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halsey_klingel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Abandonment and Car accident
casideea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The ending was okay. As other reviews mention, it felt a bit like a Lifetime movie.
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Animal death
Minor: Cancer and War
kmsander4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It's so easy to be drawn into Leni's world. To feel her fear, her anger, her joy, and her love. You fall in love with character after character and will find yourself dreaming of those long Alaskan summer nights (not so much those dark winter nights though...).
If you told me this story was a biography, I would believe you, in a heartbeat - the mark of an excellent historical novel. I will - without a doubt - be returning to one of Kristin Hannah's worlds soon. She's too good not to be celebrated far and wide!
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Murder, Animal death, War, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, and Cancer
bonchoix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: War, Pregnancy, Addiction, and Alcoholism
orireading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Gore, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Addiction, Murder, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Blood, and Alcoholism
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Author: Kristin Hannah
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: February 6, 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Emotional • Layered • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As an avid historical fiction reader, it will come as no surprise that Kristin Hannah is a favourite author of mine. I knew The Great Alone was going to be just as hard hitting emotionally as The Nightingale, yet covering a completely different time and place. And it certainly delivered.
Hannah has an incredible gift in delivering horrific, yet beautiful stories that cut right to the heart. In this case, the lives of the Allbrights go from dark to darker. When a book can take the reader on such an emotional journey, it is the sign of a good book. And this one does that. It made me angry, it made me sad, it made me empathic, and it made think. The characterization is fantastic. In fact, the author brings Alaska to life, making it its very own character. I felt the heard reality and beauty of the wilderness, which mirrored the plot. Additionally, Hannah paints a realistic picture of the struggles of post-war America, capturing the history, the environment, and the culture of 1970s Alaska.
The relationships are another standout with one of the most genuine pictures of the unbreakable bond mother and child. My heart was with Leni and her mother through the whole story, and I could understand the internal struggles of each. Additionally, the community and family aspect were incredibly well done.
My one criticism would have to be the ending. With so much time spent getting to know the setting, the characters, and having the story sink deeply into my bones, the ending felt rushed and jumbled. Considering the build up, it simply left me feeling less than satisfied, something I am not used to with Hannah's books.
Overall, The Great Alone is a heartbreaking, yet beautiful story of life's fragility, of survival and resilience, and most importantly, of love. While I cannot say this is my favourite of her works, it still had me completely immersed and took me on a deeply emotional journey with the characters. I will continues to make me way through her backlist, and look forward to her next novel.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Kristin Hannah devotees
• historical fiction readers
• mother/daughter trope lovers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"In the silence, Leni wondered if one person could ever really save another, or if it was the kind of thing you had to do for yourself."
"You don’t stop loving a person when they’re hurt. You get stronger so they can lean on you."
"Nature never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves."
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Gun violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, Car accident, Terminal illness, Medical content, Confinement, Death, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Medical trauma, and Grief
Minor: Gaslighting, Cursing, War, Pregnancy, Vomit, Sexual content, and Racism
PTSD, domestic violencebookybecka's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Car accident, Blood, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Gun violence, and Confinement
Minor: Abortion, War, and Blood
laashpa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Death, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Murder, Child abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
rhyanreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Medical content, Addiction, Death of parent, and Murder
diri_egri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
At some points I was very close to crying and at other times it felt unnecessarily over-dramatic. The middle section was really difficult to get through, I almost DNF-ed the book when
It’s my first time reading Kristin Hannah, so I’m not sure what to expect from her other books.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, and Physical abuse