The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Book Review

As someone who LOVED The Nightingale and The Great Alone, I was so looking forward to reading The Four Winds. I’m also a huge fan of historical fiction and love finding books that cover periods of history or events of which I don’t have an intimate knowledge. While I certainly learned a lot about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression from this one, The Four Winds didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

The story covers a large chunk of history, as it begins in 1921 and ends in 1940. This multigenerational story focuses on the Martinelli family. The lead protagonist, Elsa, becomes pregnant at a young age, at which time her family abandons her. Upon marrying into the Martinelli family, Elsa finds a new home on the Martinelli’s beloved Texas farm. As the 1930s dawn and the Great Depression worsens, so does the drought in the Great Plains. In order to protect her family, Elsa makes the difficult decision to move her family West in search of a better life. Upon arriving in California, nothing is as expected. One hardship after another shatters Elsa’s American dream and forces her to take drastic measures to protect her family and stand up for what’s right.

While I did find the story engaging and fascinating, I struggled with the fact that SO much of the story was completely depressing. Going in, I expected a certain level of tragedy, given the time period in which the book takes place; however, it seemed like nothing good happened for about 90% of the book. At the end, we finally see Elsa step into her power and find her voice, however, even then, it’s not exactly a happy ending. I personally would have liked to see a few more “wins” for the lead characters despite the troubling time period. Although perhaps that lack of positivity was intentional on Kristin Hannah’s part, as she sought to portray a difficult period in American history as realistically as possible.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Have you read The Four Winds?? If so, I would LOVE to know your thoughts.