more of the same daily, repeated suffering that drags on and on. I really enjoyed the first part before Elsa got pregnant as it reminded me of Jane Austen’s classic stories. However, as the true story unfolded, I did got bored here and there.

The Communist movement is a bit unexpected (since it is still a sensitive topic), but I was not repulsed by it. I love the characters’ steadfastness and solid character build. I also love the dynamic between Elsa, her children and her community. Personally, I would not want her to die, but I guess that did end the book nicely.

kms0037's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jessbuchanan's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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