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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This was the first Kristin Hannah book I’ve read, and now it certainly won’t be the last. This book brought you through every single emotion. I stayed up until like 2am to finish this one. I could not put it down. A moving story about a tragic family, growing up, independence, and life. I love the strong female characters portrayed as well as the quirky Alaskan town. Having lived in a small town in Alaska, it’s so accurate!
Whew. Really liked this book. It was exhausting!!!!!
This book had a fantastic story and great characters. I was captivated by the descriptions of the Alaskan landscape and the lifestyles of those that live in that part of the country. I listened to this on audio, and I listened to it every chance I got. I had a serious book hangover after reading this; I thought about the characters for days after reading, and I am now considering a visit to Alaska– during the summer of course!
Another great Kristin Hannah novel!
Hannah never lets me down. The characters and story were engaging, realistic, and complex. The setting was interesting and challenging. Above all, it was entertaining.
I listened to the audio version of this book. Everyone already knows that this is an incredible book. Just how incredible you may ask? Wowsa incredible! The characters in this book deal with so much that you wouldn’t think they could possibly get any joy out of life, yet they do.
After Leni’s father inherits a house in Alaska, the deeply troubled Viet Nam Vet loads up his family and heads out. Alaska is supposed to provide a type of golden happiness for the family. They discover they are woefully unprepared for the hardships of Alaska and that happiness is continually scurrying just out of their reach. Leni’s finds salvation in Matthew, a boy her age who needs a friend as desperately as she does. They develop an unbreakable closeness through the years that even severe traumatic events can’t destroy.
The story details the life of the family and those in the small community as well as the trials of living with a man with PTSD in an isolated area. Ms. Hannah could have written only of the bleakness of both the area and the lives of the people, but she also shows how the family grows to love the wildness and the freedom they discover in Alaska. This book was so good I listened to it foregoing nap time! What a great book to end my 2020 with!
Could not continue past the first 100 pages
It Was Just Great. The story line and the description was brilliant. A must read..
I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and kept me anticipating what would happen to the characters.
I did not think it was one of her best. Rather depressing
It was good, but very predictable
Another powerful book by one of my favorite authors.
I thought this book accurately depicted a family living with someone with PTSD. beautifully written.
Lovely descriptions of the environment
The setting is unique in fiction, and interesting from a historical perspective. I knew people like this in California and if there’s any basis in fact, it sounds like the real hard-core back-to-the-landers might’ve gone to Alaska. The characters are well-drawn and the story held my attention. I thought the writing was repetitive at times.
Read this book several months ago and still can’t get it out of my head!!!
This was a marvelous book. The story was captivating and well told. I enjoyed the characters and the beautiful descriptions of Alaska. It opened my mind and heart to the wonders of off-grid living and the perils of domestic violence. The main protagonist, Leni, was sensitively portrayed and the story was gripping. I couldn’t put it down.
Kristin Hannah is an amazing story teller. In The Great Alone she captures each character in all their humanness and makes you think about the strength of the human condition. She beautifully describes the Alaskan wilderness and all that it entails from it’s beauty to it’s numerous hardships. The story follows a family of three that uproots to find a new home and escape some demons by moving to a shack in the Alaskan wilderness. The meet people in the outback who are hearty and helpful. Hannah brings Alaska to light so fully that you almost feel like you are there alongside the characters. This book deals with so much it’s hard to pick one particular part as a standout. The mental distress that can come about from war, forbidden love, tragic love and loss and the strength of the the human spirit are some major issues addressed by Hannah. This is a different but awe inspiring book that I absolutely recommend!
This was a tough book to get through, not because it was boring, but because of the heavy subject matter. I can not imagine what growing up like this would be like, but I now have a better idea and can be more compassionate to others in this predicament. I feel like this book and the perspective it has shared has helped me be better person.
Amazing book – couldn’t put it down!!!!