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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Absolutely vivid picture of the great Alaska frontier!!!! What a story that will stick with you far after you finish!!
plan on staying up after midnight, you won’t be able to put it down. AN EXCELLENT BOOK.
Wonderful book. Exceptionally written. Highly recommend.
Well written can’t wait to see movie
This was a haunting journey into the realities of survival in Alaska, with the author transporting you into a pin-sharp world of stockpiling for winter, dealing with dangerous animals and – ironically – even more deadly family members.
What a heart-wrenching book of family, first love, and survival. Kristin Hannah’s writing just tugs at the heart-strings. My dad was a Vietnam vet and there was so much here that I could connect: alcoholism, isolation, PTSD. Ernt inherits a home in Alaska and moves his family there. The Albright’s have no idea how harsh the winter can be and how to survive on their own. The locals try to teach them how to survive, plant, hunt, etc., to be prepared but Ernt’s paranoia begins to get the best of him. Lenora (Leni) goes to school and meets Matt Walker, whose dad has money and a nemesis of Ernt. The trials that they endure, the tragedies, and how survival of the fittest is a real thing in Alaska. Had me in tears numerous times and a book that I have recommended numerous times.
This was one of the best I read last year.
The book really made me feel the experience of a true Alaskan. It was quite unpredictable and left me anxiously awaiting the outcome of each turn of events. Highly recommend!
Whew. What an emotional roller-coaster. This was one amazing ride that had my heart pounding. I don’t think I’ve ever been so stressed by a book, in the best possible way.
Absolutely wonderful.
One of my favorite books ever. The kind you never forget. I have not read a Kristin Hannah book that I did not like but this one is memorable.
This was the best book I read this year with wonderful characters. Very informative on life in the Alaskan wilderness and the hardships these pioneers faced to survive and what the struggles did to some of them
I couldn’t put this book down. Life can be so hard for so many. Love has many ways of expressing itself. Some ways are so hard to punishing and hard to understand.
One of my favorite books of the year. Enjoyed every minute of this book and couldn’t put it down.
AS usual, I couldn’t put this wonderful book down. I can not say enough about Kristin Hannah! Love her books and can’t wait for the next book to come out! They are always unique stories and interesting themes.
This book was so much Leni has the worst life for so long it just goes from bad to worse. It’s heart wrenching. She just keeps hoping life will go back to what it was before the war.
Her best friend is her mother they move so much always looking for something better.
Alaska is that something or so they think. A VW bus little money little supplies and whole lot of hope take them on an unforgettable journey and a whole new life.
This book shows a new culture and life style that most can’t even imagine. But this story has so many elements and characters it’s really good it will make you cry. I have been thinking about it all day.
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a book of literary fiction that made me stay up at night. The Great Alone is beautifully written with a riveting tale that had me looking forward to tucking into bed with it for the night. I’ll admit that over the week of reading it I kind of developed a love-hate relationship with the book: loving the spellbinding world and the story that it enveloped me into, and hating the fact that it was ruining my life because I was staying up so late every night turning the pages. Looking forward to more books from Hannah, and will be hunting down my next read by her.
It was beautifully written and the description of Alaska was wonderful. It was a great story. Loved the characters
I absolutely LOVED this book. It has made me want to travel to Alaska!
I loved this book. I would give it 5 stars.