The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah| Published February 6th 2018 by St. Martin’s Press | 435 Pages | Goodreads

PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION

“Alaska, 1974.
Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they 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 Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. 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. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature”

REVIEW

A captivating story of love, survival, and resilience.

It’s 1974 and the Allbright family is moving to Alaska to start a new, quiet life. Soon they learn that although beautiful, their new home is also a dangerous place.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Alaska, the nature, animals, seasons, and strong sense of community. There were some sections where I questioned the characters’ decisions and other times I wanted more development of certain people in the book. I can’t go into more details to avoid spoilers.

Overall, it wasn’t a perfect book but I enjoyed most of the story and recommend it to readers of travel and contemporary fiction.

✅ BOOK SOURCE AND FORMAT

Loan from Miami-Dade’s overdrive library, audiobook