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A review by surbhi_reads
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
5.0
Introduction
“Leni saw suddenly how hope could break you, how it was a shiny lure for the unwary. What happened to you if you hoped too hard for the best and got the worst? Was it better not to hope at all, to prepare? Wasn’t that what her father’s lesson was? Prepare for the worst”
Wow! Kristin Hannah has done it again! Earlier this year I read one of the most coveted works of Ms Hannah “The nightingale” and I was completely blown away by its marvellous story. Therefore, when I picked up this book, my expectations from the author was very high to begin with and she does not disappoint in the least. “The great alone” set in Alaska in the 1970s is simply astounding. Ms. Hannah has a knack of touching the very souls of readers with her poignant and compelling stories. It may be a little early to say this but I think “the great alone” is definitely going to make in my top five best books that I read this year list.
Overview
“All this time, Dad had taught Leni how dangerous the outside world was. The truth was that the biggest dangers of all was in her own home.”
1974
The Allbrights, Ernt, Cora and Leni are a tumultuous family always moving from one place to another but once they were normal and happy family until Ernt, leni’s father went away for the Vietnam War and returned home a changed man. He was moody, unstable and short tempered. Thirteen-year-old Leni has to suffer the consequences of her parents various impulsive decisions making her socially awkward and unable to fit in any one place. She is anxious to belong and have a normal life. When Ernt loses yet another job, the family has no option but to look for other opportunities to survive. Almost like a miracle, Ernt is offered a homestead and land from the family of a former deceased colleague in Alaska and without thinking or being equipped to live in the wilderness, he drags his family to the last frontier. Leni’s mother Cora, who loves her husband blindly and will follow him anywhere, understands that as a family they must stick together. She also knows that Ernt was not always this violent and volatile and hopes that maybe the new place will be just the respite, their family needs and where they can find their new beginning. However, life in Alaska is nothing but easy, the Allbrights are extremely unprepared for the harsh conditions, and they must work tremendously hard to survive the terrifying winter. Thankfully, the local population comes to their rescue and helps them to settle in their new home. But as winter approaches and the days turns grey and dark, it brings out the darkness in Leni’s father. The gathering obscurity clouds his mental state and he relieves his frustration on Cora. Leni has no option but to stick by her mother’s side and suffer the weight of their parents complicated and twisted relationship. They learn it a hard way that there are dangers far worse than snowstorms and bears and moreover in this far and obscure place where they have come to make a new home, they are actually all alone with no one but each other to save themselves.
Critical analysis
Seriously! Where do I begin with this section? “The great alone” is simply astonishing, stunning and splendid. The story is gorgeous, its plot well developed and characters very appealing. What adds to its beauty is the mind-blowing description of Alaska. The author has done a magnificent job in portraying the desolate and raw picture of Alaskan landscape.
“The peninsula and sea seemed to glow from within, like a land enchanted in a fairy tale. The colours were more vibrant than she had ever seen before. Waves lapping the muddy beach left a sparkling residue. On the opposite shore, the mountains were lush, deep purple at their bases and stark white at their peaks.”
In more than one way, it is a story of survival and resilience written with utter brilliance. Leni’s character is absolutely endearing, only thirteen years old and she is wise beyond her age. The relationship between her and her mother Cora is very delightful. These are the characters, whose story will leave an everlasting impression. The worst character in the whole book is obviously Ernt, yes! He has PTSD but I really hated that man to the core. Violence and abuse never has any excuse. It left me thinking though what pushes a man to behave in such an audacious way. Similarly, Cora approach towards her husband was something, which made me very angry. At times, I really felt like slapping her and telling her wake up! He is never going to change. The sad truth was that of poor Leni who was caught between her parents sick and bitter relationship. This story very well brings out the predicament of children who are caught in their parent’s abusive relationship and how they are forced to grow up beyond their age. Apart from them, the supporting characters are very loveable and entertaining. Large marge will always have a special place in my heart. Some parts of the story left me deeply disturbed, while some brought tears. I think this has become my pattern with Kristin Hannah’s novel. (Next time I am keeping tissue box near me) This novel is a complex and multi packaged story of love, abusive relationships, community, solidarity, incredible benevolence and above all survival against all odds.
Conclusion/ Recommendation
There are so many things that I loved about this story, but what I loved most was the relentless bond between the female characters of the story. No doubt, I gave it a 5 out of 5 rating because this novel drew me right in the story and kept me hooked throughout. It had a very satisfying ending and I am very glad for it, each character got what they deserved. A powerful tale of potent characters, which like its setting, is unpredictable and wild.
Need I say whether you should read this book? Nope! Just go and buy this book and experience a fantastic, beautiful and exquisite story.
“This state, this place, is like no other. It is beauty and horror; saviour and destroyer. Here, where survival is a choice that must be made over and over, in the wildest place in America, on the edge of civilization, where water in all its form can kill you, you learn who you are. Not who you dream of being, not who you imagined you were, not who you were raised to be. All of that will be torn away in the months of icy darkness, when frost on the windows blurs your views, the wold gets very small, and you stumble into the truth of your existence. You learn what you will do to survive.”
“In the vast expanse of this unpredictable wilderness, you will either become your best self and flourish, or you will run away, screaming, from the dark and the cold and the hardship. There is no middle ground, no safe place; not here, in the GREAT ALONE.”
“Leni saw suddenly how hope could break you, how it was a shiny lure for the unwary. What happened to you if you hoped too hard for the best and got the worst? Was it better not to hope at all, to prepare? Wasn’t that what her father’s lesson was? Prepare for the worst”
Wow! Kristin Hannah has done it again! Earlier this year I read one of the most coveted works of Ms Hannah “The nightingale” and I was completely blown away by its marvellous story. Therefore, when I picked up this book, my expectations from the author was very high to begin with and she does not disappoint in the least. “The great alone” set in Alaska in the 1970s is simply astounding. Ms. Hannah has a knack of touching the very souls of readers with her poignant and compelling stories. It may be a little early to say this but I think “the great alone” is definitely going to make in my top five best books that I read this year list.
Overview
“All this time, Dad had taught Leni how dangerous the outside world was. The truth was that the biggest dangers of all was in her own home.”
1974
The Allbrights, Ernt, Cora and Leni are a tumultuous family always moving from one place to another but once they were normal and happy family until Ernt, leni’s father went away for the Vietnam War and returned home a changed man. He was moody, unstable and short tempered. Thirteen-year-old Leni has to suffer the consequences of her parents various impulsive decisions making her socially awkward and unable to fit in any one place. She is anxious to belong and have a normal life. When Ernt loses yet another job, the family has no option but to look for other opportunities to survive. Almost like a miracle, Ernt is offered a homestead and land from the family of a former deceased colleague in Alaska and without thinking or being equipped to live in the wilderness, he drags his family to the last frontier. Leni’s mother Cora, who loves her husband blindly and will follow him anywhere, understands that as a family they must stick together. She also knows that Ernt was not always this violent and volatile and hopes that maybe the new place will be just the respite, their family needs and where they can find their new beginning. However, life in Alaska is nothing but easy, the Allbrights are extremely unprepared for the harsh conditions, and they must work tremendously hard to survive the terrifying winter. Thankfully, the local population comes to their rescue and helps them to settle in their new home. But as winter approaches and the days turns grey and dark, it brings out the darkness in Leni’s father. The gathering obscurity clouds his mental state and he relieves his frustration on Cora. Leni has no option but to stick by her mother’s side and suffer the weight of their parents complicated and twisted relationship. They learn it a hard way that there are dangers far worse than snowstorms and bears and moreover in this far and obscure place where they have come to make a new home, they are actually all alone with no one but each other to save themselves.
Critical analysis
Seriously! Where do I begin with this section? “The great alone” is simply astonishing, stunning and splendid. The story is gorgeous, its plot well developed and characters very appealing. What adds to its beauty is the mind-blowing description of Alaska. The author has done a magnificent job in portraying the desolate and raw picture of Alaskan landscape.
“The peninsula and sea seemed to glow from within, like a land enchanted in a fairy tale. The colours were more vibrant than she had ever seen before. Waves lapping the muddy beach left a sparkling residue. On the opposite shore, the mountains were lush, deep purple at their bases and stark white at their peaks.”
In more than one way, it is a story of survival and resilience written with utter brilliance. Leni’s character is absolutely endearing, only thirteen years old and she is wise beyond her age. The relationship between her and her mother Cora is very delightful. These are the characters, whose story will leave an everlasting impression. The worst character in the whole book is obviously Ernt, yes! He has PTSD but I really hated that man to the core. Violence and abuse never has any excuse. It left me thinking though what pushes a man to behave in such an audacious way. Similarly, Cora approach towards her husband was something, which made me very angry. At times, I really felt like slapping her and telling her wake up! He is never going to change. The sad truth was that of poor Leni who was caught between her parents sick and bitter relationship. This story very well brings out the predicament of children who are caught in their parent’s abusive relationship and how they are forced to grow up beyond their age. Apart from them, the supporting characters are very loveable and entertaining. Large marge will always have a special place in my heart. Some parts of the story left me deeply disturbed, while some brought tears. I think this has become my pattern with Kristin Hannah’s novel. (Next time I am keeping tissue box near me) This novel is a complex and multi packaged story of love, abusive relationships, community, solidarity, incredible benevolence and above all survival against all odds.
Conclusion/ Recommendation
There are so many things that I loved about this story, but what I loved most was the relentless bond between the female characters of the story. No doubt, I gave it a 5 out of 5 rating because this novel drew me right in the story and kept me hooked throughout. It had a very satisfying ending and I am very glad for it, each character got what they deserved. A powerful tale of potent characters, which like its setting, is unpredictable and wild.
Need I say whether you should read this book? Nope! Just go and buy this book and experience a fantastic, beautiful and exquisite story.
“This state, this place, is like no other. It is beauty and horror; saviour and destroyer. Here, where survival is a choice that must be made over and over, in the wildest place in America, on the edge of civilization, where water in all its form can kill you, you learn who you are. Not who you dream of being, not who you imagined you were, not who you were raised to be. All of that will be torn away in the months of icy darkness, when frost on the windows blurs your views, the wold gets very small, and you stumble into the truth of your existence. You learn what you will do to survive.”
“In the vast expanse of this unpredictable wilderness, you will either become your best self and flourish, or you will run away, screaming, from the dark and the cold and the hardship. There is no middle ground, no safe place; not here, in the GREAT ALONE.”