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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Loved. Kept my interest to the end.
Another great book by Kristin Hannah! Absolutely loved this one. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. Very hard to put down!
Another great book from Kristen Hannah
The author was able to capture the beauty of Alaska as well as its unforgiving nature. The personal relationships are vividly portrayed.
This book was absolutely the best that I have read in awhile. I should have known as loved her other two books that I had read. I recommended it to our daughter and she felt the same way. Not only was it informative about the settling of Alaska in all it’s wonderful and tragic ways. Then you add the dysfunctional family adding to it all, you just could not imagine how it would proceed. Thus a page turner. Actually hated to have the book end. Hannah’s Nightingale was a hit with me and with my book club, but really think that this even topped it. Will want to read any book she writes in the future without question.
The book was by far my all-time favorite. I spent a lot of it on the edge of my seat, hoping, loving/hating, and all of the above. The ending is so amazing and worth the emotional roller coaster to get to.
The prose was descriptive, lyrical and beautiful. I loved every word in this book. It captivated me and for a little while I was part of the beauty and vastness of this enormous state The humanness of the characters made one feel like you were part of the Alaskan experience.
So sad how many of our Viet Nam veterans came home broken.
The book gives insights into the struggles of a family dealing with
a mans quest for happiness.
Excellent! Great descriptions and use of vocabulary. It is an upsetting story,but one that I could not put down. I am telling all of my friends who love to read to be sure not to miss this one.
This is based on a true experience. Characters are well developed, and the book involves the reader in a family ill-prepared to face life in Alaska.
If you’ve ever been to Alaska – or even if you haven’t – it provides a great backdrop and Hannah’s descriptions of the locale are dead-on. There are only a few characters but they are richly endowed. The story is clever and I enjoyed it very much.
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. It is so well written and the characters are very finely drawn and believable, And that’s the problem; one character is so dark and unlikeable I found myself wishing someone would bump him off. I thought, he’s ruining everything for everybody. Then the book took a turn I wasn’t expecting, taking me completely by surprise. This is just an incredible book – I highly recommend it. Will be liked by any lovers of adventure, romance, true to life situations, and wonderful characters.
I hated the first chapter or two and then I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the tension and the way the author painted such an intricate picture of what it means to live in Alaska.
I told a friend that I wasn’t sure I could do justice with this review. This book was fabulous! I could not put it down once I had opened the book and started reading the first page. I was drawn into the story of Leni and her family and their troubled life in Alaska.
I will warn you…make sure you have a box (or two) of tissues close by. I literally sobbed out loud because the story was so moving. The characters are rich and bring out strong feelings from the reader…you either love or abhor them.
What an amazing story of life in the great alone (Alaska), especially during the 70’s at a time of distrust in the government and political unrest. You are drawn into the lives of the people in Kenai Peninsula and struggle with them as they learn how to fend for themselves, how to be supportive of each other, and how to endure the harshness of such a untamed and wild land. You will experience a moving and touching tale of difficulties, triumphs, tragedies, and forgiveness. While there are times when you’re not sure you can endure another sorrow, you need to continue turning the pages and walking along with Leni as she learns a lot of hard lessons about life.
This is a difficult book to read because of the darkness of the subject, but it is well worth the time. While a heart breaking and wrenching story, you will come away with a feeling of love and redemption.
great portal of Alaska and the grit it takes for the people
Probably her finest novel…..the perfect book to read when the temperature is 94 degrees.
Absolutely wonderfully written historical fiction beginning in the 70”s. Set in Alaska, the story plot is as vast and beautifully complex as the location itself. The author creates characters that draw you in and stay with you after the book is done. You won’t want to put it down!
Exceptionally good read!
Very g