The Great Alone
By: Kristin Hannah
Published Year: 2018
Pages: 545
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): 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.
First Impressions
This book cover is really pretty and has always caught my eye. All of Hannah’s books tend to have beautiful covers. I was on the fence with this one regarding the summary but the so many people mentioned how amazing it was so I added it to my list. I finally bought it when I saw it at my library’s book sale.
What I thought
I now understand why this book is at the top of so many lists.
Leni is 13 when her mom and dad move her to Alaska in the 1970s. Her dad was a POW and has struggled since coming back from Vietnam. When he spontaneously moves them to the wild of Alaska, they quickly learn that the danger of the wilderness and the winter aren’t they only things they’ll be fighting.
This book is beautifully written while also being adventurous and anxiety inducing. It’s one of the darker, heavier books I’ve read in a while and even though it’s over 500 pages I couldn’t put it down.
Leni’s dad is a broken man who takes his trauma out on his wife. Leni is a child who is just trying to survive. When their family is moved to Alaska, they unknowingly find themselves a home and a community. Though they can’t outrun Leni’s dad’s darkness.
I did find the beginning of this book to be a bit slow at times. I also did struggle with reading some of the storylines with Leni’s dad. I was anxious about what dangerous thing was going to happen next and what he could end up doing. I mean, obviously, this means it’s well written at least.
When I first read the description for this book, I thought that’s all it was going to be. However, there is a lot more to this book than a dark winter in Alaska with an abusive man. This book follows Leni as she grows up, discovers herself, finds love. There is also a lot of tragedy but also a lot of forgiveness. This book delved deeper than I thought it was going to and I really enjoyed it. I found myself unable to put it down.
Hannah’s world building is wonderful. I could feel Alaska as its own character. The town of Kaneq and all of the characters within it were perfectly written. I felt as though I was living in the Last Frontier in the 1970s. It definitely felt like it could’ve been two separate books, but Hannah managed to make it work.
This is my first Kristin Hannah book and it definitely won’t be my last. Her writing is beautiful and her words breathe off of the page. I enjoyed the adventure of Alaska and even though parts of this were hard to read, it is a book that will stick with me. I think this lives up to the hype and I can’t wait till someone I know has read it so we can discuss it!