The Four Winds

By Kristin Hannah,

Book cover of The Four Winds

Book description

"The Bestselling Hardcover Novel of the Year."--Publishers Weekly

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…

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Why read it?

5 authors picked The Four Winds as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Sometimes people are given a horrible position at birth either by economics, environmental conditions, or bad luck. The Four Winds helped me understand some of the great migrations that have occurred in this country and the motivations that inspired the move.

I came to root for Elsa, the flawed main character, who sincerely did the best she could for her son. I felt her pain, agony, and frustration when a series of bad events happened along her journey.

It wasn’t an easy read, but a necessary one to understand resilience, courage, strength, and doing what you have to do when…

From Kimberly's list on books based on a true story.

I found this book riveting. I don’t read a ton of historical fiction, but I just loved this one!

I learned so much about the Dust Bowl that I didn’t know and really felt for the characters and all of the challenges they faced. It’s one of those books you think about way after finishing it. I have recommended it over and over.

I loved The Four Winds because it made me feel a connection to my grandmothers who lived through the Great Depression. They never talked about it to me at all, but the ramifications were seen in their actions. I believe when you can make that kind of connection, it’s a triumph to the author. A great story.

From Jerri's list on historical mysteries like Rebecca.

Follow Me to Africa

By Penny Haw,

Book cover of Follow Me to Africa

Penny Haw Author Of The Invincible Miss Cust

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Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Dog walker Dreamer Runner Reader

Penny's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

Historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists.

It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories. 

Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey…

Follow Me to Africa

By Penny Haw,

What is this book about?

Historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists.

It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.

Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey…


One thing I loved about The Four Winds is that it blended three important historical things about the 1930s—the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, and the struggles of farm laborers. A second thing I loved is that it made the environment/nature come alive in a way that few books do. 

The main character, Elsa Martinelli, struggles with issues that are common to women historically. Because of a sheltered early life, she must overcome numerous self-doubts to succeed and raise her two children despite almost insurmountable setbacks.

Hannah also captures the mood of the 1930s well and writes characters whom you’ll…

The Four Winds is one of the best works of the author so far. A rich story of the Great Depression and the people who lived through it. The story like many of her other popular books portrays the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The story revolves around Elsa – an indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice come to define a generation. It speaks of relationships, faith, family, and hope.

It is a heart-wrenching story that you will struggle to finish. The book is slightly thicker than usual, but it is the story that will…

From Ashwini's list on those seeking a restart in life.

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