The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

I find it hard to give a rating to books of this nature because the story is deeply sad but perfectly crafted. I had to take a break in the middle because the sorrow of the story was weighing on me too heavily.

Set mainly in Texas farmland in the years of the Great Depression, the narrative follows dreamer Elsa and her unexpected family as they struggle to make a living on land that had been devastated through climate change. This story resonates deeply with the themes of today - climate change, unemployment, hardship, lack of governmental leadership and separation from those you love.

The book takes an unexpected turn in the middle and focuses on the history of American immigration in California in the 1930s and the living conditions of those coming in from out of state. This spotlights how little we have changed as a society in terms of xenophobia and in my mind demonstrates why we should read fiction - to place ourselves in the time and place of people we could never otherwise become and enhance our skill of empathy.

Overall this is a beautiful and tragic book that feels very relevant to the struggles of here and now. Highly recommend (though perhaps have a light read lined up for afterwards).