kimberlyjgav 's review for:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This was definitely a good book. I was absolutely riveted by the story of Leni, her parents Ernt and Cora, and their hopeful, but utterly unprepared move to Alaska. I thought the character development here was incredibly strong right down the line, with Alaska itself being a character that gives, shapes, punishes and rewards the people living there in equal measure. Kristin Hannah did an amazing job bringing this beautiful, harsh landscape to life. 

The first half of the book was incredible - I could not put it down - but like others have said, it became one really sad thing after another at one point. I know that's Hannah's formula (this is the third book of hers I've read this year) but this one felt particularly challenging emotionally, maybe because I was so deeply invested in the characters and wanted them all to be OK. 

I loved the ending and once again, flawless narration by Julia Whelan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Car accident

Minor: Animal death