Welcome to Litsy!

This is my second Kristin Hannah, my first being The Nightingale, which, despite thinking it was a little cheesy and overstated at times, I really enjoyed. This one takes place in America from 1921-1940 but predominantly deals with the mid-1930s and the Great Depression coupled with the drought that devastated the Great Plains. (Cont. in comments 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻)

This was another slow-moving book, but she did such an amazing job describing the conditions – the dust storms and the struggles in Texas, as well as living conditions and struggle for survival once they got to California. It went in a direction I didn‘t expect toward the end. It did remind me of “The Grapes of Wrath”, though I don‘t recall details on that one; it‘s been a long time since I read it.

This book is very well written and kept my attention locked in from the first page to the last. It has also sparked a curiosity to learn more about this time in American History. However… following such praise I sadly must say that I would not recommend this book. This wasn‘t just a sad book, it was depressing for absolutely no reward. And don‘t get me started on the communism. Would love to discuss more in the comments. #52challenge

A family forced to flee Texas to escape drought, who are then treated as unwanted migrants within their own country. I admit to comparing this to The Grapes of Wrath which was perhaps unfair, but I have to say this is no match for that book. That said this is a very readable and sad story of that time. I particularly enjoyed Loreda as her eyes became opened to the need for workers rights as “the Okies” were forced to work for a pittance to survive

A friend recommended this. Out of politeness I persisted. The reason I didn‘t want to read it is because I‘ve read another Kristin Hannah book, ‘The Great Alone‘ and found it frustrating and at times, implausible. This book was slightly better but I think that is because I was expecting to be annoyed. Certain details just irked me. How can they make cannolis when there is barely any butter or milk? The subject matter was interesting though.

This was honestly a tough read. The characters were so frustrating sometimes and often I would say aloud “what are you thinking 😫😫” With that being said I adore this author and her writing. The book pulls you in and you find yourself hooked on a story that you are really struggling with. Also found a new interest in the Dust Bowl! A coming of age story for mother and daughter and fighting for what you really believe in.

I started this book on a plane trip to Seattle. It held my attention long enough to go back to it later this month. A harrowing story about a mother trying to survive during the Great Depression. A tough book to read as a mom. I can‘t imagine the choices that had to be made at that time to survive and ensure your kids survived as well.

A realistic and compelling tale of the Dust Bowl. The heroine coming from the Texas Panhandle. My father‘s family made this same historic immigration, so it is important to me and that it‘s accurately written. Not a word was wasted in the telling and every nuance was revealed. Oh, my heart!

This is a hard one to rate…
It definitely gave me a lot of insight into an era and events that I wasn‘t very familiar with but goodness that was relentlessly depressing! It did get me a little weepy in a few places but wow… that was a lot!

More than 85% done with this one and will definitely finish soon; it‘s the last one on my #BookapinBingo board. I finished 3 books during the #Readathon. #20in4 really helped me towards a blackout this month :) I love this cover! @Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks

This was a book club choice. I liked it but sadly I didn‘t love it

Kristen Hannah is quickly becoming an auto read author for me. The Four Winds follows a family‘s story as they live through the Great Depression and dust bowl in 1930s Texas. This story went in different directions than I expected and I loved it. The eerie similarities almost 100 years later as we experienced the pandemic and the economic downturn that caused made the read even better for me. An easy recommendation for anyone.

This is possibly the most meaningful book that I‘ve read in years…A woman does everything in her power get her and her family through the Great Depression. This is a book that‘s filled love, loss, and heartbreak. I was left misty-eyed and on the verge of exploding into rivers of tears on many occasions! This is an absolutely beautiful piece of literature/historical fiction!

#bookspinbingo #doublespin #bebrave

so freaking good. this is a key part of the american story brought to life by Kristen Hannah. must read!!

Hoping to finish this today! I listened to most of it yesterday while baking and had to walk away from my cookies for a bit because I was crying so much I was worried tears would fall on the cookies 😅😂

On to my next audiobook! Hoping to get a couple hours in today and then getting in a good bit tomorrow while I bake cookies for my coworkers on Sunday! I love the narrator of Kristin Hannah‘s book and have started to look for my next audiobook based on her and what she‘s done. Do you have a favorite book narrator that will make a book a listen?

9️⃣ Past Perfect Life ➡️ 1️⃣0️⃣ The Four Winds

#ThingsInCommon: #botm + multiple of one thing/no person on covers

Didn‘t read much the second half of March, but hoping I can get back into it in April. 🤞🏻 #weeklyforecast

I could not put it down, and I wanted to. Very little good happened, & I know it was the Great Depression & yes I was depressed. My parents lived through the Great Depression; I went to school with children and grandchildren of the “Okies”.These folks could not catch a break.

This is my first Kristin Hannah book to read and everyone said it was her best. I‘m not sure I‘m ready to try another one.

Kristin Hannah‘s best book in my opinion. Elsa felt unloved for all her life and tried to bend to other‘s wills in order to be loved. When her husband deserts her and her children during the dust bowl, she begins to discover the full woman she is. A heartbreaking look @ us U.S. Americans and our ugliness (which raised its head during the pandemic) as well as the resilience of those struggling to survive.

2023 read this in 4 days! Historical fiction…. Makes you realize how fortunate you are!

I‘ve barely started this but I like it so far.

Mom and I both enjoyed The Four Winds. Looking forward to library discussion Wednesday.

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
#boleybooks #thefourwinds #kristinhanna #bookbeast #bookjoy #mustread #bookbuds
What are you reading? 😊

I almost thought about putting this under my Christmas tree to open later but I then I decided I wanted to enjoy the book love now!! 🎄🎁❤️ Thank you thank you @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks for the gift!!

Im a little torn on how to review this one... the writing was beautiful, I loved the characters and was totally engaged. But it was so bleak... which yeah, its a Great Depression/ Dust Bowl novel so that is to be expected. But there were so few glimpses of hope that I struggled to get through it.
On the plus side, I was literally binding off this sock as I finished listening to the audio - perfect timing! #audioknitting

Omg this book made me feel every emotion! I know it is fictional but we as humans are terrible to each other! Be kind every day!

Good read but slow. Not my top 5 of the author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was skeptical about picking up this book because I wasn't very interested in the dust bowl. I saw this book was nominated for best book of 2021, so I decided to finally give it a try. Boy, was I wrong. I became SO interested in the dust bowl when reading this book. The themes from this story are so synonymous with the current pandemic that aspects seemed to parallel the lives many live today.

This was a great book about the struggles of a woman, daughter, and family during the dust bowl and depression years, and the strength she achieved through her struggles navigating life during this era, and the legacy she was able to leave behind for her children.

#ManicMonday #LetterF

📖 The Four Winds
🖋 Frederik Backman
🎥 The Fast & The Furious
📺 Friends
🎤 Frankie Valli
🎶 From This Moment On by Shania Twain

I love books like this where you get a personal perspective on events and periods of history. Her writing made me feel like I was right there with them, experiencing every emotion.

Hands down the best book I‘ve read this year. It‘s not often a book moves me to tears.

Sorry I‘m bit late for #SundayFunday

1. The Wizard of Oz 🌪🌈
2. Tagged!
3. A rainy day, with a cup of tea, a book, and my kitties. 😸

Thanks for the tag, @CrowCAH 😊 Tagging anyone who‘d like to play!

Epic story⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My pick for #LetterF #Alphabetgame is this beautiful historical fiction by my fav author.

Fiesta: The sun also raises and Famous Five are few other books I could think for letter F.

#AlphabetGame
#LetterF

Kristin Hannah has never let me down. I wasn‘t sure if I‘d be able to get into this one, but then I couldn‘t put it down.

My mom finished a series she‘s been reading for about 6 months so I presented her with all of my books recs that have built up in the meantime :) she‘s gonna be busy

The tagged is the latest book that made me ugly cry and then made me mad that it made me cry. I don‘t cry easily IRL but books, movies, commercial can get the tears flowing fairly easily.

Historical fiction. I love that it‘s grounded in reality and I always learn something.

So Many! All of Sharon Kay Penman‘s, A Gentleman in Moscow, Burial Rites, The Book of Longings, The Pillars of the Earth…to name a few.

Tagging everyone who hasn‘t played

June wrap up!! It was a good month for reading for me. Probably because I was sick most of the month 😂😂😂. Top pick was The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah but I also loved A History of Wild Places and The Pull of the Stars!! So glad I finally got to a few that were sitting on my shelf for awhile! Hoping July is just as good for reading as June was 😃

I love this scene. Three women, all at different stages of their lives, all grieving the same loss…but in very different ways.
And this line…so true. In my younger days, I always thought romance equaled grand gestures & excitement & drama. Now at almost 40, I realize that romance isn‘t hearts and flowers. It‘s someone who knows how you take your coffee, or fixes a flat tire for you. It‘s finding someone who calms you just with their presence.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The characters are well written and there‘s so much grit, perseverance, strength, hope, and love. It‘s a vivid portrayal of survival that motivated me to learn more about the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. But it also had some real misery porn tendencies and unrealistic scenes. Compelling, but a soft pick.