This book was a DIFFICULT read for me. It was incredibly well written, and the story felt more immersive than most, in my opinion. The story starts off depressing, and then it gets more depressing. Then there’s a bit of hope and happiness for the main character, which lasts for but a moment, before everything falls apart and the book continues on its downward spiral of ever-deepening depression. And then she dies.

The Four Winds was so well written that it stuck with me, affecting my daily mood. I had to take many, many breaks just for my own emotional wellbeing.

That said, I am so glad to have read it. ( )

Even though this book is listed as historical fiction, this actually a very slow moving and repetitive family drama set during a historical period. I cannot say I learned much new information about the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl through this story. Although I realize Hannah is a popular author, this book just didn't work for me.

Overall rating: 2.5 stars ( )

Everyone needs to read this book. ( )

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS
(Print: 2/2/2021; 9781250178602; St. Martin’s Press; 464 pages)
Audio: 2/2/2021; 9781250317247; Macmillan Audio; duration 15:08:47 (15 parts).
(Film: No).

CHARACTERS:
Elsa Wolcott-Martinelli
Raffaello (Rafe) Martinelli
Rose Martinelli
Tony Martinelli
Loreda Martinelli
Anthony Martinelli
Jean
Jake

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
This story reminded me a bit of the Grapes of Wrath, and a bit of Norma Rae, but that doesn’t tell you anything about the depth of this story—just a little about the subject matter. True to Kristin’s previous works, this story has vivid female characters, remarkable detail, tremendous heart, and unconscious strength.
There’s also an excellent interview with the author and the narrator at the end!

AUTHOR:
Kristin Hannah (9/25/1960). According to Wikibioage, “Kristin Hannah is a writer who has won numbers of awards which also include The Golden Heart, The Maggie, as well as the 1996 National Reader’s Choice Award. In addition to that, she is also a best-selling author of over 20 novels such as The Nightingale, Night Road, Winter Garden, and Firefly Lane. She is an American by nationality.”
She was born in Garden Grove, California; and now has homes in Washington state and Hawaii (I know the Garden Grove part from that wiki page, and the current part because I followed her blog when I first got interested in her writing with Firefly Lane, which morphed into a Facebook page, and I am on her newsletter list)

NARRATOR:
Julia Whelan. According to Wikipedia, “Julia May Whelan (born May 8, 1984) is an American actress and author. She is best known for her role as Grace Manning on the TV drama series Once and Again (1999-2002), and her co-starring role in the 2002 Lifetime Television movie, The Secret Life of Zoey. A noted child actor, Whelan first appeared on screen at the age of eleven, and continued to take television roles until her matriculation into Middlebury College in 2004; Whelan graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury in 2008 after spending the 2006-7 academic year as a visiting student at Lincoln College, Oxford.[1][2] Whelan returned to film acting in November 2008 with a role in the fantasy thriller Fading of the Cries.[3]”
I loved the interview at the end of this book where Julia talks a little about being an audiobook narrator, something I’ve always thought would be fun, but am pretty sure I don’t have the talent for. She is so impressively articulate in this interview that I had to check on whether she’d ever written anything herself. She has, so I’m adding that to my want to read list. You may know her from her excellent narration of Tera Westover’s “Educated”.
GENRE: Historical fiction

LOCATIONS:
Texas, California (San Juaquin Valley)

TIME FRAME
Early 20th century, 1920’s through 1930’s

SUBJECTS:
Great Depression, Dust Bowl, Texas, farming, drought, family relations, migration, discrimination, migrant camps, strikes.

SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter One
"Beside her, the mercantile opened its doors and the proprietor, Mr. Hurst, stepped out, holding a broom. He was wearing shirtsleeves rolled up to expose his beefy forearms. A nose like a fire hydrant, squat and round, dominated his ruddy face. He was one of the richest men in town. He owned the mercantile, the diner, the ice-cream counter, and the apothecary. Only the Wolcotts had been in town longer. They too, were third-generation Texans, and proud of it. Elsa's beloved grandfather, Walter, had called himself a Texas Ranger until the day he died.
'Hey, Miss Wolcott,' the storekeeper said, pushing the few strands of hair he still had away from his florid face. 'What a beautiful day it's looking to be. You headed to the library?'
'I am,' she answered. 'Where else?'
'I have some new red silk in. Tell your sisters. It would make a fine dress.'
Elsa stopped.
Red silk.
She had never worn red silk. 'Show me. Please.'
"Ah! Of course. You could surprise them with it.'
Mr. Hurst bustled her into the store. Everywhere Elsa looked, she saw color: boxes full of peas and strawberries, stacks of lavender soap, each bar wrapped in tissue paper, bags of flour and sugar, jars of pickles.
He led her past sets of china and silverware and folded multicolored tablecloths and aprons, to a stack of fabrics. He rifled through, pulled out a folded length of ruby-red silk.
Elsa took off her kid gloves, laid them aside, and reached for the silk. She had never touched anything so soft. And today was her birthday....
'With Charlotte's coloring--'
'I'll take it,' Elsa said. Had she put a slightly rude emphasis on I'll? Yes. She must have. Mr. Hurst was eyeing her strangely.
Mr. Hurst wrapped the fabric in brown paper and secured it with twine and handed it to her.
Elsa was about to leave when she saw a beaded, glittery silver headband. It was exactly the sort of thing the Countess Olenska might wear in Age of Innocence.

RATING:
5 stars. Great story wonderfully told (and narrated).

STARTED-FINISHED
2/12/21 - 2/20/21
( )

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