Instead, Rafe jumped a train, leaving only a note. 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. Moreover, Tony explains how he and his wife started out with only 17 dollars, and now they lead what he considers to be a good life. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds . The store allows her to buy things on credit, but Elsa has to temper her impulses, knowing easy it could be to overspend on credit. Then, a dust storm descends. Back at home, Elsa digs up the small flower shed once planted and places it in the earth near Lorenzos headstone. I think its tempting for authors to write characters (especially older/wise ones) who are right about everything, but much more realistic for them to be depicted with human flaws. Afterwards, they see another dust storm headed their way. Afterwards, Elsa sends Loreda away and talks to Jack. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail, water dries up . They pack as much as they can into the car. When Elsa stops for gas, the attendant warns her of a bad element out there so she shouldnt keep her cash in her handbag. Her decision to cut her hair is likely because it serves as a loud signal to everyone else that they should look at her differently than before. Meanwhile, Loreda and Ant are hiding in the schoolhouse. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance. So, chances are by the time she really needs it, itll come too late if she doesnt sign up now. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for this summary. He encourages them to rise up lest they be used and mistreated. A line of workers are outside hoping for work, and Mr. Welty shows up to explain that hes cutting wages by 10% that year. Still, Rafe continues to imagine a life in a big city elsewhere, and he often drinks. "Hope is a coin I carry. He starts by telling them the history of how Mexican immigrants in California who had formerly done the picking were treated. Loreda is furious, but Elsa shushes her. He takes his opportunity for granted, unlike Elsa who as a woman would desperately like the opportunity to go, but is unable to do so. Despite it being completely out of character for her, she is willing to cause trouble and threaten someone if it means helping someone she loves. Elsa tears up in relief. The past few years have been difficult, with the Great Depression, an on-going drought and frequent dust storms ravaging the lands. Okies referred to people from Oklahoma or similar places (like Texas), but were thought of as economic refugees that were typically impoverished. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club. For a non-spoiler version of the plot synopsis, see The Bibliofile's review of The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. The next day, Elsa wakes up with renewed hope as Tony looks at the new growth sprouting from the field. By late December, Elsa realizes they will not have enough money to get through the rest of the winter. At church, another family inquires about whether Rafe has found a job, since Tony has not told them the shameful truth that Rafe abandoned them. However, Elsa knows she needs to set a good example for her kids (to not give up) and doesnt want the neighbors to stop by and potentially see her unwashed kids. Theres a steep learning curve, but eventually they are able to get to the point where they pick enough cotton to be earning around $4 a day between the two of them. She is quick to blame her mother for everything, including her fathers unhappiness and her own. (p. 214) Loreda longs to leave as well, and she prefers her father's dreams to her mother's dreary, joyless work ethic. As figures, the four winds have been identified with four winged beings on cylinder seals. Like another reviewer I had read this book over ago but needed to refresh my memory for an upcoming book club discussion. It was fortunate, then, for the agricultural industry that the dust bowl came along to provide new workers for the industry. When Loreda asks if theyll see them again, Elsa finally admits to Loreda that the house theyd seen in Dalhart was her former home, but her family rejected her. She tells Ant that theyll take him home in a few days and then off to California. The Martinellis have had to sacrifice in hopes of giving Rafe a better life than their own. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. Elsa unexpectedly gets pregnant and quickly marries. The meeting takes place in the old schoolhouse. Loreda is about to head off to college in California. They see that the camp has now grown considerably. Seeing how poorly hes doing, she wants to take him to Doc Rheinhart, but realizes that they have no horse. She says they have food and shelter here, but half the country is unemployed so theres no guarantee there will have work if they leave. Rage suggests leaving his parents behind. When she awakes, she struggles to open the front door, only to discover that outside everything is covered in black dirt. The Four Winds is a rich, . They get a letter back from Tony and Rose who report that the government will additionally be paying them to contour the land and sending them love. When she sees her grandfather hesitating, she decides that she needs to be the one to do it and takes the gun. Then, a huge flock of birds fly by, heralding a thick dust storm that ravages the land. Elsa chops up what once was the pig pen to be used as firewood. Spoiler warning: these summaries contains spoilers. the four winds what happened to rafe. Jean names it Clea, after her mother. Instead, she opts to stay the night there. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows. The characters do what they are expected to do, even if outcome of doing so is obviously worse (such as staying in a marriage with a cheating husband, since divorce is improper). When fruit season is over, they head elsewhere to find other work. Jack offers to take them out for the night. Times are tough, with the past few years seeing The Great Depression and severe drought. Loreda interrupts their conversation and tells them that she thinks they should strike. Unfortunately, Frank at the town speakeasy says her father wouldnt approve of him letting her in. Instead, she reminds Elsa that shes unmarriageable, she tells her she should accept her lot in life, and then her mother takes the red dress from her. Elsa talks to Jack and explains what happened. He has answered the countless prayers for healing of loved ones, wondering what it was about the emotion that made humans will Elsa feels trapped by the way people see her and think about her. pain are too much and too descriptive and colourful. Reading "The Four Winds," it's impossible not to notice parallels between the fictional past and factual present. On the 4th of July, Elsas bruise has faded, but she feels even more restless than before. She decides to wear it as a scarf. It reminds us, says Hannah, that "so many of the things we're going through now are things that we have gone through before. They take over, and together they travel into town. Loreda understands on some level that its not entirely her mothers fault that their father left, but thinking that he could leave her (Loreda) makes Loreda feel hopeless. Jean lends her a pair of shoes for Ant, and she pushes Elsa yet again to register for relief just in case. In the meantime, the attendant points her to the food line for support until then. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. So handsome. Loreda scares him off with the shotgun. At the school, the other kids are dressed in clean, new clothes. . Loreda offers to get a job to help out, but Elsa says that theres no jobs. The Four Winds, Kristen Hannah. The Four Winds is an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America's most defining eras the Great Depression.. Texas, 1934. She believed she was never beautiful . Afterwards, Loreda heads to the library. For February's Read With Jenna book club pick, Jenna Bush Hager selected "The Four Winds," by Kristin Hannah. 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. Despite Loreda's interest in the cause, Elsa firmly resists. Afterwards, Elsa considers telling Rafe that she would think about it if he really felt he had to go. Elsa meets Rafe at the same barn, and they have sex again. Elsa is reading The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton when she gets up the nerve to talk to her father about potentially attending college. THE FOUR WINDS is a rich, sweeping novel that . She has a fever, and she thinks its typhoid. Elsa, instead goes to the hospital to beg for aspirin. Rose Martinelli (Rafes mother) protests at first, but Tony puts a stop to it and quickly decides that Rafe needs to marry Elsa. Uncertain and scared, Elsa reluctantly leaves with just Art and Loreda. Right before they depart, Tony and Rose announce that they are not leaving. When a tear-gas bomb is thrown, the workers head for the fields to sit peacefully, but then Elsa is shot. The next morning, tired and seeing the devastation, Elsa collapses. He says that the grass theyve dug up was holding the topsoil in place. The Four Winds is a deeply moving, powerful story about the strength and resilience of women and the bond between mother and daughter, by the multi-million copy number one bestselling author Kristin Hannah. When Elsa protests saying she wants Loreda to go to college, Rosa expresses skepticism because Loreda is a girl. The story is set during the Dust Bowl period a few years after . For most of her recent life shes only known a life of drought and poverty. The next day, Loreda spots Ike near the water pump, and he whispers to her that therell be a meeting in the laundry room at night. As they haul water from the well, they regret not laying pipe before. Then, just as Jack announces the sixth as the day of the strike on fields across the valley, the sound of police sirens ring out. In California, Elsa is treated poorly because she is assumed to be poor and because shes assumed to an Okie or something like them. 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 Four Winds were . Even though Rafe and Elsa are both responsible for their action, Elsa feels it is her fault. As they work, Mr. Gerald, their banker, comes to deliver the unfortunate news that the bank is preparing to foreclose on 160 acres of their land unless theyre able to make some sort of payment to hold them off. Loreda screams and cries, while Ant is sad and cries. 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. The Four Winds is a beautiful work of historical fiction. THE FOUR WINDS. "The Four Winds" begins in northwestern Texas in 1921. Elsa rides her horse Milo into town. In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinellilike so many of her neighborsmust make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. Meanwhile, Rafe continues to withdraw from Elsa. Elsa goes to the Silo Saloon to find Rafe slumped over, drunk. Then, Jack admits his feelings for Elsa, which Elsa returns. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Texas, 1934. Loreda is someone who wanted something to believe in, and when all she had was her father and his pipe dreams, then thats what she believed in. Loreda argues with her mother that they need to join the fight, but Elsa doesnt want to risk their jobs and their cabin. Theres so many migrants coming to California that people are desperate for work. She views her mothers love as being suffocating. Elsa and Rafe hurry inside as the walls shake and winds howl. Jack explains that the barn was burned down and some arrests were made. One night she sneaks away from the protective eyes of her family and thrills at the attention paid to her by Rafe Martinelli, a dashing Italian immigrant. Meanwhile, Rose intends to teach Elsa to cook. She is upset to see that her sisters are wearing a scarf and a blouse made from the fabric that was once her red silk dress. The next day, Elsa stays asleep, too sad to get out of bed. In the prologue, the narrator makes a pointed statement about how saying are always about men or a man. While most of Hannah's writing is specific and surprising, the novel's beating heart weakens a little in the last section as it falls . As instructed, she waits for it to cool down before adding water. In June, Elsa goes off to work on the fields doing cotton tending. Jeb explains that his family gets work picking cotton on the farms, but theres no work during the winter. She demands money from the attendant, threatening to shoot him dead if he follows her. Elsa hurries to the train station, where the attendant Mr. McElvaine, reluctantly admits that her husband didnt have money for a ticket. As she nears, she hears the teacher talk about the girls learning to make cosmetics for the day, and Loreda changes her mind and goes to the library instead. Elsa knows that everyone has received instructions to go into the fields and sit, but no one moves so she takes her kids and they go first. T he main characters in The Four Winds include Elsa Martinelli, Loreda Martinelli, and Jack Valen. Meanwhile, Elsa finishes her workday and exchanges her chit (payment for her work) for credit (theres a 10% fee for doing so and no other place to cash it in). 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. March is named after the Roman God, Mars, the god of war and passion. Before she dies, Elsa give Loreda the pouch containing the familys lucky penny. The family heads to town for the meeting, and they stop at the store as well. Loreda is worried at first, but it turns out to be a group of men and women called the Workers Alliance, interested in advocating on behalf of workers. Loreda returns home and apologizes to her mom. Afterwards, Elsa picks up a book she treasures, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. Far away, they hear someone scream, but even that sound does not deter Loreda. Rafe Cameron is one of the main characters and the secondary antagonist in Outer Banks. Ten days after dropping him off, Ant is feeling better. She suspects they knew all along that they werent going to be coming along. She says goodbye to her mothers headstone as she leaves to become the first Martinelli to go to college. Jack then explains that they need to organize to ensure that they will be paid a living wage and to be treated fairly, unlike the workers who came before them. As the people flee, Elsa turns back to get their truck. Her mother is the one to suggest it when she sees Elsa throwing up constantly. As they head into the desert, they see a sign indicating to travelers that they need to bring water with them from that point on. 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 hit Netflix series has continued to explore more of its main characters' families as it has progressed. On the sixth, news of the strike had spread, but no one knew for sure what would happen. They purchase supplies from Eugene on credit. She goes to the barn to get the truck, which results in their horse Bruno running into the storm. In the Epilogue, in 1940, Loreda has been living in Texas. They watch in horror as the flowing waters dismantle their tent and their stove is washed away. By giving her the penny, they are endowing her with their hopes and dreams as she takes their grandchildren to build a new life. That night as they camp out after their drive through the desert, Loreda thinks about the things she never said to her mother. Hannah's 24th book tells the story of Elsa Wolcott. Ant (Anthony): Loreda's younger brother. Still, she does not give up and eventually improves. She thinks about telling them that their father went to find a job for money, but knows shell have no explanation when theres no money coming in. Its empty. The doctor recommends leaving Ant at the hospital for at least a week or two, but he also says that if they really want to save Ant, they need to leave Texas for somewhere with clearer air. Seeing her upset, Elsa decides to give Loreda Rafes shirt (the one shes been using as a scarf). She then shifts the focus to women, indicating that this is going to be a female driven story. the four winds what happened to rafe. Elsa sends Loreda with the truck down to the Welty store to buy aspirin and a thermometer. She doesnt realize her mother is only like that right now out of necessity. After Loreda leaves, Rose comforts Elsa. Posted on:flecktarn woobie hoodie. After the days work is over, Loreda runs off in frustration. what happened to woodbury, the walking dead Menu. In 1921, as a sickly, homebound teen, Elsa dreams big. Rafe wants to leave with their family, but he knows his parents would never leave. Afterwards, they end up at a diner. Rose demands that Elsa convert to Catholicism. 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. Loredas teacher, Nicole Buslik, is the only teacher the town has. Even with the gas mask, Ant is weak, has a bad cough and is soon unable to get out of bed. Rafe opened the door and stood in the opening, his face dusty. Jean senses that something is wrong, so Elsa drives her to the hospital. Soon, they are kissing and have sex but then he abruptly says he should get her home. Back at the camp, Jean introduces Elsa to the other women around there, Midge from Kansas and Nadine from South Carolina. realize were true when I read the book . Required fields are marked *. The next morning, Loreda and Ant go outside to see a number of aid organization lined up with supplies and food, as well as a table with a woman from Workers United. Elsa says that they have no money for gas or even shoes if they wanted to walk, and then there was his parents. (p. 33) Decorate with a loaf of Wonder Bread like the billboard when they got to California. With failing crops, two children to feed, never ending work, never ending dust, and a barely there husband - Elsa once again is put in a position to make hard decisions that there seems to be no . Loreda also explains that Grandpa Tony has been teaching her things like how to hunt or how to put water in the radiator. Tony tells Elsa about the importance of . Elsa rushes inside with the rest of the family. Afterwards, before Jack leaves, he lets Elsa know that hell be out of town for a while but that he wants to get to know her better. Driving through the desert in the night to avoid the heat, the engine still overheats. They are disheveled and unkept by the time they arrive, and people are rude to them. Rafe dreams of leaving for the big city, but does his duty. Despite all the progress in Loreda and Elsas relationship, Loreda reverts to her old habit of blaming her mother for everything and drawing on the anger that has been simmering inside her for so long. By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. She tells him shes ready to help organize the workers. I knew this would be a big hit for 2021 and that's why I included it in my huge must-read book club picks for 2021 list. As they wait in line, Mr. Welty shows up at the office. T he Four Winds is a 2021 novel about the Martinelli family, who migrate from Texas to California during the Dust Bowl. This holds true when the Bible refers to the "four winds.". Kristin Hannah is a book club favorite, and THE NIGHTINGALE, her 2015 work set during World War II, was a massive hit. With a new sense of direction, Loreda no longer wants to run away and goes home. Instead, Elsa runs into a tall stranger, Raffaello Rafe Martinelli, who she flirts boldly with. Loreda gets a package from Jack, who is now fighting a different war, against fascism this time. , tired and seeing the Great Plains by, heralding a thick dust storm their. 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