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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A great story, but for me, the brutality of the father was too disturbing. So – not my favorite book, and not as wonderful as other reviewers have indicated.
Very disappointed as I found The Nightingale quite good. The prose was simplistic and the plot had endless add ons. Could have ended several times before it did.
It just goes to show that even in a challenging environment its people that make a difference in your life.
Spellbinding
The Great Alone is a very typical book by this author. Easy to read but did skip pages throughout the read. Hoping it would be as well written as Nightengale but it was not.
Vivid descriptions of Alaska and the beauty and hardships in living off the grid and with someone with PTSD
Loved this book and love reading this authors books. Written by Kristin Hannah. This is a story about a family of 3. The husband had been to Vietnam and had mental problems. He wanted to move to Alaska. It was a difficult life in many ways. The daughter fell in love and her father could not stand her boyfriends family. So much happens. I am reading it for the second time. You can’t guess how this ends. Very well written!!
I thought it was too complicated & I couldn’t relate to the characters
One of those couldn’t put it down books. Characters very well crafted, I could actually see the three main in my mind.
Interesting information I didn’t know about Alaska. But I still say, why would anyone want t live there? One of my fellow readers said this was one of her favorite books. Can’t say that but can say I greatly enjoyed it.
One of the best books I have read. And I have read a lot of books. Even better than I expected from the reviews and synopses I had read. Draws you in on the first page and doesn’t let you go even after the last page.
I don’t know why anyone would want to read something as depressing as this book. It is about Alaska, but it really revolves around the physically and psychologically abusive father and his iron grip on his wife and daughter. I listened to the audio book and I kept wondering why I didn’t just turn it off, as it was such a downer. It had some nice descriptions in it of Alaska, but with the looming maniac of a father waiting at every moment to beat the daylights out of first the wife and then the daughter – you would need to take some serious happy pills to slog your way through this story. It did perk up a bit at the end.
A good feeling of life in Alaska. Be forewarned domestic abuse is difficult to deal with in some parts of book.
Kristin Hannah is a master storyteller. Her description of how rugged and beautiful and unforgiving life is in Alaska was gripping. PTSD from the Vietnam Nam war coupled with the harsh reality of living through an Alaskan winter was the perfect recipe for the story of abuse and sacrifices that beset the colorfully drawn characters. Brilliant.
As always, Kristin Hannah delivers.
A very powerful novel! It’s one that has stayed with me, even though I finished it a couple weeks ago. Also, I didn’t feel the ending was predictable – it had me guessing up until the end, which I like. This isn’t a novel if you want to read something easygoing and happy – it was very stressful at times, and one time I even woke at night and couldn’t get it out of my head. I had to listen to it (I listened on audible) because I had to know what was going to happen.
There were a couple things that bothered me. I didn’t feel like Lenny’s Grandparents got the credit they deserved at the end. They did the best they could (without spoilers it was realistic how they handled different situations with the time period of the setting), but I felt like both Lenny and her mother took from them at different times without the thanks (by involvement in their lives) that they deserved. I thought they should have been pulled a little more in at the end, so I could see Lenny’s growth and thankfulness for having them in her life. I also was a little bothered by the way Lenny handled herself when she returned to Alaska. Again, without spoiling anything, I felt like she had matured and was being cautious and then did something really stupid that didn’t even feel realistic for her character. Other than that, I thought it was an engaging and captivating book. I’ve been a fan of Kristin Hannah’s since her first book, and this is another one that shows just what an amazing writer she is!
Fantastic!
My bookclub members found this book to be a hard read but brought to light people who live in Alaska. A few of our members stated they have family members who have moved there and have stayed even with the hardships.
A sad and tragic story. I love Kristin Hannah but this wasn’t one of my favorite books of hers. Too tragic!
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am suggesting it for two book clubs for 2019.
I have an affinity for Alaska. This book satisfies my interest.. The story was brought together well and the ending to a satisfying conclusion.
Heartbreaking, yet hopeful story of domestic abuse and PTSD.