This seems a very apt book to read with our lack of rain and high temperatures! The way sandy areas near the coast here are farmed and parts of the fens that are wide and open have caused dust storms in this country but nothing on the scale of the 30's dust bowl in the US.
It was a good read although at times I wasn't sure about finishing it as it's a harrowing and depressing story in many ways.
Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d
yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great
Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear,
Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.
Fearful of the future,
when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the
most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or
take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search
of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their
experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?
From
the overriding love of a mother for her child, the value of female
friendship and the ability to love again – against all odds – Elsa’s
incredible journey is a story of survival, hope and what we do for the
ones we love.
It made me want to find out more about the Dust Bowl and migration because it's a very long time since I read The Grapes of Wrath and I didn't understood it back then anyway and certainly didn't know the reasons for it.
I expect everyone in the US already knows all this so apologies, but it's not a period we learn about in history lessons.
A map and more details found on line
A map of the United States showing the area affected by the Dust Bowl (from Moore, 2020).
A summing up in 17 facts.
1. Main cause: Farmers over planted and overgrazed their land for
decades. They also failed to
plant drought resistant crops, so when the
drops died out, there was no way to hold the topsoil in place.
2. Great Depression: After years of bad practices, the Great
Depression caused farmers
to not be able to plant as many crops as
usual. As such, many areas throughout the Plains were
left barren even
of protective grasses.
3. Drought catalyst: Drought conditions in several states — Oklahoma,
Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico,
Texas, and Nebraska — exposed poor land
management when the soil blew away.
The effects of the drought spread
all the way to the Dakotas and affected agriculture all the way to
Maine
4. Homesteading laws: Plains farming boomed in the early 20th century
after homesteading laws
provided settlers with 640 acres of free land,
courtesy of the feds. European demand for wheat fed
this cycle.
5. Government seduction: Farming practices were out of control, no
doubt. But the Department
ofAgriculture promoted the (bizarre?) idea
that increased farming caused more rain to fall on the Plains.
6. The inevitable fall: Crop prices fell at the same time that the
drought began. In desperation, farmers
started planting even more crops,
which only compounded the rate at which topsoil was destroyed.
7. Dust storms: Giant clouds of dirt (fueled by 30 mph winds)
literally blew across the landscape,
engulfing homes and even entire
towns. Each year, the problem grew worse. In 1932, 14 dust storms
were
recorded. In 1932, the number jumped to 38.
8. Size and scope: The average 1930s dust storm carried more dirt than it would take to build two
Panama Canals.
9. Death of livestock: Cattle were blinded and suffocated by the dust
cloud. They were discovered with
stomachs full of sand and dust.
10. Schools closed: Most students were sent home from school, lest
they develop “dust pneumonia.”
(7000 people lost their lives to this
affliction.) In other cases, students stayed overnight at school
when
dust storms made conditions too dangerous to travel.
11. Black & white reality: The six states affected the most by
the Dust Bowl were rendered into colors
of black and white, ironically,
just like the widely available photo medium of the 1930s.
12. Black Sunday: April 14, 1935 was the single worst day of the Dust
Bowl. Winds reached 60 miles
per hour and were most severe in the
Oklahoma and Texas panhandles. These “black blizzards” caused
day to
turn into night.
13. Loss of livelihood: The Farmers not only watched their property
blow away, but their jobs also
disappeared as well. There was little
left to do but pack up for the promised land.
14. Migration to California: Unemployment in the Great Depression was
already a 1 in 4 statistic. Once
farmers and their families showed up
on the scene, unemployment in California (and other urban areas)
grew
even worse.
15. Hoovervilles: Some 200,000 migrant farmers relocated to
California. Most of them did not find work
. Those who did were
chronically underpaid. The new population was forced to set up makeshift
“towns”
known as “Hoovervilles.”
16. Okies: Any and all migrant farmers were given the pejorative
nickname “Okies” even though only
about 20% of migrants actually hailed
from Oklahoma.
17. New Deal: Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs included new
laws to help get back into
business and heal the land. These laws
included: (a) Agricultural Adjustment Act; (b) Civilian
Conservation
Corps; (c) Farm Security Administration; (d) Soil Conservation Services;
and
(e) Rural Electrification Act.
I looked at reviews on Amazon to see what other people thought and found the strangest thing - Many reviews from UK readers recommended it - yet here are some comments from readers in the States
"I was happy to see a new book by one of my favorite authors, but will not
be buying more. Be warned that this book is a political statement"
"This is an amazing author, I’ve loved her work.
Am disappointed in her crafted story to promote Communism, wish I hadn’t spent $14.99 to support it."
"I’m
three-fourths though this book and I can’t even finish. It’s horribly
written, pro-communist dribble that I can’t even bring myself to care
about how it ends. Don’t waste your time or money."
What a difference the Atlantic Ocean makes to the reading of a book!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Indeed. It makes me want to read it in fact. I'll look on Amazon. Thanks, Sue. xx
ReplyDeleteI think worth reading
DeleteListening to a quiz on the Radio last week, where someone read the first paragraph of The Grapes Of Wrath. I thought "must read that again". But now I think I may try this one instead (or as well) Thank you Sue. And what a contrast between USA /UK reviews!
ReplyDeleteI've ordered Grapes of Wrath from the library to re-read or at least to flick through
DeleteThank you for all the information - like you, it was time I was aware of but didn't know the fuller picture. I never read The Grapes of Wrath but vaguely remember the film back in the day. Worryingly with our soils being depleted by intensive farming (largely wheat again I suppose), agricultural practices need to change - and fast. Monoculture is never a good idea.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how different the reviews are in the States.
Interesting to find out more about something I didn't know about
DeleteIt sounds depressing as a read, especially as today we are going to reach the hottest day. The reviews are also depressing of course but America is another land. Easy labelling of 'communist' etc shows a lack of understanding.
ReplyDeleteCommunism gets a mention but isn't part of the main story
DeleteThe film Grapes of Wrath was on a freeview channel a few months ago and we taped then watched it, as it was years since I'd seen it. Like in your book, it must devastating to see your land fail all around you.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look out for it - bound to be on again sometime
DeleteMany, many years ago there was a TV series called (I believe) Centennial which was taken from a book by James Clavell, (I think). Obviously the Dust Bowl was featured and my understanding is that the Dust Bowl was created by greedy farmers who tore down their hedges, which were wind breaks, in order to make room for more crops. A hard lesson learned.
ReplyDeleteMy mistake - not James Clavell, but James Michener.
DeleteSeem to remember he writes very fat books!
DeleteMost Americans don't know very much about the Dust Bowl. However, Americans generally didn't have hedges to tear down. It was caused by poor farming practices, however--they didn't know about contour plowing and planting. This is mentioned in The Four Winds. Learning how to plant was huge in ending the crisis. Ken Burns' film is excellent. Sue, I agree with you about this book. Horribly depressing, but a very good ending. If you haven't read it, be sure to read Kristen Hannah's The Nightingale.
DeleteSuggesting looking up Ken Burns: “The Dust Bowl”. He has made a documentary about it. PBS has an interview with him about it as well.
ReplyDeleteKJ
I'll watch out for this being broadcast again
DeleteI’m embarrassed by my fellow Americans.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
You don't need to be - I just thought it odd that that some people had picked up on the communism above the main story - no reviews from here mentioned it
DeleteWhat's interesting is--in America--it has an overall 4.5 out of 5 star review rating, 70% being 5 star. At least according to Amazon. Only 10% of reviewers gave it 3 stars or less: only 2% each one or two stars. I say that only because the reviews chosen to quote aren't necessary an accurate depiction of majority American thought.
Delete--Elise
Not one of my favorite books.
ReplyDeleteI expect it is not a lot of peoples favourite. I wouldn't say it was my favourite but I found it interesting and informative
DeleteMine either, Brenda. Although I loved "The Nightingale", K. Hanna's books tend towards depressing. One of the best novels I've ever read about The Dustbowl is "The Persian Pickle Club", which, while dealing with the very real struggles and heavy subjects, left me feeling good at the end of the book. --Elise
DeleteI read Four Winds. Though it was a bit contrived I did enjoy reading it all the way through. I think the one she wrote about Alaska (title escapes me) was better. Don't know where those US commenters got the idea it was communism?
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I keep track of the book I read on Goodreads. I find it interesting to read the one star reviews - very often they are politically motivated. I read quite a few books on US plot is and found it particularly amusing when people admitted they hadn’t read the book but still gave it 1 star because it was against their politics!
ReplyDeleteHope you are staying cool - you guys have super hot weather at the moment.
Fascinating information there Sue, I was aware of the Dust Bowl but obviously only minutely so. Why I wonder does America not learn from the past, their huge open landscapes (you can't call anything that big 'fields') are just ripe for losing soil in any wind and the way the land is pumped full of chemicals to keep it productive is horrifying. The reviews from over the pond sound quite typical unfortunately, it always seems as though some Americans are working hard to tarnish opinions of everyone else from their country with their narrow-mindedness. Thank goodness we know differently through blogland.
ReplyDeleteThis all happened out on the PRAIRIES /PLAINS....no trees or hedges out there. They do plant strips of tall prairie grass these days to prevent soil loss on farms.
DeleteA lot of people are still mad at Franklin Roosevelt. That's where the "communist" baloney comes from. They've never had a problem taking the farm subsidies he started though.
ReplyDeletePerhaps try a nonfiction book called The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. Well written and well-researched.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Raban wrote a book called Badland. It is also very interesting and readable. I learnt a lot about something that like other readers was only known through The Grapes of Wrath. I shall read The Four Winds now. Thank you Sue
ReplyDeleteConspiracy thinking seems to overtake some people. Sustainable farming and growing in the US needs to improve.
ReplyDelete'Coopers Crossing' a novel by AG Street covers the dust bowl in Canada. This is done from memory it is a long time since I have read the book. Also 'Till the Cows Come Home' non fiction by Phillip Walling talks about the dustbowl and the decimation of bison on the prairies and how that added to the dustbowl. Excellent read, ditto his book about sheep.
ReplyDeleteThose comments make you wonder about America's overall intelligence. Not all Americans or Texans are so sadly intellectually deficient. When I hear such ignorance spread so generously, wish the person who spouts it could be like Dorothy and wake up in a communist country. They should have to remain there until they "woke" from their fever dream. :) I know, I know. I'm bad.
ReplyDeleteUp here in Canada we also had the dust bowl, just not quite as bad as the United States. Still farmers had it very tough for a few years and many left their farms and moved to the cities to gain employment.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I live in the U.S. and I loved this book. I thought it gave a better understanding of the humans behind that time of history. Lynn Ewing
ReplyDeleteI attended a gathering where Tiimothy Egan spoke about his book on the Dust Bowl. One of the things he stressed was that the prairie grasses had deep roots several feet long which reached the water down in the soil. When the farmers went out to the plains to farm they used farming methods they have used in the eastern United States, methods their fathers and grandfathers had used. However, the eastern part of the country did not experience the drought conditions and high winds that were prevalent on the prairies, and the crops they planted did not have the root structure to survive. Also the US government made deals with Europe to provide the wheat that could not be planted because of WW1 and farmers were promised great wealth by planting wheat which has a short root system. All of a sudden the wheat market fell apart because of the war and there were no buyers for all the excess wheat, which ended up being piled on the ground to rot, causing the farmers to lose their profits. Then the droughts started, the field's top soils blew away, and the rest is history. One interesting fact is that one day in October of the worst year, political meetings were being held in Washington, DC, when the sky darkened over the sun to almost nightfall darkness. It was not a storm, it was the dust from the midwest finally reaching the east coast. I strongly advise reading the Egan book. He is an excellent writer who also wrote about the 1918 influenza pandemic. When covid hit, our book club read that book for a real dose of reality.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching a UK TV show about farming during WW II. There was a very big push to grow wheat then in the UK because up till the war, about 90% of the wheat used in the UK had come from the USA, and now the German navy was blocking transport. I guess this is where all that US wheat was coming from. Unfortunately, many countries are still having similar problems now.
DeleteThe government promoted western expansion with free land for making and maintaining a farm. They sent hundreds of thousands west without knowing and explaining the difference between farming in the east and the west. In the same way that our "excursions" are stirring up new plagues, ebola, monkeypox, covid, that excursion stirred up crop devouring locusts, blinding and killing dust storms. Ana Dunk above gave a succinct but graphic account of the time. Ignorance kills, and that time was operating in ignorance, as do we, from time to time.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents and mother lived about at the bottom of the 'm' in Oklahoma on your map. Luckily, they were not farmers, so didn't suffer as much as many did during the Depression. Wish they were still here so I could ask them about the Dust Bowl.
ReplyDelete