Hallmark Kristin Hannah ~ strong female protagonist who elicits an ugly cry from the reader at the end. Why am I never prepared for that??
I put this book off for several years because of a review citing animal suffering and I didn't think I was up for that in the throes of a pandemic. Even tho there is animal and human suffering aplenty, I found it more of a testimony of the indomitable human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. I can't imagine enduring the Dust Bowl years and honestly hadn't thought much or read much about them. Now I can't quit thinking about it~ trust KH to bring harsh realities to life with her phenomenal story telling abilities. I imagine if you were someone who'd survived that period in history, you would forever be fearful of a reoccurrence and always be watching the weather.
I didn't immediately have a lot of regard for Elsa but just as her in-laws came to an evolution about her so did I. It's a beautiful story. Educational if you need a brush up on the Dust Bowl era, and touching on societal issues still present today. Unfair wages and practices against migrant workers, this time towards Americans by birth. Besides Elsa's growth as a woman and human being there's also such a realistic portrayal of how family dynamics grow and change. Elsa and Laredo are the ultimate examples of the stages mothers and daughters often cycle thru and hopefully land on in their complicated relationships. Very comprehensive representation of this era in history even covering the environmental issues that contributed to it.
I've decided Kristin Hannah serves up life, not happy endings. Maybe that's why her novels hit so hard? But they also "stick" and that's important too. As tough as the subject matter is, it's written in a very readable and engrossing way. Highly recommend.
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