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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Glad I read this book in the summer! The descriptions of winter in Alaska were shiver producing.
Characters were memorable. The plot was a bit convoluted and not all about the story and living in Alaska was really believable. A good read for women’s book clubs.
I could not stop reading this book. There were times I had to take a day off to recover from what happened in the plot or to make it last a little bit longer. What a gifted storyteller!
I really love Kristin Hannah books. I can always expect a novel that holds my attention and fails to let me put it down. The Great Alone is a story too true to the sometimes sick world we live in…a family that is broken and continues to stay together no matter the abuse both physical and emotional. The reader is forced to read this book and wish they could help the characters out of the abusive relationships.
A wonderful homage to Alaska.
Excellent read. Keeps your attention & well written. One of the best books of 2018 as far as i am concerned.
I felt drawn to the characters and to their trials in early Alaska. The fact that I knew the area portrayed made it so much easier to follow the interactions and the characters in their development.
This book got very tiring and seemed to go on too long. It was depressing as well. I did want to find out what happened to the family – it just took too long to get to the point then meandered until the ending.
I loved this book – great characters and a wonderful story
Hanna has another winner. A great story, strong and well defined characters with the state of Alaska and all it’s beauty as the centerpiece. I had some difficulty with the wife/mother always making excuses for the abuse inflicted by her Vietnam POW husband but came to realize that in the end it was the love for her daughter, the main character of the story, was the reason for her endurance. A very good book.
Highly recommend this book. Very well written with well thought out characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
This book had an unusual setting that really made it more interesting. I read a lot and it was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
The Great Alone deals with a subject not discussed very much…PTSD and the returning Vietnam Veteran. The characters are vividly portrayed against the backdrop of the beautiful Alaskan landscape. A full range of emotions are elicited
in this book . The Great Alone will stay with you for quite some time. I loved it!
It was written very well and kept me reading to the end.
This book was so different from Kristin Hannah’s usual book and was difficult to read at first but was well researched and informative and am happy I read it.
Survival in Alaska wilderness with issues of PTSD and abuse.
Unexpectedly good.
Horrible examination of domestic abuse in Alaska. Unpleasant reading on an unpleasant topic.
Descriptions of life in Alaska is very interesting. This is a great story that kept me reading long into the night.
Great read, especially for those who have traveled to or lived in Alaska.