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. Rafe's fianc. eNotes.com, Inc. He grew up, in order, in California, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oregon. As a professional organizer, Jack knows that his job is dangerous, and he does his best to protect Elsa and her family. Prejudice: In California, the Martinellis face the dehumanizing prejudice . How is it different? He fantasizes about traveling and adventure, filling Loredas head with similar fantasies. How does Jean Deweys death affect Elsa in The Four Winds? The Four Winds. How well does the narrator, Julia Whelan, fit the characters personas? Why is that? 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. "Hope is a coin I carry. Now it will bind you to us. (51) How are people connected to the land that they occupy? Weltys company store overcharges for food and supplies and keeps its workers forever in debt. 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. Years later, when Loreda is 18, she bids a final farewell to Elsa and the farm as she heads back to California to attend college, the fulfillment of her mothers most important wish. This story, about family, love, & struggle during the Dust Bowl, captivated my interest from start to finish! This post contains links to products that I may receive compensation from at no additional cost to you. 1 May 2023 . Comparing the devastation of the farm to the hardships of the camps, what do you think was harder for Elsa and the family? The main characters in The Four Winds include Elsa Martinelli, Loreda Martinelli, and Jack Valen. See the archives. Do they intend to exclude Elsa, whom they perceive as just a workhorse? Elsa Martinelli was born the daughter of a wealthy farming supply salesman. 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 short, thats how the locals pronounced it. By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. She was Rafes wife, but she was not a viewpoint character, and it was not in any way her story. How did she finally come to understand her mother and her choices through a new lens? The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. When the strike finally happens, Elsa propels it forwards when Jack is incapacitated, but Elsa is shot. The book ends with her about to return to California to become the first Martinelli to go to college. In turn, Jack inspires Elsa to find her own voice and fight back against the injustice faced by the migrant workers. That hope is quickly dashed when they encounter discrimination, a lack of jobs, and the reality of life in a muddy squatters camp. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsas tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive. What similarities? 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.". Q&A with Sarah Penner, Author of The Lost Apothecary. I belong to a book club, run by a dear friend. The audiobook runs 15 hours. (1) What is the significance of the fact that it is an American penny? Elsas character arc follows a well-worn path, although no less engaging for its familiarity. . Why do you think she insists on leaving school to pick cotton? I think thats when it really became the story I was meant to tell, and the story I want people to read.. 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. 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. For those listening to the audio edition, here are some questions for you about the audio experience. The catalyst for her decision is the death of her best friend, Jean Dewey, who dies from typhoid in a roadside encampment. What I keep hearing and what I believe to be true is that its a really good book for people to read right now. Most of the things that come up are facts that youd probably heard about in history class, but having it placed into the context of a vivid and expansive story really brought to life a time period that Ive never really spent much time thinking about. "The Four Winds" (St. Martins Press, 464 pp., *** out of four stars) plays out against the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl that together gutted the American economy and turned beloved farms into ruins. Word Count: 2203. Jack drives them to Texas, and Elsa is buried in the family cemetery. Kristin Hannahs last novel, The Great Alone, was about a family taming the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. How does her lack of self-esteem color her relationships with her husband and eldest child? Tony tells Elsa about the importance of . The Four Winds Chapters 9-11 Summary and Analysis - eNotes Or losing their land? Your email address will not be published. Rose Martinelli shows Elsa to her new roomRafe's bedroom; he will sleep in the barn until they are marriedwhile Rafe vows to try to be a good husband. 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. If so, how? WEBSITE BY. She runs away and hitches a ride with Jack Dewey, who works for a Communist organization, Workers United. . Did you expect him to leave? After 1936/37 did work pulling cotton improve for the workers? The Four Winds Characters Alphabetically Listed - BookCompanion 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. Rafe is unhappy, drinks heavily and dreams of going West to pursue new opportunities. who recently moved to Cambridge, MA. In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. Anyway, not a big deal, just wondering. Reading The Four Winds, its impossible not to notice parallels between the fictional past and factual present. Its such a vivid read and you feel like youre right there along with Elsa and her children on this hard journey. An Italian immigrant, Tony and his wife, Rose, came to the United States with only a few dollars and some grape vine cuttings. She has traveled west in search of a better life, but her American dream has been "turned into a nightmare" by poverty . Despite Loreda's interest in the cause, Elsa firmly resists. 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. How did the story work for you on audio? Meanwhile, her parents-in-law sweep and sweep, trying to rid the house of ever-accumulating dust. 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. The Four Winds is divided up into four sections, each detailing events from (roughly) that year. Why do you think Loreda doesnt take her education that seriously? The encampment has a range of luxuries that most migrant camps do not have, such as solid walls, electricity, and an on-site school. Massive dust storms pummel the region, covering everything in layers of grit and dust and causing an epidemic of lung disease. Rafe was set to go to college but once Elsa is pregnant with his child, those plans are canceled. Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. Unlike Rafe, who never seemed to care about Elsas desires or interests, Jack is respectful of her boundaries, and when the two become intimate, he ensures that Elsa enjoys herself as well. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. In her early research into the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, she realized that as a woman born in Southern California and raised there and in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives still today, she didnt know much about the struggles faced by people in that time and place. Jack Valen is a member of the Workers Alliance, a Communist Party organization dedicated to improving conditions for workers across the country. Does anyone know where that may be on the web? Did we learn from previous generations? What bonds Loreda and her father? PDF THE FOUR WINDS DISCUSSION GUIDE - Google Is this some type of pronunciation that Im not aware of? The doctor advises Elsa to get out of Texas. Going into the novel, I had wondered how much of the trip from Texas to California would be covered. Thirteen-year-old Leni, caught in the riptide of her parents passionate, stormy relationship, has little choice but to go along, daring to hope this new land promises her family a better future. Roses dreams for the next generation are ultimately obtained through Loreda, who will be the first Martinelli to attend college. Elsa finds that the hard work of farming agrees with her, but Rafes dreams lie elsewhere. A big theme of the novel is obtaining the American Dream whether its through financial independence of owning a farm or traveling to California in search of a better life. They stop off at a meeting, and Loreda is inspired by the cause. Rose Martinelli is Rafes mother and Elsas mother-in-law. Kristin Hannah had spent a year researching and writing an early draft of her new novel when she realized shed gone astray. 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. When Elsa has to tell her children, Loreda blames Elsa (says he left her, not them), and Anthony just doesn't understand. She feels strongly enough in her opinions and in her sense of self to fight not just for her own children and herself, but for others as well, Hannah says. Why was it so important for Loreda to get her mother back to Texas, even if at such a high cost? Rafe and Loreda are described as two peas in a pod, and they share both a similar look and temperament. Time and again, when life threatens to overwhelm her, Elsa finds strength in those around her. What did you think about their romance? 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. 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. Thanks for the great review. It is changing, slowly, and womens courage and determination and victories are being brought to light. Rafe's father. I figured I was missing something here that makes sense! So many characters, like Jean, were really two dimensional. She wished shed never read The Age of Innocence. A first-person narrator announces, "Hope is a coin I carry.". Lets talk about the similarities they share and how different it is from Elsa. 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. Ed. The Four Winds Themes - eNotes.com 'The Four Winds' review: Kristin Hannah's 'epic' Dust Bowl-era novel Rafe dreams of leaving for the big city, but does his duty. Elsa is reluctant to leave Texas, as she has found the only true happiness she has ever known on the Martinelli farm. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She is enthralled by Jacks charisma and the devotion of his fellow organizers to the cause of fair pay. The past few years have been difficult, with the Great Depression, an on-going drought and frequent dust storms ravaging the lands. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Jack calls Elsa a warrior. I hold The Nightingale as Kristin Hannahs best work but this one does come a very close second. 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. 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. I started it almost four years ago, and obviously, I had no idea how timely and relevant it would feel to come out at this moment, Hannah says. All 68 characters in The Four Winds are listed by chapter with character descriptions included. 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. They willingly sacrificed for each other and did what they could to help. The two women often fantasize about better times, and they promise to go dancing and drink gin together someday when their situations have improved. Jean and Jeb Deweyand their four childrenare fellow migrants that Elsa befriends at the ditch campsite. She is eventually picked up by Jack Valen, a union organizer who takes Loreda to a union meeting. Her daughter, Loreda, returns home to Texas. Why do you think theyve gone unreported for so long? In this tale, Kristin has written a survival story about resilience, love, family, courage and the American Dream. 2 . Best-selling author Kristin Hannah reveals the unusual journey of 'The If you listened to the audiobook, did anyone else notice how the narrator pronounces drought as DROW-TH a bunch of times? "The Four Winds" (St. Martin's Press, 464 pp., *** out of four stars) plays out against the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl that together gutted the American economy and turned beloved . It binds us, one to another, as it has for generations. Rafe Martinelli is Elsas husband. I havent finished the book so Im kind of sad I asked the first question. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows. Lets talk the impact of Elsas pregnancy on all parties involved. It is Ants bout of dust pneumonia that ultimately forces Elsa to journey to California, as the constant dust storms put his health at further risk. Overtones of America's present political struggles echo throughout the novel's events. This strains their marriage, and Elsa acknowledges that Rafe never really loved her in the way that she came to love him. What would you have done if you were in Elsas position? I highly recommend it! Elsa uses her voice to speak out against the oppressors. How is it the same? But these ninth inning fumbles do little to diminish the overall power of this majestic and absorbing story that turns attention to the unsung women of the Dust Bowl, who worked from sunup to sundown, too, toiled on wheat farms until we were as dry and baked as the land we loved.. Unlike any other person in her life, he made her feel valued. 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. publication in traditional print. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. Im also guessing that this will be a hit with book clubs, given that its accessible and tells a relatively fast-paced story. They approach the newly-arrived Martinellis in order to welcome them to the campsite, providing Elsa with valuable information on a range of topics, including the various growing seasons, when and how to sign up for federal aid, and how to prepare the campsites water so that it is safe for drinking. How might others struggles inspire us? Chapter-by-Chapter Summary & Analysis of The Four Winds, Book Review: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, Books Like The Four Winds: 8 Great Books to Read Next. The two protagonists of the book, Elsa and Loreda, are both fully drawn and compelling characters. Loreda longs to leave as well, and she prefers her father's dreams to her mother's dreary, joyless work ethic. Its a book about determination, love for ones family and for oneself, the fight to survive and the American Dream. Did he make it to California? Loreda really finds her voice after going to the Communist movement meeting and being introduced to Jack. [Scheduled] The Four Winds, chapters 8-15 : bookclub - Reddit After falling ill during her childhood, Elsa was told she had a weak heart, and her family kept her isolated. Tony Martinelli is Rafes father and Elsas father-in-law. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a historical novel about the Dust Bowl and subsequent westward migration by drought-stricken farmers. By 1933, Texas is in the throes of a severe drought. What does it say about Loreda as a person that she chooses to do this? The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah | Book Club Discussion Questions The farmer. Expectations for their future were sharply defined. By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. . He has dreams of moving to a big city and having adventures but is forced to give up his chance to attend college in the city after Elsa becomes pregnant. A time of abundance. What do you think drives Loredas anger throughout the book? What lessons can be learned from this time in history. It had resurrected all the insecurities of childhood. (66) If youre a parent, did this passage resonate with you? Rafe is her only surviving child, and she admits to having spoiled him as a result. Required fields are marked *. date the date you are citing the material. Why is it a risk to associate with them and what is Elsas hesitation? They are disheveled and unkept by the time they arrive, and people are rude to them. He took off his cap, twisted it in his hands. If youre looking for a feel good type of book. eNotes Editorial. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. It was published in 2021. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a historical novel about the Dust Bowl and subsequent westward migration by drought-stricken farmers. How are the workers exploited on the Welty farm in The Four Winds? Then, slowly, he closed the door behind him. Originally from Alabama, the Deweys were farmers, but they were forced to sell their land to the bank when the drought started. As the drought worsens and the dust storms become more severe, Anthony, Elsa and Rafes son, becomes sick, eventually requiring hospitalization. However, he also represents resilience and strength, as he is able to find joy and levity in simple things despite the Martinellis circumstances. 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.