When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Discussion Questions: 1. What happened to Rafe? There were times in my journey when it felt as if that penny and the hope it represented were the only things that kept me going.". Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop Books-a-Million, Kindle B&N NOOK Apple Books eBooks.com Google Play Kobo. Novel Approach: Depression-era tale 'The Four Winds' feels poignant It binds us, one to another, as it has for generations. Aka: Lolo. He has dreams of moving to a big city. When the strike finally happens, Elsa propels it forwards when Jack is incapacitated, but Elsa is shot. The harsh realities that await the family in the San Joaquin Valley further strain Loredas relationship with her mother, whom she lashes out at in order to relieve her own dissatisfaction and guilt over their circumstances. She is ready to strike. Over time, Elsa finds her place on the Martinelli farm, and the baby (name Loreda) is born. She understands the impossible odds her mother faces and the sheer tenacity it takes to simply keep the family together and put food on the table. As the drought continues, their animals die and supplies run out. Did you find the end of Elsas and her familys journey satisfying? Or is she partially to blame for being ostracized? I wrote it for at least a year, and Elsa was kind of a peripheral character, Hannah says. He grew up, in order, in California, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oregon. Unloved by her family, she falls for the sweet words of Rafe, a younger man who woos her but is not ready for the responsibility of fatherhood. by Kristin Hannah. Through that door, Elsa saw whole other lives, other futures. THE FOUR WINDS - Reading Group Choices When word of a strike begins to spread, Mr. Welty implements increasingly cruel measures to ensure that his workers cannot organize, including rescinding their federal aid and installing a gun tower in the cotton fields. I enjoyed The Great Alone and The Nightingale, Ill have to check this one out! Elsa describes him as a man who believes in two things: God and his land, both of which fail him during the long Dust Bowl years. Because its a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and our ability to not only survive hardship but to ultimately thrive, she says. What dreams do they share? Unhappy with farm life and his marriage, Rafe runs off in the middle of the night, leaving a distraught family behind. And restarted the book as Elsas story. The last date is today's In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. Both Elsa & Loreda, are very strong personalities, which eventually find common ground & are able to come together in family love & unity! Loreda longs to leave as well, and she prefers her father's dreams to her mother's dreary, joyless work ethic. 20 Best Book Club Books for 2022 (New & Anticipated), Best Mystery & Thriller Books for 2022 (New & Anticipated), 20 Best Books with Asian American Protagonists (for Adults), Persephone by Madeline Miller: What We Know, Books to Movies & TV in 2022: 25+ Adaptations Coming Soon, Your email address will not be published. She begins the novel thinking that shes weak, thinking that shes uneducated, and unlovable, she says. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. After a rough childhood with parents who didnt love her, she met Rafe Martinelli, the soulful and handsome son of Italian immigrants. It is Jean who encourages Elsa to pursue a relationship with Jack, and she helps Elsa overcome some of her insecurities about her appearance. Its a book about determination, love for ones family and for oneself, the fight to survive and the American Dream. 5: Loreda: Martinelli: Elsa and Rafe's daughter. She was Rafes wife, but she was not a viewpoint character, and it was not in any way her story. She sees early on that the land is dying and tries hard to convince her family to leave for California, though much of this desire is based on the fanciful notions that Rafe has instilled in Loreda about living in a big city and becoming famous. I really enjoyed this novel. He even offers a system where tenants can pay their rent and buy goods at the on-site store on credit, which they then pay off by working on the various Welty farms. Elsa thought the childrens grandparents would join them on the journey but they refuse to leave behind the land. The Four Winds is also a true historical fiction novel, bringing in bits and pieces of historical facts from the time periods it covers. The Four Winds Characters Alphabetically Listed - BookCompanion View my Affiliate Disclosure page here. The doctor advises Elsa to get out of Texas. They pack up the truck and head west, while Tony and Rose stay behind to salvage what they can of the farm. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. With the extreme poverty conditions, theres often remarks about how its inconceivable that this is taking place in America in the 30s. How might others struggles inspire us? And I really began to want to write a quintessentially American novel about some story of lost history that I thought would be as emotional and as inspiring as The Nightingale.. The doctor says he must leave to survive, so Elsa packs up the household into the car. How are womens stories different? Her deep-seated insecurities make her eager to please others, and she is quick to ingratiate herself with the Martinelli family. The Four Winds is set in the Texas panhandle as the Depression and the Dust Bowl environmental disaster. I think the narrator does a good job with it, and its easy to listen to. How are the workers exploited on the Welty farm in The Four Winds? In The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, Elsa Wolcott is a woman trying to raise two children on farm in the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl following the Great Depression. To save money, spend a night in a tent camp with other migrants, only to learn that wages for migrant work are so low that they'll have to stay there indefinitely. Was he as trapped by his familys expectations as Elsa had been by her own? These indomitable female characters foreshadow the nation's sweeping change through their fierce commitment to each other and to a common, timeless goal. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. . She becomes a farmer with her husband's family, though he leaves them, and they struggle with the unending drought. I really loved Elsas finding her strengths & the relationship between mother & daughter, throughout the story is fascinating, touching & heart braking, but hopeful! Decisions Julia made or voices that stood out? The story of our family. Rosalba: Martinelli: Rafe's mother. And a dog named Buddy. Loreda says theyre like a plant that can only grow in one place. Lets discuss what Loreda is saying here. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail, water dries up . He regularly covers the Oscars and the Emmys, goes to Comic-Con and Coachella, reviews pop music, and conducts interviews with authors and actors, musicians and directors, a little of this and a whole lot of that. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. What would you have done if you were in Elsas position? Elsa is 25, and her parents, wealthy members of the local social scene, consider her too old and too plain for marriage, relegating her to the status of spinster. Do you or your family have any keepsakes that represent your familys hope for the future? With a new sense of direction, Loreda no longer wants to run away and goes home. Did he make it to California? By 1933, Texas is in the throes of a severe drought. This is an emotional epic, all about the life in the Dust Bowl and American migration patterns. While most of Hannahs writing is specific and surprising, the novels beating heart weakens a little in the last section as it falls into familiar crowd-pleaser story beats, with a simplified villain and a quick epiphany just in time to give a rousing speech. 1934: 6: Milo : If youre a fan of Kristin Hannah or a historical fiction fan in general, I think youll really like this book. The Four Winds centers on one family caught up in the epic sweep of history, and, in the process, it addresses themes of hardship, discrimination, economic inequality, and the American dream. Book Club Questions for The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah The Four Winds : The Fiction Addiction Elsa grieved daily for the loss of that closeness with her firstborn. They might have come off the boat as Anthony and Rosalba, but hard work and the land had turned them into Tony and Rose. I guess the big question iswhat can we learn from history and how to avoid repeating the same mistakes? I think that has real messages for today.. THE FOUR WINDS Characters By Chapter: EDITOR: Christina Hale . Expectations for their future were sharply defined. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation. When a flash flood hits the migrant camp, everyone there, including the Martinellis, lose everything. Spoiler Alert:Please note that the discussion guide below contain spoilers to the book. He is also not afraid to employ violent means, as he knows that the justice system will side with a wealthy, influential man like him over the impoverished migrant workers. Hannah is the author of more than 20 novels, including the bestsellers Winter Garden, Night Road, and Firefly Lane. Their relationship, though short-lived, makes Elsa feel truly loved by a man for the first time in her life, and she acknowledges that Jacks passion and desire for her have made her a stronger person. Meanwhile, her parents-in-law sweep and sweep, trying to rid the house of ever-accumulating dust. How did this treatment impact her later relationships and her search for love? Theyd sewn their lives together in the silent way of women unused to conversation. It also occurred to me while reading it that, given the strong and complicated mother-daughter relationship in this book, that this could be a great mothers day gift or a good book give to your mom to read together, if youre looking for an activity to do with them remotely. He employs underpaid migrants as farm laborers and sets up an encampment for them on his property. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows. Another small defiance against her parents small-mindedness? Rafe Martinelli is Elsa's husband. Rafe is younger than Elsa by several years, having just turned eighteen on the night of Elsas twenty-fifth birthday. Did we learn from previous generations? What do you think happened to Rafe? publication online or last modification online. Lets talk about the similarities they share and how different it is from Elsa. How does motherhood strengthen a woman? Elsa, fearing the violence will break the strikers spirits, picks up Jacks megaphone and exhorts the workers to stay united. The story is set during the Dust Bowl period a few years after . One note the pronunciation of drought as drouth is deliberate and the reason is addressed in the story. She is just as attached to the land as her husband, Tony, and she views it as a legacy that she can leave for her family. Cora will do anything for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. Kristin Hannahs absorbing new novel begins just a few years before, when it seemed as if Elsa Wolcottmight finally have a peaceful, fulfilling life ahead. She watches as the lands around her crack in their perpetually parched state and the hopelessness threatens to breaks the spirit of those around her. date the date you are citing the material. Anyway, not a big deal, just wondering. PDF THE FOUR WINDS DISCUSSION GUIDE - Google It had resurrected all the insecurities of childhood. (66) If youre a parent, did this passage resonate with you? Hope is a coin I carry. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah | Book Club Discussion Questions They befriend Jean (who is pregnant) and Jeb Dewey, who show them the ropes. The main characters in The Four Winds include Elsa Martinelli, Loreda Martinelli, and Jack Valen. The police lob tear gas, and Weltys thugs beat Jack senseless. On Feb. 3, Netflix launched the series adaptation of Hannahs Firefly Lane, the 2008 novel about best friends Tully and Kate starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke. The cynical part of me thinks that this book overly optimistic when it comes to the kindness of strangers and some of the plot occurrences rely on people just happening to be in the right place at the right time. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail and water dries up and the earth cracks open. He brings Elsa and the children to an abandoned hotel where he provides them rooms for the night. The Deweys and the Martinellis become vital support for each other, sharing food, funds, and resources as needed. She feels restless and destined for spinsterhood. The death of the baby is the last straw for Loreda, who hates their life there. There is a strong thread running through this novel about mans connection to the land. Do you think the American Dream is a reality or a myth? She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. Massive dust storms pummel the region, covering everything in layers of grit and dust and causing an epidemic of lung disease. I just found that journey of a woman finding her voice to be incredibly powerful.. Have you seen it at work in other people? Earned a master's degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Discuss the shift in thinking that happens between generationsthe freedoms longed for and the sacrifices required. The Four Winds Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis | SuperSummary The locals shun the new visitors and label them as dirty Okies. And the only opportunity is a life of poverty. I also wish Elsa would have found a way to love herself (and to feel that she is loved) separate from a mans recognition of her worth. Disowned by her parents for casting shame upon the family, Elsa marries Rafe and is taken in by Tony and Rose Martinelli, Rafes parents. The Four Winds: A Novel - B&N Readouts After the family arrives in California, Elsa feels a mounting sense of guilt as Ant is continuously forced to take on more adult responsibilities, including picking cotton instead of attending school. Review: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - The Bibliofile How is it different? I make wine from grape cuttings that I brought here from Sicily, and the wine I make reminds me of my father. With your friends? After a week-long dust storm, Ant is severely ill due to inhalation of dust. When she's finally able to leave with her kids, they become migrant workers in California -- which she quickly realizes is an exploitative system. The Four Winds Characters - eNotes.com Why does the Martinelli family stay under such brutal conditionsthe heat, the dust storms, the lack of food, and the dying livestock? T he main themes in The Four Winds are prejudice, love and family, and the American dream.. "The Four Winds" is epic and transporting, a stirring story of hardship and love that is likely to lead to a film adaptation (Hannahs previous best-selling novel, "The Nightingale," is getting a film adaptation later this year starringDakota and Elle Fanning). On the journey she has to contend not just with the hardships of picking cotton for pitiful wages, but with the weaker wills of the men around her, who abandon family or run ruthless corporate farms that exploit their employees. What do you think prompts the changes in her behavior or in their relationship? The Four Winds is a rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through itthe harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. How did the story work for you on audio? Jack admires Elsas warrior spirit, and he courts her over the course of their acquaintance. However, she does not let her experiences in California break her spirit or prevent her from living life to the fullest, and she carries both her fathers dreams and her mothers hopes with her as she becomes the first Martinelli to attend college. In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. Her family and her world have pared her down to inconsequence. The Four Winds Characters Listed With Descriptions - BookCompanion Jack calls Elsa a warrior. They have a complex relationship that develops and changes as the story progresses in ways that will challenge you to think about your own relationships. The Four Winds is an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of Americas most defining eras the Great Depression. Do you think it would have been the same for her in New York City? The "four winds" encompass all directions or the " four corners of the earth ": north, south, east, and west ( Jeremiah 49:36; Matthew 24:31 ). The level of hope and resilience and love for the land that that shows to me is just inspiring, Hannah says. Elsa finally releases all of the pent-up anger and grief she has held in for the sake of her children and decides to commit to helping Jack Valen organize the migrants into a strike. As the Dust Bowl ravages Texas, one woman must make a choice: Leave the farm that has been her familys livelihoodor stay and risk succumbing to cyclones of dirt. But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernts fragile mental state deteriorates. How is Elsa shaped by these expectations and her failure to meet them? . And so Ive always been fascinated by this idea of the people who stay on land for generations and pass it down, and for whom that land is a big part of their identity. More broadly, he represents the capitalistic interests of the wealthy farm owners, who rely on exploitative labor practices to increase their profits. We plant, we tend, we harvest. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a historical novel about the Dust Bowl and subsequent westward migration by drought-stricken farmers. They are disheveled and unkept by the time they arrive, and people are rude to them. date the date you are citing the material. Texas, 1934. Over the course of their time in the ditch encampment, Jean becomes Elsas first real friend, and Elsa credits that friendship with giving her the strength to endure the many hardships she faces in California. . But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a womans only option, the future seems bleak. At times this book feels a little too ready for Hollywood. by Kristin Hannah. How do the characters in the book react in the face of poverty? At the prospect of needing governmental assistance? She misses her mother. And you couple that with the reality of the impacts of climate change. However, this changes over the course of the novel, and she eventually finds the strength she needs to stand up for both her family and herself. Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. Would you have had the courage to do the same? What happened to the Wolcott family? As a professional organizer, Jack knows that his job is dangerous, and he does his best to protect Elsa and her family. However, after Rafe abandons his family, it becomes clear that he is a cowardly man who does not know how to put his dreams into action. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. Her love of the Martinelli farmas well as the Martinellis themselvesbuttresses her in times of hardship. She and Loreda clash often, as Loreda is a youthful idealist who views her mothers survivalist mentality as a weakness rather than a strength. However, as time passes, Loreda comes to appreciate Elsas quiet strength, and she begins to realize that it is Elsas parenting that has turned her into the sort of person who can fight for her dreams and ideals, unlike her ineffectual dreamer of a father. Indeed, she only ends up marrying Rafe as a result of a surprise pregnancy. This holds true when the Bible refers to the "four winds.". Rafe Martinelli is Elsas husband. By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. This upbringing, along with her guilt over the circumstances of their marriage, often render Elsa incapable of expressing her feelings properly, and she tends to avoid confrontation. She wants to join, despite her mothers prohibition, and sneaks out at night to attend meetings. There are greater forces in the world than love and dedication, however. At 18, Loreda prepares to return to California to go to college.). What did you think about the ending and Loreda returning back to California to attend college? What does it say about Loreda as a person that she chooses to do this? From the number-one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them. Did it add to the experience of the book?