A review by msrichardsreads89
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

The Four Winds was such a pleasant surprise! This follows a family through the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years in the 1930s and their resiliency and strength through incredible hardships. Elsa is an unforgettable character as well as her in-laws and children. We follow her journey from her home in Texas and her choice to take her family to California for more opportunities. I really appreciated the care the Kristin Hannah took in making this story realistic and true to life. She focuses on the plight of the working poor: how they were taken advantage of, how they struggled to feed their families, and how the dry heat and drought affected everyone and everything. Not only does Hannah focus on the Dust Bowl, but she also explores motherhood and doing the best you can with what you have. I enjoyed the exploration of poverty, greed, xenophobia, communism, unions, and how these themes affected the characters throughout the novel. This book will make you cry, but it ends on a note of hope. The writing was compelling and lovely, and I look forward to reading more of Kristin Hannah's work.