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A review by karenluvstoread
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
4.0
“Books had always been her solace; novels gave her the space to be bold, brave, beautiful, if only in her own imagination.” ~ The Four Winds, p. 15
The Four Winds is a gripping story of survival. It brings to life what it was like for those who lived in the Great Depression and Dust Bowl time. It really highlights the strength and resilience of a woman and her family who endured so much suffering and hardship.
This book was engrossing. The story and the setting were so immersive. And I loved that I had already read The Grapes of Wrath before reading this, as it deals with the same historical time frame.
Having already read The Grapes of Wrath before reading Hannah’s novel, I was able to see the differences and similarities. Here are some of my observations:
*Steinbeck’s writing in The Grapes of Wrath felt grittier and coarser in the way it was written. I often describe Steinbeck’s writing as gritty, raw, earthy. I feel Hannah’s writing in The Four Winds doesn’t have that same grittiness as Steinbeck’s work, but still contains a rawness to it.
*Both books tell similar stories in that they are both set in the time of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Yet each author focuses on some different aspects amongst the similarities.
*The structures of the novels are different as well. I loved how Steinbeck structured his story with the alternating chapters of a general overview of what was going on, then subsequent chapters exhibiting that overview as the focus shifts to the Joad family. Hannah’s novel is a more traditional straight forward telling of a story from beginning to end. Both were very effective.
Amongst the similarities and differences of the two, I still feel both novels are absolutely excellent. They each do a great job of showing the effects on the farmers, their families, and their way of life. They both pack an emotional punch. I do think, though, that Steinbeck’s writing is more evocative at times. There were moments in The Grapes of Wrath where Steinbeck’s writing left me utterly speechless. So while I loved both of these books and I think they are equally compelling in their own ways, I think Steinbeck’s work stands a cut above.
The Four Winds is a gripping story of survival. It brings to life what it was like for those who lived in the Great Depression and Dust Bowl time. It really highlights the strength and resilience of a woman and her family who endured so much suffering and hardship.
This book was engrossing. The story and the setting were so immersive. And I loved that I had already read The Grapes of Wrath before reading this, as it deals with the same historical time frame.
Having already read The Grapes of Wrath before reading Hannah’s novel, I was able to see the differences and similarities. Here are some of my observations:
*Steinbeck’s writing in The Grapes of Wrath felt grittier and coarser in the way it was written. I often describe Steinbeck’s writing as gritty, raw, earthy. I feel Hannah’s writing in The Four Winds doesn’t have that same grittiness as Steinbeck’s work, but still contains a rawness to it.
*Both books tell similar stories in that they are both set in the time of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Yet each author focuses on some different aspects amongst the similarities.
*The structures of the novels are different as well. I loved how Steinbeck structured his story with the alternating chapters of a general overview of what was going on, then subsequent chapters exhibiting that overview as the focus shifts to the Joad family. Hannah’s novel is a more traditional straight forward telling of a story from beginning to end. Both were very effective.
Amongst the similarities and differences of the two, I still feel both novels are absolutely excellent. They each do a great job of showing the effects on the farmers, their families, and their way of life. They both pack an emotional punch. I do think, though, that Steinbeck’s writing is more evocative at times. There were moments in The Grapes of Wrath where Steinbeck’s writing left me utterly speechless. So while I loved both of these books and I think they are equally compelling in their own ways, I think Steinbeck’s work stands a cut above.