Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

137 reviews

shiftycow1313's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

Family dramas aren't usually my cup of tea, but I enjoyed this one. I found it (very surprisingly) relatable, and I adored the picture the author painted of Alaska. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: War

gymjam_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Highly recommend! Stunning story of a family moving to Alaska unprepared & learning to survive in its wilderness. Lots of twists and turns & emotionally packed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Cancer

Minor: War

taracloudclark's review against another edition

Just not feeling the abusive husband, enabling wife narrative. Read a book last year with that theme and don’t want to go through that again lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

bella_grace_harris's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, and Cancer

claire0214's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An amazing book that’s constantly making turns super intense super sad but in the best ways 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Grief, Blood, War, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

srq_book_lover's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lenny's father moves their family to Alaska . At first, it seems like their prayers have been answered, her father seems happy for once. But they are wholely unprepared for the life ahead of them in the Great Alone as Alaska reveals the truth of who they all really are. 

This book destroyed me and then built me back up again. In this beautiful story, we follow Lenny's emotional and difficult journey of self-discovery. Every turn is wracked with hardship and pain. Lenny is one of the most resilient and complex characters I have read in a long time. Every turn of the page seemed to bring a new challenge that she bravely faces and overcomes. Her story is complex and hard to read at times as she endured her father's abuse and her parents tumultuous relationship. 

Matthew's storyline was equally as challenging. His family has been in Alaska for generations, basically Alaska Royalty.  I loved how we got to see the progression of his and Lenny's friendship, from childhood to teens in love to adults fighting for their future together. Like Lenny, he has endured so much pain

(the death of his mother, his accident, years of rehabilitation), yet he has survived it all in hopes that Lenny will come back to him one day. Their reunion had me in tears.

I want to call her mother selfish, she held back Lenny and in a way used her as a shield. But, she was a battered and abused woman. Broken in so many ways, just trying to survive and keep her daughter safe. Should she have left her abusive husband? Obviously we are all screaming yes to this question. Yet, it is not that simple. Her mind was in survival mode, just survive the day, the week, hopeful that it will get better. The psychology of an abused woman is complex and I think that this book highlights this in an accurate way. 

I loved the setting of this book.  Small town, backwoods Alaska, off the grid community full of colourful character who support each other through difficulties in such an isolated place. The setting was vibrant and authentic. It is it's own character in this novel. Alaska the last frontier, beautiful one moment, trying to kill you the next. 

The supporting characters were some of my favourite. Tough women who were living off the land and succeeding in such a harsh environment. Large Marge was obviously the stand out. She is tough, but so compassionate and caring. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Grief, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship

sarahfeller's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Medical content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Gore, Grief, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, War, Mental illness, Violence, and Vomit

kt_schutte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Confinement, Child abuse, Cancer, Alcohol, Blood, Vomit, Violence, Cursing, Chronic illness, War, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, and Animal death

tallhousecookies's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Sexual content and Gun violence