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Thursday, March 25, 2021
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
the
BOOK NOOK
■ ■ Book Review: ‘The Four Winds’
by Kristin Hannah
By Lisa Britton
For EO Media Group
My introduction to Kristin Han-
nah came during a school field trip
when another parent handed me
“The Nightingale.”
This historical fiction novel tells
the story of Germany’s occupation
in France during World War II. The
perspective switches between two
sisters who have very different ex-
periences during the war, yet both
make their mark in how they fight
back against the Germans.
I’m not afraid to admit I cried.
Fast forward to this year when a
friend sent me a photo of Hannah’s
newest book ,“The Four Winds,”
along with a glowing review. I bor-
rowed it and, in about four days,
immersed myself in the world of
Elsa Martinelli and Texas in the
1920s.
But the great fortune of farmers
turns dire in the 1930s with the
Dust Bowl, when drought tragi-
cally paired with farming practices
to kill wheat crops and farmers’
livelihoods.
Elsa makes the difficult decision
to head West and seek a better life
for her family in California.
Here’s the thing about Elsa: Her
childhood and young adult years
were not pleasant.
Hannah has created a wonder-
fully deep character with this
woman who rises through adversi-
ty after adversity with a rock-solid
drive to take care of her family
— all while trying to navigate life
with a teenage daughter who never
hesitates to share her displeasure
ATTENTION
READERS
GO! editors are seeking book
reviews written by local readers and
information on book clubs and other
literary happenings in Northeast
Oregon. Send submissions and ideas
to lkelly@lagrandeobserver.com.
with every situation. Having an
opinionated teenage daughter in
my own house, let’s just say I could
identify with Elsa’s challenge in
this department.
After surviving the Mojave Des-
ert, Elsa and her children finally
arrive in California.
But it’s not the dream they envi-
sioned. Migrants from the Midwest
were not welcomed by Californians,
who called Dust Bowl newcomers
“Okies” no matter if they came
from Oklahoma or Texas.
I haven’t read much about the
Dust Bowl era.
No, I haven’t read “The Grapes of
Wrath,” but I’m thinking I should
add it to my list.
I began doing research as I read
“The Four Winds,” prompted by the
horrific living and working circum-
stances migrants — U.S. citizens,
remember — were subjected to in
California.
This is a sweeping novel with
rich characters — the best way, in
my opinion, to learn about history.
(Another member of my household
would disagree and almost exclu-
sively prefers nonfiction.)
I’m now listening to the audio-
book of “The Four Winds.” It’s a
story that deserves to be experi-
enced more than once.
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