In yourself? Log in here. 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. She has the capacity to dream big and embrace change like her father, but she also has her mothers stubborn determination and fierce protective drive. Conversely, do you think the way Loreda sees Elsa is accurate? What on earth happened to Rafe and Ellas family? They befriend Jean (who is pregnant) and Jeb Dewey, who show them the ropes. Rafe's fianc. . Gia: Composto: Rafe's fianc. When a flash flood hits the migrant camp, everyone there, including the Martinellis, lose everything. But she is shot and eventually passes away. Lets talk about the similarities they share and how different it is from Elsa. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Whats the definition of a warrior to you? She would never fall in love, never have a child of her own. (8) Literature is, quite honestly, the opening of a door. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. Jean and Jeb Deweyand their four childrenare fellow migrants that Elsa befriends at the ditch campsite. 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. In turn, Jack inspires Elsa to find her own voice and fight back against the injustice faced by the migrant workers. Anyway, not a big deal, just wondering. Rafe is unhappy, drinks heavily and dreams of going West to pursue new opportunities. These indomitable female characters foreshadow the nation's sweeping change through their fierce commitment to each other and to a common, timeless goal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I really enjoy yourBook club suggestions and Book Club Questions, Preview: The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin, Q&A with Peng Shepherd, Author of The Cartographers, Book Club Questions for Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton, Q&A with Maxine Mei-Fung Chung, Author of the The Eighth Girl, Q&A with Ann Mah, Author of The Lost Vintage, 10 Book Club Books to Read in Summer 2023, Book Club Questions for Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, Review: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, Book Club Questions for The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes, Book Club Questions for Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, (Updated April 2023) Reeses Book Club Picks: Entire List, Book Club Questions for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Book Club Questions for Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. If youre looking for another epic style story, The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd is a great choice. Hannahs writing is at its strongest when she takes us into the vivid hardships of the drought, as overuse of the land results in storms of topsoil that flay skin from muscle and fill the bellies of staggered cattle with dirt. While Rafe runs away from those responsibilities, Elsa faces them head-on. How is the modern world different? Along the way, Elsa develops a greater consciousness of the plight of laborers in Depression-era America, joining them in protests against the larger political and economic engines that exploit people and land alike, leading to the Dust Bowl in the first place. Did you identify with Elsa and her journey throughout this book? It was published in 2021. What do you think about Rafe? 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. Lets talk the impact of Elsas pregnancy on all parties involved. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows. 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. What did you think about the ending and Loreda returning back to California to attend college? Anas pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Romes occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a womans only option, the future seems bleak. Why was it so important for Loreda to get her mother back to Texas, even if at such a high cost? There will be spoilers so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first. How does Hannahs description of the experience of migrant workers traveling from the South to California compare with the modern day treatment of immigrants looking for work? WEBSITE BY. Where do you think Ant and Loreda ended up? Expectations for their future were sharply defined. In this tale, Kristin has written a survival story about resilience, love, family, courage and the American Dream. Why do you think she insists on leaving school to pick cotton? After a week-long dust storm, Ant is severely ill due to inhalation of dust. Discuss the shift in thinking that happens between generationsthe freedoms longed for and the sacrifices required. . For Hannah, that vindicates the decision to place Elsa at the center of the story, which like her 2015 bestseller The Nightingale, a novel about the women of the French Resistance during World War II, focuses on an epic story about women set against the backdrop of history. 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. Elsa compares them to the early pioneers in their covered wagons. Elsa is reluctant to leave Texas, as she has found the only true happiness she has ever known on the Martinelli farm. The Four Windsis 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. . Cora will do anything for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. Rafe is younger than Elsa by several years, having just turned eighteen on the night of Elsas twenty-fifth birthday. At first shed tried to scale the walls of her daughters adolescent, irrational anger; shed volleyed back with words of love, but Loredas continuing, thriving impatience with Elsa had done worse than grind her down. Why do you think that is? Motherhood changes Elsa in almost every way. Decisions Julia made or voices that stood out? In what ways does hope anchor us in the moment, and in what ways does it push us forward? What lessons of resilience and healing might be embedded in this story? His efforts seem largely inspired by the memory of his mother, a single woman who died in a factory fire after her employers locked the factory doors to prevent employees from taking smoke breaks. The book ends with her about to return to California to become the first Martinelli to go to college. Life in California is not at all what the migrants expected, what advertisements had led them to believe. Why do you think Loreda decides to decisively shoot Milo, a horse that she loves? Sam Shepherds work or Truman Capotes work denies the power of the kindness of strangers you may want to read Cold Millions by Jess Walters and then be that kind person who reaches across to do great good work. Chapter 5 Summary. Her 2015 novel The Nightingale was voted a best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, Library Journal, Buzzfeed, and The Week. While the characters in The Four Winds go through hardships as well, theres more of a sense of pioneering spirit and resilience that I found uplifting and engaging to read about. You can order the book on Amazon here. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. By 1933, Texas is in the throes of a severe drought. I really enjoyed this novel. Already a member? This holds true when the Bible refers to the "four winds.". How does the treatment of migrants in California during the Great Depression mirror the treatment of immigrants today? THE FOUR WINDS is a rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it --- the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have- nots. Earned his first newspaper paycheck at the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat, fled the Midwest for Los Angeles Daily News and finally ended up at the Orange County Register. How does she change? Why is land so important to that dream? He grew up, in order, in California, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oregon. Loreda says theyre like a plant that can only grow in one place. Lets discuss what Loreda is saying here. The town's teacher. How well does the narrator, Julia Whelan, fit the characters personas? How does Loredas view of her father change throughout the book and why? "Come in," she said. More broadly, he represents the capitalistic interests of the wealthy farm owners, who rely on exploitative labor practices to increase their profits. But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernts fragile mental state deteriorates. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail, water dries up . Elsa uses her voice to speak out against the oppressors. In 1921, Elsa Wolcott is a 25-year-old unmarried woman who is not particularly pretty and too tall for most men. Americans. See the archives. Im a West Coast gal, and Ive moved around a lot, so I dont come from one of those families that are connected to a place sort of fundamentally. However, these dreams are never realized, as Jean dies of typhoid in the ditch camp. Did you expect him to leave? Comparing the devastation of the farm to the hardships of the camps, what do you think was harder for Elsa and the family? (1) What is the significance of the fact that it is an American penny? . Embittered by their terrible luck in California, Loreda resolves to take her mothers body back to Texas and bury her on the farm, in the land she grew to love. In Kristin Hannahs recently released The Four Winds (published February 2, 2020), Elsa is a woman trying to raise two children on a Texas farm as they watch the lands dry out and as relentless dust storms ravage everything in sight. How does Jean Deweys death affect Elsa in The Four Winds? That all said, like Hannahs other novels, The Four Winds is fairly plot driven, and I wouldnt recommend it for anyone looking to read literary fiction. Issues such as immigration, whether between states or nations, and income inequality, are also in the mix. How do we face our own dark times? By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. However, she puts her duties as a mother ahead of all else, and she knows that she must leave in order to protect Ant. What books influenced you when you were growing up? Massive dust storms pummel the region, covering everything in layers of grit and dust and causing an epidemic of lung disease. Lets discuss Loredas new found activism and how that carried on to every decision she made going forward. 1934: 6: Milo : 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. Rafe Martinelli is Elsas husband. Would you have had the courage to do the same? What good came from all this unexpressed longing? At the prospect of needing governmental assistance? Although she is initially ambivalent about Elsa, she comes to genuinely care for her, viewing her as the daughter she never had. The first day of the strike is successful despite Weltys threats of a further pay cut, but the next day, the strikers are met with law enforcement and hired vigilantes. Before she started writing, Hannah says she did extensive research in order to be as accurate as possible about the history and the people about which she planned to write. 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. Loreda's teacher. 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. . Prior to his work with the Okies, he tried to help organize undocumented Mexican laborers. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. They stop off at a meeting, and Loreda is inspired by the cause. Unlike any other person in her life, he made her feel valued. Download the entire The Four Winds study guide as a printable PDF! When Elsa has to tell her children, Loreda blames Elsa (says he left her, not them), and Anthony just doesn't understand. Based on the information she had at the time, do you think Elsa was wrong not to seriously consider the possibility of moving to California with Rafe, especially when everyone was moving and he was so unhapy? There are greater forces in the world than love and dedication, however. She was Rafes wife, but she was not a viewpoint character, and it was not in any way her story. Rafe likes to dream big, and he constantly talks about moving to Hollywood or traveling the world. I really loved Elsas finding her strengths & the relationship between mother & daughter, throughout the story is fascinating, touching & heart braking, but hopeful! Elsa sat down on the edge of the bed, unable suddenly to catch her breath. What did you think of Elsa as a character, and did your perception of Elsa shift throughout the novel? This is an emotional epic, all about the life in the Dust Bowl and American migration patterns. We flash forward to 1934 and the farm is experiencing a severe drought. Its a great book to chat about, and Ive included some discussion questions below if youre needing ideas on topics. When money runs low in the winter, Elsa starts standing in the food lines for assistance. The story of our family. Earned a master's degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. It is men like Mr. Welty that Jack and the Workers Alliance are attempting to stand up against. 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. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Do you have a favorite quote or scene in the story? Rafe is her only surviving child, and she admits to having spoiled him as a result. What bonds Loreda and her father? What do you think drives Loredas anger throughout the book? Instead, they are staying to take a governmental payment to grow grass as part of a soil conservation plan to help save the farmland of the Great Plains. Rafe, has become distant and something of a hard drinker, and after he abandons them, Elsa reluctantly leaves with her children for California with the promise of steady work. But we women of the Great Plains worked from sunup to sundown, too, toiled on wheat farms until we were as dry and baked as the land we loved. (1) The stories of women have largely gone undocumented throughout history, and this era is no different. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. How do the characters in the book react in the face of poverty? What I keep hearing and what I believe to be true is that its a really good book for people to read right now. After a grueling journey across the Mohave Desert, Elsa finally reaches the lush fields of Californias San Joaquin Valley, and she is hopeful for the first time in months. Overall, I liked it. Did they lose theyre business? Over time, Elsa finds her place on the Martinelli farm, and the baby (name Loreda) is born. Hear a sample of The Four Winds audiobook on Libro.fm. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. What about the land they farm? I belong to a book club, run by a dear friend. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. The catalyst for her decision is the death of her best friend, Jean Dewey, who dies from typhoid in a roadside encampment. After Elsas death, Loreda returns to the Martinelli farm in Texas. Meanwhile, Loreda, now 13, grows dissatisfied with their life and her mothers inability to move them out of the camp. Hope is a coin I carry. 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. Meanwhile, her parents-in-law sweep and sweep, trying to rid the house of ever-accumulating dust. Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. She begins the novel thinking that shes weak, thinking that shes uneducated, and unlovable, she says. Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop Books-a-Million, Kindle B&N NOOK Apple Books eBooks.com Google Play Kobo. Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The Four Winds! Jack helps the Martinellis move into a cabin on camp for a large farming operation, Welty Farms, while also encouraging Elsa to unionize its workers. Required fields are marked *. She believes that Elsa is the one inhibiting their dreams and does not understand how her mother can work so hard around the farm for so little payoff. How did she finally come to understand her mother and her choices through a new lens? Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions. Its been a while since I read it, but I recall finding The Great Alone a little dreary, preferring mostly the beginning parts before the book really gets underway. How do Elsa and her family remain unbroken even while enduring crippling poverty, food and shelter insecurity, and living in a town that is hostile to them? If youre a fan of Kristin Hannah or a historical fiction fan in general, I think youll really like this book. How is it different? Her daughter, Loreda, returns home to Texas. Were you surprised that Elsa set off without her in-laws? Why do you think female bonding is so important to women? How is it the same? If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original Do you think these societal mores were designed to keep women in their place? . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Four Winds : A Novel by Kristin Hannah (2023, Trade Paperback) at the best online prices at eBay! He took off his cap, twisted it in his hands. Did they impact your perception of the characters? By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. 1 May 2023