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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I enjoyed it.
Beautifully told story of a family who takes a chance and moves to Alaska. In the 1970s, the Allbright family of Ernt, Cora, and Leni move north and are totally unprepared for the isolation of the wilderness. They enter a tight-knit community and are welcomed and helped to survive their first winter. However, the wilderness brings out the worst darkness in the father Ernt. He is abusive and becomes more and more agitated as the years go by. This is a story of love and loss and what people will do for true love. Heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time.
#TheGreatAlone #KristinHannah
This book is about a family whose father had PSD. He had a hard time holding down a job, so decided to move his family to Alaska where they would live off the grid. There were many challenges there, including not having any idea what life there would be all about, and required a lot of help from people that had more experience. One of the biggest problems was how winter with little to no sun affected him. He would get violent with his wife, especially. The book was a real page turner.
This is no doubt the best book I’ve read this year, along with Hannah’s other book The Nightingale.
My first book by this author. I will be reading more. A riveting novel about a dysfunctional family in the far reaches of Alaska. I would highly recommend this book as one of the best of 2018
Great story fascinating way of life. Learned historical things I didn’t know. Very interesting read.
Loved it! This is a story about the Alaskan wilderness. It’s also the story of one family looking for a new beginning.
This book tugged at my heart and soul. Hannah brought the story to life. You felt for all the characters
This book is a tough subject to read but at the same time, since I finished reading it, I can’t stop thinking about it. Great read!
Great story. Learned a lot about living in Alaska. The ending was beautifully bittersweet and perfectly captured the heart of the story.
You just have to read it, my words could never express the true experience you will have after reading this book.
Loved book…read twice
Another fabulous book by Kristin Hannah, I couldn’t put it down, incredible story, well written, well researched, you at times got angry at the characters other times you really felt their anguish, you rejoiced at times as well. My daughter read it after me and also could not put it down, it was her first book by Kristin Hannah now she wants to read them all.
The Great Alone draws you in to discover who is alone and why. The setting and townspeople are beautifully described and explained. There are several characters who are terribly alone in their misery, effecting specific individuals and the greater community, both positively and negatively. When all looks doomed, the good in various people comes to the rescue, immediately and long term. The most vulnerable prove that lessons can be absorbed and better choices made.
I think this book appealed to me because of the era in which it is written. I came of age during the Vietnam War. I remember the riots, protests, sit-ins, flower children. And who doesn’t like a good love story?
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time-very powerful book!
Another great read from one of my favorite authors! I’ve loved her other books, and while this one was a departure, I found myself drawn into the story through an unusual collection of characters. I listened to the audiobook edition, which has an engaging narrator. After finishing The Great Alone, I view Alaska in a different way, with new respect for those who live amidst its wild beauty. Although some scenes of domestic violence are difficult to get through, the characters are so convincingly drawn that you understand each of them, and the story ends on a positive note.
Couldn’t put it down! Riveting! Sad! Emotionally engaging!
Kristin Hannah is such a great writer. She really makes it easy to visualize and feel the characters and what they are going through.
A page Turner that highlights the details of living off the grid in rural Alaska. The ravages of PTSD are also emphasized profiled by the victim and his family members and friends. Inspirational and well constructed story is informative, thought provoking and inspiring. The strength of the human spirit is the foundation of this novel and the lengths some go to attempt to heal those they love.