In Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone, a desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature.#1 New York Times Instant Bestseller (February 2018)A People “Book of the Week”Buzzfeed’s “Most Anticipated Women’s Fiction Reads of 2018”Seattle Times’s “Books … Women’s Fiction Reads of 2018”
Seattle Times’s “Books to Look Forward to in 2018”
Alaska, 1974. Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes the impulsive decision to move his wife and daughter north where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Cora will do anything for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. Thirteen-year-old Leni, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, has little choice but to go along, daring to hope this new land promises her family a better future.
In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own.
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Nothing makes me happier than a new release by one of my favorite authors. I love Kristin Hannah! WINTERS GARDEN, is one my top 10 books ever, not to mention THE NIGHTINGALE. In the GREAT ALONE she returns to a historical backdrop and family drama, this time 1970s Alaska. THE GREAT ALONE is all about a haunting past, shared trauma, and the inherent human desire to make a fresh start. You have a father with PTSD from the Vietnam War and his wife and young daughter, determined to rebuild in the wilds of Alaska. But what they don’t know, can kill them in environment this harsh and remote. This is one of those books that will hook you from the first page and keep you reading till the (bittersweet) end.
Many people know Kristin from her book The Nightingale, but this stand alone is just as amazing! The Great Alone is set in Alaska which is wild in nature. This setting mixed with the dysfunction of the family creates a downfall of events. Each dark moment seems to get darker and darker. This story digs deep, and the character development is incredible. Your heart will be intertwined and invested not only with Leni and her parents, but the community who embraces this family.
Oh my. The crying has brought on a headache, a book hangover, and every other thing that can be said for closing the cover on a book that has made you say…wow.
I was introduced to Hannah’s writing – like many people – from The Nightingale I truly felt for her because I thought it would be impossible to follow up such a masterpiece with something equally compelling. But as utterly different as The Great Alone was, it pulled every emotional string and taught me about people and places that were almost foreign to me.
I really need to start on her backlist. I’ll be sure to have tissues handy.
The Great Alone is the first book I’ve read by Kristin Hannah. Last month, I re-initiated the Book Bucket List feature on my blog. In this feature, I list 12 books each month for my blog followers and viewers to vote on. I chose the 12 books to start the new version from the list of 2018 and 2019 Goodreads Awards winners and my favorite genres. January 2020’s winner by a landslide was this book, and I’m happy to share my review today and open up voting for the February 2020 book on February 2nd. Let’s dive in…
Alaska. 1970s. When Ernt returns home from Vietnam, all is not well. His wife, Cora, loves him with all her heart and refuses to walk away when things get tough. As the world conflicts heat up, Ernt decides to accept the gift of land from a deceased army friend and move his family to the last frontier. Daughter Leni is only 13 but wise beyond her years. They soon realize Ernt’s PTSD is getting worse, and they have no escape once they are stuck in the remote wilderness in the middle of the winter. Luckily, the neighbors on their small peninsula are all willing to help one another survive. Unfortunately, Ernt divides the group according to rules that he believes are the true law. Over a period of 5 years, this family conquers their greatest fears and pains, but it is not without much sacrifice and hurt. I’ll leave the summary there, as a lot more happens, including a few time jumps into the future… but those are resultant from their actions during the 70s.
When I began reading this book, I worried I wouldn’t like it. Ernt is a jerk. He is abusive and cruel. His vision of the world is skewed from mine. Unfortunately, it matches a good chunk of my country’s currently, so I had to keep my eyes and ears open. This man represents what a lot of people think and feel today, so not much has really changed in 40 years, has it? Since this isn’t a political review, I’ll end my personal feelings there… and focus on how this attitude wreaks havoc in the small, barely-inhabited Alaskan town where he settles down.
Hannah’s characterization is wonderful. On a few occasions, it felt caricaturish, but I understood why. Given the author’s familiarity with Alaska during this time period, she knows best. Hannah got a rise out of me on several occasions — I wanted to beat Ernt to a bloody pulp — so she clearly can write well. I have little experience with abuse and PTSD, so I kept asking “why do you stay?” when I could see paths to salvation (of sorts). That said, this happens in reality a lot, so the truth is… the book tells about the reality of life for many women, especially in this time period and location.
The tone is bleak with a few happy spots. Leni’s ability to fall in love despite the problems around her are magnificent. The setting and backdrop of the wilderness are stunning. The language and dialog felt exorbitantly real. The book kept me interested after the first twenty-five percent. Sometimes authors need time to set the tone. Personally, I think it could’ve been trimmed a bit, and there were a couple of moments of unnecessary repetition. For those reasons, I couldn’t push it up to a 5-star read. It was more than a 4, but fell short a bit… that said, I’d still recommend it to most others as a solid read. It’s the kind of book you need to stick with, as it might be slow at times, but it’s about life and the decisions we make.
Seeing what happened when Ernt went off his rocker, when Cora defended herself finally, when Leni suffered because of decisions her parents made… all these things showed me how other people live, and how much I should be grateful for. Life can be hard, and if you run away and don’t deal with it, it’s even harder in the long run. These were two very strong women, even if they let themselves suffer for too long. Sometimes, only sometimes, does it make sense to bide your time and take the pain to ensure you can find the reward. Whether or not the reward at the end of the book is justice or a vision to unfortunate reality (not everyone gets what they deserve), it’s the kind of book that makes people talk.
Given that it was published in 2019, I see it as more of a confirmation of things we already knew… not groundbreaking in terms of telling readers what really used to happen. Had this been published in the 1990s, I would say it’s of the highest caliber in terms of impact on its readers. Instead, two decades later, it’s strong and vibrant, but we’ve seen parts of this story before. What made it different was the landscape, strength of other women in the book, and the validation that in many ways, things are still the same — and that’s not good enough for people who deserve better.
So… all that said, if a book moves a reader this much, how can you ever say it’s not a marvelous piece of literature. A few minor bumps… a couple of band-aids… and an open-mind… you’ll find yourself thoroughly enticed and shocked by this story. Definitely a good one to read.
This book took me places both geographic and interior that surprised me. An epic tale of family disjunction and survival in the wilds of Alaska. I know I’ll be rereading this at some point.
The Great Alone is a masterpiece of storytelling by Kristen Hannah. I found myself absorbed by the descriptions of Alaska and the Alaskan way of life. I’ve visited the state and always wondered what it might be like to live there – now I feel as though I know. The story was captivating, the characters believable and lovable. The romance pulled at my heartstrings. I highly recommend this book.
THE GREAT ALONE definitely lives up to the hype! Difficult story, but so well told. Kristin Hannah is an author favorite who never disappoints.
This is one of those books that when you close it, and hold it in your lap you find yourself thinking, “Oh my gosh, this was the perfect book.” And, then you wipe away the tears because it’s over.
This is a compelling and beautifully told tale about an educated, intelligent woman addicted to and traumatized by her husband, himself a victim of the Vietnam War! A daughter, growing up in the wilderness of Alaska, is witness to her parents’ dangerous dance and ultimately reacts in a way that ends the violence. The dynamics of an abusive relationship ring true to life, and yet the author allows us to identify and empathize with each character. The Great Alone, although a difficult read, is a page-turner that you will not put it down until you reach the end. I recommended it to many of my friends.
Excellent read. It brought up a lot of memories of being a child in the 70s. Ernt (weird name…) was an absolute and total jerk. He was arrogant, self-centered, and small-minded. I hated him from the get go. He blamed everyone and everything else but himself for his own failings and shortcomings. VERY typical man of the 1970s.
Cora made me angry, too, because she was willing to be his constant punching bag because “he didn’t mean it” and “he loves us.”
I also came to the conclusion that I would love to be one of those despised summer tourists to Alaska, but will never be a resident. I could not, nor do I want, to handle six months of darkness only to spend the six months of light prepping for the darkness otherwise you’ll die.
Give me electricity, convenience, and comfort all day long! I’d rather enjoy my life than have to fight for life every single day. God bless all those bush people. Bless their hearts.
Wow….. First time reading a novel from Kristin Hannah and now I am actively searching for the next one I want to read next from her. This book is quick to set the stage and get the storyline moving along. Ernt is a POW from Vietnam and he moves his family to Alaska when he receives a letter from the father of a guy Ernt friended while in the military indicating that the land his friend owned was now Ernt’s. It’s a roller coaster ride with Ernt’s mood swings, and just a caution this storyline has a lot of domestic violence in it. Leni is Ernt’s Daughter and she befriends the only kid her age in the small town. They fall in love and the storyline of their love story develops. The book is hard to put down and it is even harder to stop thinking about the plot and the characters. It was a very fast read and a very enjoyable read. The book left me wanting another hundred pages or so of the story. This is also one of the few books that I will read again and again and again. One last thing, Large Marge, my favorite character in the entire book. Very well written.
Another engrossing read from Kristin Hannah, with plenty of heartbreak and hope, bleakness and beauty. I loved that, through Leni, we see the experience of an Alaskan homesteader grow from youth to adulthood, from newcomer to someone who feels most at home in the Great Alone. Although it was painful to watch Mama and Dad’s destructive and potentially deadly relationship, the dynamic between them (and Leni) is sadly not uncommon. That the story begins in the 1970s makes the cycle of fear and hurt even more poignant: Spousal abuse was not something people talked about or a crime prosecuted appropriately then. It’s not a light read, but look for characters who are complex and compelling, and choices that may or may not be redeemable.
The Great Alone is a riveting tale about an intense family drama that plays out in the Alaska wilds. Though I was pretty certain what fate had in store for Leni and her mother, the emotion of the story held me in thrall. Beautifully drawn characters and vivid descriptions of Alaska in all its beauty and terror, made this one of my favorite books of 2018. A must read!
I’ve been meaning to read Kristan Hannah for some time. She’s been highly recommended to me by several friends. I can see why after reading THE GREAT ALONE.
This book hit all the feels for me. And how could it not? A veteran, broken, struggling, suffering from PTSD and the darkness that lurks deep in his soul, threatening to take over. A woman who loves him too much to leave, who lives on hope and faith and in fear. A young girl caught in the middle, struggling to make sense of it all, while falling in love for the first time.
The book is set in the 1970s in Alaska and its one of the things that first caught my attention, as I lived in Alaska during that time. Kristan Hannah took me on a sweet, wonderful trip to the past. Reading THE GREAT ALONE took me back to the summer of endless days and dark, cold winters. Her descriptions of the Kenai Peninsula didn’t so much paint a picture for me, as it transported me across time and space. Once again I was a young girl picking the biggest and sweetest blueberries I’d ever had. And yes, those mosquitoes! The Alaskan state bird. 🙂
But it was more than the trip down memory lane that drew me in; it was the beautiful writing, and the touching story of this dysfunctional family. While I wanted to rant and yell at Cora for staying with an abusive husband, my heart ached for her struggle. How do you give up on someone you love? For those of us lucky enough to never have experienced this kind of relationship, it might be hard to understand that walking away is not an easy option. However, the author did a wonderful job of not only showing Cora’s struggle with her faith that things with get better against her fear of staying and of running.
As for Ernt Allbright, I’m not sure there ever was a time he was good, happy, and “normal.” And while it was easy to hate him, we could see that he wasn’t all bad. He really struck me as a person who struggled with more than just PTSD. There seemed to be traces of bipolarism and definitely narcissistic personality disorder. Through Leni and Cora’s eyes we saw there was love fighting the darkness. Sadly, it didn’t win.
The story is told mostly through Leni’s young eyes. We experience her own struggle to fit in, to adapt, and the heartbreak that comes with finding out your heroes are flawed. Despite the dysfunctional dynamics in this family, Leni is devoted to her mom and it’s this relationship that gives the two women the strength to keep going and to try to make this new life work.
Kristan Hannah has written a beautiful, emotional story that is also devastatingly sad, yet full of hope. Her characters are complex, flawed and real. Her descriptions are full and vivid. This might have been my first Kristan Hannah book, but it will not be my last and I have no doubt THE GREAT ALONE will stay with me. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for advanced copy.
After this sat on the best seller list for a while, I decided to pick it up. The narrator is Leni, a young teen who grows up in a house dominated by her father, broken by his time as a POW in Vietnam. He’s restless and moves them often, finally taking the small family to Alaska where a friend who died in the prison camp where he was held has left him a home on a piece of land. Hannah makes Alaska itself a character in this book. It is beautiful and hard on everyone who lives there. Leni’s mother is ill-prepared, but her father is determined that this is the fresh start he has been waiting for. The fact that he finds a rabid survivalist who thinks like he does, makes the start more harrowing that it needed to be. We watch Leni grow up and see how this plays out. The story is fascinating and the characters pull you in. I laughed and cried in this emotional roller coaster. Don’t miss this one.
A truly dark story that takes place in the unforgiving terrain of Alaska.
I love Kristin Hannah and she does not disappoint with this story. Her description of the area of Alaska that the book takes place in seems authentic.
The book starts with a slow build but around halfway through I was totally ensnared. Kristen Hannah has been one of my favorite authors since I read On Mystic Lake many years ago.
A coming-of-age story, a mother-daughter story and the story of mentally ravaged veteran returned from war trying to make the most of a second chance. Hannah evokes with great specificity the beautiful and terrifying wilderness of Alaska—and the complex dynamic of a family on the edge. Intelligent, compelling, memorable.
It took me awhile to get into this book, but by the end I couldn’t put it down. I found that I really cared about Leni and Mathew and their trials.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Have read other works by this author and have learned so much from them, looking forward to more of the same with this book.
This one starts out with Leni and she’s a teen and they are moving again. Her dad keeps losing his job, drinks a lot and beats up her mother then when he comes out of his PTSD he apologizes.
They end up in Alaska, a cabin from one of his Nam buddies and they are welcomed into the community. What I like the best is how others help take care of them and prepare them for the winter months.
Leni is able to go to school then come home to do chores-she also is into photography. Her school buddy Matthew shows an interest in her and her in him. They are able to spend some time not at school but her dad doesn’t like the way Matthew’s father pays attention to his wife, Cora.
He has blowups and takes things out on his wife still. Love hearing of all their struggles and how they are able to make it all work. As Leni gets older she’s able to learn more and experience more in nature to help keep them alive and safe.
So much to this story, locations, colors, love all the nature, very detailed descriptions of the area and issues surrounding the community, Northern Lights, school excursions.
Love where this story goes and glad things went in the direction they did and how things go full circle. So much to look forward to. Love hearing the connection she has with him over the years and waits for his words to reach her-they are both so damaged.
You can always go home and you don’t have to be alone.
Love how this story came about from real experiences. Went through so many emotions as I read this book, had a hard time putting it down to make dinner.
I received this review book from St. Martin’s Press via Net Galley and this is my honest review.