"The four winds" by Kristin Hannah

 The Four Winds

by Kristin Hannah

Overall Review:  5*

Historical fiction covering the Great Depression:  This is the first book which I have read related to the years of great depression in America.  The book is a historical fiction and provides and insight into the hardships faced by people of the country in those tough years.  How to find hope and seek a future for your family when everything you have ever known just fails.  The years of no rain in the country made the farmers see the toughest of times.  A young girl was able to single handedly stand tall and provide for her family to the best of her capabilities.  A story of courage, love and survival.  

Make the best during the worst of times:  Elsa is the heroine of the book and she is a heroine after all - truly inspiring.  A girl next door who does not have a fulfilling childhood, searches for love where she gets and ties her future to that little thread of hope.  Family is something which an individual can not choose.  It can make or break you and shape your life.  Elsa got love from family very late in her life and then had to take a difficult decision to move ahead for her children.  The world always harps about the hardships the men bear, but it is the women of the world who make or break the families, communities, villages and the country.  

I just wish and hope the climax was different from what it was and there could be some more of happiness for our sweet Elsa.  The book is emotionally and exhausting read and you end up feeling sad but content at the end.  

Amazing writing: Hannah has become one of my favorite authors now.  While I was reading this book, I ordered two more from the same author.  The way she writes, she is able to provide a vivid imagery of the events in front of you.  I felt I was in the moment and was able to see everything from my own eyes.  I was able to feel the sand in my mouth, the water during the flood and the love in Elsa's life when it came.  

"The Purple Violet of Oshaantu" by Neshani Andreas

 "The Purple Violet of Oshaantu"

by Neshani Andreas

Overall Review: 4* 

A narrative describing life in a small village in Africa: A small and sweet book giving a peek into the village of Oshaantu in Namibia.  When you read such books, you get a perspective towards life as a whole.  It is a story of a woman and her neighbor living in the same village but have totally different lives.  The book provides a peek into the patriarchal structure of the village and the total absence of women's rights in these villages.  

The narrator is telling the story of her friend and there is a comparison between hers and her friend's life.  The entire village is full of women with similar challenges and obstacles in life.  Her neighbor and friend is being cheated on, beaten and ignored by her husband.  The society just turns a blind eye towards anything that is done to her and just expect her to live on.  At the time of the death of her husband though people gather like vultures to take away whatever they can.  

An eye opener which tells the plight of women:  A behavior which is more or less common across the world.  A woman takes care of her family and her in laws.  In return her life is so much dependent on how her husband behaves.  If the husband is not with the wife, no one is there.  The same thought is being shared in the book when suggestion is being made so many times for her to leave the husband and move on.  I was angry at how this woman was treated by her husband, the society and his family.  At the end however, she chose her peace.  

Well written with great thought and flow: It is the first book by this author and she has done a good job and describing the lives of the women in the village. It is well written where each big and small event is being described beautifully.  It certainly exposes all things wrong with the society and human mentality.  

"The Family Lawyer" by James Patterson

 The Family Lawyer

by James Patterson

What will you do if one fine day your kid lands up in jail for allegedly killing someone.  I for one would certainly have a heart attack.  But then that is the time when the kid needs us the most.  That is what the whole one story for the family lawyer is all about.  The father is able to bring his daughter out of the mess she has dragged herself in.  Knowing your family and believing in them is the most important thing specially when trust is broken.  The story includes a twist which came at the time when most needed.  However, steps could have been made to make the other lawyer more productive.  I believe the finishing of the first story was rushed.  

I was disappointed by this book being a collection of three short stories.  I was not looking for that.  Also, the name of the book is the name of the first story.  The other stories are also fine but that is not what was sold to me.  I honestly like the first one only.  The second story for the Night Sniper is also good but then it just goes downhill with the third.  Even in the Night Sniper, I do not understand the significance of making the lady cop as dysfunctional.  I also do not understand why is being high and on drugs all the time glorified by writers.  

I am giving only a 2 star to this book and honestly the writer could have worked better on the first story and shaping it better to make this book a success.