Book Review: The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah

I love this book so much that it has broken into my top 10 books of all time!  I've read Hannah's "The Nightingale", "Firefly Lane", and "Fly Away" previous to this- and I recommend all of them.  However, "The Great Alone" is hands down my favorite. 

The Great Alone

About the book (from Amazon):

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. 

My thoughts: 

The characters in this novel are so rich and real.  I felt their emotions, saw Alaska through their eyes, lived through their hardships, saw their love.  What a gift Kristin Hannah has to tell a story and build a world. After reading this book, I would love to live among these people and get to know them.  To see the snow-covered mountains, the soaring eagles, the blue skies, and icy waters.  

"The Great Alone" is heart-wrenching at times.  My heart hurt for these characters.  But it was also filled with hope, strength, survival, and love.  The story is told with such vividness that I could picture the characters facial expressions, feel the wind and cold.  Just remarkable. 

I woke up in the morning excited that I was going to be able to continue with the story of the Albright's.  I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time.  I highly recommend it.

  

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