'The Great Alone' by Kristin Hannah is a gripping tale set in the harsh wilderness of Alaska during the 1970s. The story follows the Allbright family as they move to Alaska in an attempt to escape their past traumas. The father, Ernt, a Vietnam War POW, struggles with inner demons which lead to abusive behavior, impacting his wife, Cora, and teenage daughter, Leni. The novel delves into themes of love, survival, resilience, and the dark realities of domestic violence, all set against the backdrop of the unforgiving Alaskan landscape.
Kristin Hannah's writing style in 'The Great Alone' is praised for its vivid descriptions of Alaska, bringing the wilderness to life as a central character in the story. The narrative is emotionally intense, exploring complex relationships and deep-seated family dynamics. The book expertly weaves together themes of love, hardship, abuse, and the unbreakable bonds that tie families together, creating a compelling and thought-provoking read.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers for The Great Alone include themes of domestic violence, abuse, PTSD, and emotional trauma.
Has Romance?
The Great Alone includes a romantic subplot that develops between Leni and Matthew, contributing to the broader themes of the story.
From The Publisher:
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 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.
Ratings (167)
Incredible (46) | |
Loved It (73) | |
Liked It (29) | |
It Was OK (12) | |
Did Not Like (4) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (286):
Read It (169) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (95) | |
Did Not Finish (5) | |
Not Interested (15) |
9 comment(s)
5⭐️ I really enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end… loved the ending, the miracle that happened and it made the book more bearable emotionally…
Another good read this time set in Alaska. Really enjoy the writing and descriptions of the place. Made me feel I was there and great characters.
Been very unsure of Kristin Hannah for a long time, seen her books for a long time, but haven't dared to venture out and read them. I'm glad I gave this book a try. It's such a compelling story that are beautiful told. It's a family relationship heavy book with a lot of emotions and struggle. One of those things I really like to read about is a family that tries to overcome a situation and grow stronger in the process even if that doesn't always happen. I might read something else by her because I really enjoyed this but I don't know where I should go next
Holy crap. This book was wonderfully written but it is SO DEPRESSING. Just when you think, “This can’t possibly get worse for these folks,” IT GOES AND DOES. The prose is lovely but dang. Be in a good head space before you start this one. It definitely makes me want to go to Alaska/watch Northern Exposure. I’m also going to need to know more about Crazy Sam (?) and Matilda, the goose he’s married to. I feel like that story didn’t get the coverage it deserved. 😂
I found the characters difficult to believe in, or understand. That always makes it difficult for me to like a book.
this only gets two stars but i still read it
a great window into what it's like (or was like) to live in the alaskan wilderness, basically cut off from modern civilization
no running water, no central heating, but plenty of booze in case you are an alcoholic who needs to get lubed up before beating his wife half to death
that's the other half of this book, the one that's not about why anyone would choose to live in this insane landscape
hannah crafts classic victims of ptsd out of leni and cora, the daughter and wife of [insert name here because i already forgot]
the reader watches leni be formed into a ptsd survivor from a young age, watching her mother get beaten and broken, wondering if that's really what love is when cora says again and again that her husband is sick, he doesn't mean it, and the way to get him better is to love him
but somehow leni resists this conditioning?
and kind of grows up to be normal, other than wanting to live in alaska again after being in seattle for a while, where they have toilets that flush and very rarely is anyone eaten by wolves
SYNOPSIS:
The Allbright family, Ernt, Cora, & their thirteen-year-old daughter, Leni, are living in Seattle. It is 1975. Ernt has trouble holding a job & staying in one place too long. Cora & Ernt met when Cora was young, and she got pregnant when she was 16.
Ernt is a Vietnam war veteran & a POW with PTSD. He learns one of his comrades from the war left him some land in Alaska, and he decides to move the family out there. They leave everything behind, and head to Kaneq, Alaska. The small community helps the family settle in & prepare for the winter.
Ernt’s disposition worsens, exacerbated by alcohol & the harsh, dark months in Alaska. His textbook behavior is domestic violence, and Cora is textbook behavior of a DV victim.
The small community is a beacon of hope for Cora & Leni. The friendships they forge are integral parts of their lives, as isolation is dangerous in DV.
MY THOUGHTS
A gripping, compelling masterpiece
Deftly plotted + next level character development
Hannah is an expert at capturing the dual threats of living in Alaska as newcomers & living in a tumultuous household.
At the heart, this is Leni’s story. I loved the bond between Cora and Leni, as well as the heartbreaking depiction of the heavy burdens Leni carried. I was blown away by Leni’s countless, insurmountable challenges. There are aspects of finding herself & coming-of-age.
The brutality of domestic abuse, both physical and emotional, make this book hard to read, but Leni’s innocence & Hannah’s writing make it impossible to put down. Hannah did a great job detailing the many struggles survivors face when leaving an abusive partner, and I appreciated that.
This book will leave you feeling raw & a lot of ways.
I also really enjoyed Hannah’s descriptions of Alaska.
I loved Leni’s resilience, and I loved the other side characters, such as the Walkers, Large Marge, Thelma.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A gripping, compelling masterpiece about Leni, a teenager growing up in an unstable home in the harsh environment of Alaska.
Beautifully written but the story didn’t steal my heart like the nightingale... idk why. I wanted to love it bc everyone else seems to
Seems like a bit of an unrealistic ending but it was entertaining.
What can you read after
The Great Alone?
About the Author:
KRISTIN HANNAH is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the The Nightingale, a major motion picture directed by Michelle MacLaren, and The Great Alone, set in Alaska. Hannah is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers Firefly Lane, Winter Garden, Night Road, Fly Away, and Home Front, which has been optioned for film by 1492 Films (producers of the Oscar-nominated film The Help) with Chris Columbus attached to write, produce, and direct. She is the mother of one son and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.
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