Thank you to Net Galley for granting me a pre-published read of the newest Kristin Hannah book, The Great Alone. As declared by most readers, I absolutely loved Ms. Hannah's last book The Nightingale and I was nervous that she would not be able to come back with another book as good as The Nightingale. I was not surprised but I was ecstatic to realize she has done it yet again! The story is gripping, the detail is amazing and the emotions within the book were riveting. This newest book, the Great Alone is an extremely powerful story that grips you right from the start and holds you until the last paragraph. You find yourself cheering for the two main women characters and trying to understand the male character. Although based back in time to after the Vietnam war, the issues that the main male character is dealing with are still very prevalent in today's society. While reading the story, you picture not only the scenery which is beautifully described, you also get the feel for the harshness of the environment and the quirkiness of the characters that have chosen to live in this untamed land. Well done Ms. Hannah, you are a credit to the writing profession!!!

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a quick read with the perfect ending. I thought the character development had a little room for improvement but I was able to connect with them just the same.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this book.

Love, love, love this book. 4 stars.**** Another great book by author, Kristin Hannah.

The main character of this book is Alaska. The descriptive writing of the beautiful landscape and deadly climate make we wonder why or how anyone could live there.

Ernst is a POW/Vietnam veteran that returns home after the war a changed man. Ernst suffers from mental illness, alcoholic and abusive to his wife Cora.

Ernst receives a letter that informs him that a war time buddy has left him property in Alaska. Cora, Ernst and teenage daughter Leni believe that a new start for the family will be in Alaska. They pack up the VW and start a new life in Alaska. It doesn't take long to discover they are not prepared.

I highly recommend this book. Author, Kristin Hannah is a master of character development. She will take you on an adventure that you will not forget..

I love Kristin Hannah, so I was excited to get an advance copy of this book. I wasn't sure about about the setting at first -- 1970's Alaska -- but the story grabbed hold of me and didn't let go. The story of the Allbright family is one of survival -- surviving the Vietnam War, an abusive relationship, heartbreak, tragedy, and the Alaskan wilderness itself, where the harsh environment can kill you in an instant. It was both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I loved it.

As a longtime fan of Kristin Hannah's, I was thrilled for the wild success of The Nightingale, and I imagine that she gained a lot of new fans with that book. I was so anxious to see what she did next- The Nightingale was so wonderful, but also felt somewhat different stylistically from her previous books. The Great Alone features so much of what Kristin Hannah does well- characters, setting, and a compelling story.

I love books in which a great setting is essentially another character. Set primarily in Alaska, the author did an amazing job depicting the brutality and the beauty of the landscape. It's easy to see how Leni comes to connect with this place, and how it becomes an essential part of her being. At this season in my life, I'm more of an armchair traveler, and this visit to Alaska was a treasure. The Alaskan setting works as both an additional character and as a companion to a story that is also both brutal and beautiful.

Throughout this story we get to watch Leni grow and mature, and, as previously mentioned, be defined by the Alaskan wilderness. There is a deep, heartbreaking story about family and love throughout this book, and Kristin Hannah proves again her talent for creating characters and a story that draw the reader in. Without delving into spoilers, there is more than one element of danger and insecurity that lies within the story, and the tension helps to keep the plot moving as the story goes on.

I hope that readers who just found Kristin Hannah with The Nightingale will find that The Great Alone is also a compelling narrative. I already can't wait to find out what stories the author has for us next.

My only experience with Kristin Hannah was with The Nightingale, I believe it was her first venture into historical fiction - it made my best of 2015 list. (My review can be found here). When I saw The Great Alone was coming out I jumped at the chance. Having visited Alaska on a cruise once it wasn’t hard for me to visualize so much of the landscape with its remoteness, harsh weather element as well as beautiful scenery.

What I loved about this book, other than the location was the time period. The lack of modern electronics was a plus for me. With virtually an untamed landscape, it was a time when cruises and tour groups were sparse.

I appreciate the research that went into this book. It wasn’t just the landscape with vivid descriptions of the various seasons but what the residents endured, the struggles of 18 hours of daylight and 18 hours of darkness. Even those not suffering from PTSD had to find ways to cope. The author put me in those scenes of darkness and despair as well as appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature.

The synopsis above does a great job outlining this wonderful book. The Great Alone opened my eyes and gave me a clearer view of PTSD, it helped me to understand this condition and see how Ernt would grasp at anything for a new beginning. But Alaska back in that time, where authority is scarce and limited phone service is asking for trouble, he was so focused on himself and the present forgetting to look ahead.

“He needs a chance. A new start. We all do. Maybe Alaska is the answer.”

Leni is great character, she misses so much of her childhood, forced to grow up before her time and along with her mother live a life walking on egg shells. Getting inside her head, feeling the raw emotions of this young girl had me connecting right from the first pages. This is a capivating coming of age story, it was a pleasure to read and hard to put down.

They are many layers to The Great Alone, a story of survival, heartache and challenges. It is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time.

This was one of my last books of 2017, making my ‘best of 2017’ list. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press (via Netgalley) for and advanced copy.

I was fortunate to read an advance copy of The Great Alone through NetGalley. This book is about how people live in the Alaska wilderness and deal with extreme circumstances of weather as well as all levels of personal issues. It has happy times, tragedy, bootstrap moments, parts that made me gasp, parts that may have elicited a tear or two. I heartily recommend The Great Alone.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

Kristin Hannah has written another amazing book. Once I started I could not put it down until it was finished. She is one of my all time favorite author's and have read all of her books.

Alaska, family dynamics, testing times...this is a book to take time with to fully enjoy and appreciate the writing and descriptions. Beautiful

The Great Alone is the story of Leni, her dad, Ernt, a Viet Nam war vet, and her mom, Cora. Leni’s dad was impulsive and restless, and her mama supported him and his many attempts at a fresh start as he searched for happiness. Leni, thirteen years old at the beginning of the book had more sense than both her parents combined.

Ernt inherited land out in the middle of nowhere in Alaska along with a rickety, age-blackened log cabin that was on it from a war buddy. After bumping around from town to town for several years, Ernt convinced his wife and daughter to move there. They were extremely unprepared for life in that wilderness. It’s the story of quickly learning how to survive.

In Alaska Ernt became increasingly more and more disturbed. Crazier. He had previously been emotionally abusive to his wife and daughter; now he was physically abusive as well. Ernt’s elusive happiness didn’t happen to be found in Alaska either.

The symbolism is striking. Cora was trapped (by her own making) in a sick, abusive relationship, and the family was trapped (also by their own making) in a dreadfully long, miserable, harsh Alaska winter, always a breath away from disaster.

Sadly, there was a lot of ‘down’ stuff in this book, like abuse, violence, hopelessness, and oh so many bad decisions and stupid mistakes. That didn’t stop it, however, from being a remarkable (too small a word), captivating read.

The author definitely knows her subject, Alaska. I think it’s safe to say that she loves it. I, the reader, am now intrigued by this majestic state, our last frontier. Living there is not for lightweights, with its bitter cold, isolation, and bleakness. Alaska, The Great Alone, worked its way into Leni’s soul, heart and blood.

This book has all the things that make it a 6-star rating for me (I know. I know. I can only give it five.) – brilliant storyline, strong, interesting characters, stimulating developments, vivid descriptions, and a great ending. The ending was marvelous, a wonderful ending to an excellent story. I hated to put the book down when life called and couldn’t wait to pick it up again. Well done, Ms. Hannah, well done. Thanks ever so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

5 stars

Ernt Allbright is a former POW during the Vietnam era. He is having major trouble adjusting to civilian life. He is frustrated at the reception he received when he arrived back in the US. Being called names and being spit upon is devastating. He has lost several jobs and spends a lot pf time drinking. He has become unlike the man he was before he went to Vietnam. He now has a volatile temper and strikes out at the slightest provocation. Every new job, every new move to another town is going to be the thing that erases his nightmares and flashbacks.

Cora is his wife. She loves him and wants to do anything to stay with him and keep the family together.

Their only child is Leni (Lenora). She has been the “new girl” at several schools after moving all over the country. She doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere. She is at the difficult age of thirteen. She loves her parents, but remains a silent witness to the unpredictability of her father. He is not the man he was before he went to war.

Ernt receives a letter from Alaska. His good buddy has died and left his cabin and forty acres to Ernt. It is in Alaska. Ernt knows this is what he needs to recover. Cora is skeptical, but her love for Ernt drives her to agree to go with him. In four days they are on their way to Homer, Alaska.

When they get to Alaska, it is wonderful. They learn how to grown crops and raise their animals. However, when winter sets in it is a different story. With only six hours of daylight and bitter cold, their fortunes change. The little community is generous through. Large Marge is a wonderful character. Tom Walker is the local pub owner and his son Matthew befriends Leni. Matthew is a kind soul. Tom is influential in the community and also has a lot of money. Tom and Marge sense that all is not right with Ernt, Cora and Leni.

Ernt becomes frustrated at the continual darkness and listens far too much to a friend call Mad Earl who hates the government and anything associated with it. He begins to be violent to Cora. He won’t allow Marge or Tom to help the family. Ernt becomes a thoroughly despicable man.

This book is very well written and plotted. The descriptions of the scenery and people in Alaska are wonderfully written and evocative. Ms. Hannah paints a beautiful portrait. But, at the same time she draws a bitter picture spousal abuse and violence in the small family. It is a poignant story with the highs of hope and the lows of violence. This is a remarkable novel.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable book to read and enjoy.

"Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family...

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they 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 Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. 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."
Synopsis from Goodreads.

Lately, I have been insatiable for books set in remote, frozen places. (When I say "lately," I really mean for the last two years). This novel not only didn't disappoint, it blew me away. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah was absolutely breathtaking from start to finish.

It's been about four months since my last book review. That, paired with the fact that I am three days into a brutal cold, makes writing a review a little difficult. So, I'm going to do something that I did for my review of Today Will Be Different and make this review in list form.

Things I loved:

1. Alaska, in the hands of Kristin Hannah, is majestic - expansive and unforgiving and beautiful. With words, she paints a gorgeous picture, but she does not over-romanticize it.

2. Hannah is phenomenal at crafting characters. As we get to know the small town and it'a cast of eccentric characters, it's hard not to become completely engrossed in the lives of all of them. Even the detestable characters are fully imagined and completely fascinating.

3. It takes a lot of skill as a writer to shine light on an issue without it seeming too preachy. Speaking as someone without first-hand experience, I felt that Hannah did a great job of talking about domestic violence in a realistic way: the complicated emotions felt by the victim, the way it touches an entire family, and the difficulties of finding a way out.

Things I did not love:

1. This book made me cry so. much. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - but I usually don't cry at books and this was almost excessive. It's also probably a big part of why I loved this book: it made me feel a lot of feels.

This book has so much heart. It's about family, resilience, and the lengths we'll go through for the ones we love. I can't recommend it enough!

Before reading this novel, you should know there is a trigger warning for domestic violence and assault.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah will hit shelves on February 8, 2018.

I was looking forward to this book since I have enjoyed Kristin Hannah’s other books, and it was set in the amazing PNW during the time I grew up. I loved the evocative details of the harsh, beautiful and unforgiving Alaska wilderness. Hannah is as always a wonderful writer and breathes life into her characters and story. Unfortunately I was unable to fully engage with the characters and story. At times the characters were one dimensional and seemed to have lost all rational and logical thinking. So many dark things happened to the wife and daughter that it was hard to read without feeling tragedy was around every corner. I will remain a big fan of Hannah, but this has been my least favorite of her offerings.

Just finished this book. It was so good I didn't want it to end. Interesting learning about life in Alaska as well as abuse victims and how their relationships with others are affected.

Once again Kristin Hannah has proven she is an incredible storyteller. With her vivid descriptions, you almost feel as if you are right there with the characters in the wilds of Alaska. As expected, this was an emotional roller coaster as readers get to know the Allbright family and their very difficult homelife. Ever since Ernt returned from Vietnam, the Allbright's life has been in turmoil. Suffering from PTSD before there was even a PTSD diagnosis, Ernt has struggled to find his place both in society and with his family. When an opportunity to homestead in Alaska comes up, Ernt sees that as the solution to all of the family's problems. However, while in many ways moving to Alaska helped, it also made things much worse. Filled with a cast of wonderful characters, Kristin Hannah has written a gripping novel that was difficult to put down even though at times I had to put it down if only to reach for some tissues.

Coming on the heels of her magnificent novel, The Nightingale, there were great expectations for this
new book by Kristin Hannah. It does not disappoint. The story of a deeply dysfunctional, but intertwined,
family struggling with domestic violence, PTSD, and the challenges of forging a life in the wilds of Alaska
grips the reader at page 1 and doesn't let go.

Hannah's grasp of her subject matter is impressive - the role the abused victim plays in domestic
violence, and why it is so difficult to leave is eye-opening, as is the effect it has on others in the family. In
this case, the victim Cora fell hard for Ernt when they were teenagers, becoming parents early and living
what they thought was a charmed life...until Viet Nam and years as a POW took it all away. Their
struggle to raise their daughter Leni takes them to Alaska, where one of Ernt's fellow POWs left him a
piece of land.

It is here where Hannah's research really shines through. Her descriptions of the hardscrabble life of
loners, adventurers, and back-to- landers in 1970s Alaska is rich and deep, and serves as a cautionary tale
to those with a romantic view of a life in the wilds.

Told from the perspective of the daughter Leni, The Great Alone offers insight into the trauma sustained
by children raised with domestic violence, but also their resilience and the great impact that trust,
courage, and love can have.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the Advance Copy.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review which follows.

This is a coming of age story that deals with domestic abuse and also the wilds of living in Alaska.
The character development is well done as you get inside the heads of each of the main characters. I learned a lot about the settling of Alaska, how rugged life was there, and how each small community supported their members. It was interesting as I've visited some of the towns in the story. However, the story is challenging to read given the domestic abuse scenes and is a bit of saga.

I'm still reeling from this one. Kristin Hannah's novels reach deep into your soul. In The Great Alone, 13-year-old Lenora (Leni) and her parents, Cora and Ernt, have moved repeatedly following her father's release as a POW in Viet Nam. After a fellow soldier leaves land and a homestead in Alaska to him, Ernt believes he will "get better" in the freedom of the remote land.
 
The Great Alone takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster as Ernt's PTSD comes and goes, getting worse and worse. This achingly beautiful yet frightening story explores the lack of mental health that was available to our returning warriors and their families. It is a commentary on how our court system treats abused women who strike back. It reminds parents of young love, and that, to be too strict can often backfire. It is also a travelogue for the fierce beauty that is Alaska.
 
Kristin Hannah clearly loves Alaska, for she describes the land, the brilliant colors, the Northern Lights, the water in a hauntingly beautiful language. The descriptions were intriguing and appealing, yet there was a bit too much of it. Still, this story and these characters will stay with me for a very long time. I loved this book.

Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

Sometimes walking on eggshells isn’t enough to avoid trouble. Not when a moody family member is racked with nightmares and paranoia resulting from years as a POW in Vietnam. The Allbright family knows this firsthand, as husband and father Ernt battles these demons since his return from the war. Drinking only makes it worse. With her husband unable to hold down a steady job, his wife Cora works as a waitress in Seattle to help make ends meet. Suddenly one day, it seems that their ship has come in. A letter arrives to inform them that one of Ernt’s service buddies left him his property in his will. In Alaska.

In The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah strikingly captures the events of the seventies: the war, the protests, disappearances of college women in Seattle, and the energy crisis. She portrays the mood, the attitudes, and the culture of those times. Alaska was an untamed wilderness, a refuge for those who needed a place to hide or for those who wanted to make a fresh start. Ernt Allbright sees it as his big chance to live a new life. He promises that things will be different – better. And for a while, they are. It is summer in the land of the midnight sun. There is so much to do, and these “cheechakos “ have much to learn. There are vegetables to grow and store, fish to catch and smoke, animals to hunt. There is no electricity, no indoor plumbing. Today we would call it “living off the grid”. The work is hard, but is beautiful, breathtaking country, and for once, Ernt seems happy. This makes Cora happy and thirteen-year-old daughter Leni cautiously optimistic too.

Leni goes to a one-room school, where for once, she is easily accepted as the new kid. She makes friends with Matthew, a boy her age. Cora finds a friend in Large Marge, a former attorney who now runs the general store and provides any kind of help the family needs. Ernt finds a like-minded comrade in Mad Earl, the father of his friend who bequeathed the homestead to him. He’s an anti-government type who gives Ernt an excuse to drink and get riled up and rant about the war and all the injustices in the country. Then there’s Tom Walker, a relatively well-to-do fellow whose forbearers founded the township. Ernt instantly becomes jealous and distrustful.

Throughout the first summer, everyone harps about preparing for winter. Leni and her mother cast wary glances at one another. Winters in Alaska are long – and dark. Darkness spells danger. Ernt does not handle darkeness well. It brings out the beast in the worst way. Even when they tiptoe around him and do everything they can to avoid upsetting him, the slightest look or wrong word or inflection can trigger a rage that provokes a beating. Cora always says it must be her fault, that she must have done something to set him off. Leni is stuck in the middle. She tells her mother they have to leave him, but Cora says she can’t stop loving him. He’s sorry, he says. It won’t happen again, he promises. Over and over.

The Great Alone. That’s what people call winter. That’s what Leni feels in her family. She and Mama say they are like two peas in a pod. Leni can’t leave her mother. Mama can’t leave Dad. So she is stuck. As Leni becomes closer to Matthew – Tom Walker’s son – she can’t explain to him about her dad. So she seeks solace in books. She read once that there are a thousand ways to die in Alaska, which includes bears and wolves, falling through the ice, and succumbing to other natural disasters. I wonder if that includes dying inside. Cora Allbright – what an ironic name! The brightness has been gone from this marriage, yet she clings to this ghost of a man whom she loved before the war. Leni – so brilliant, curious, and loving – does she have a future away from this volatile, toxic home life?

The domestic violence in this novel is unpleasant and wearing, to say the least. I know there are many readers who will, understandably, choose to forego reading this book because of that. Ms. Hannah does not sugar coat it or excuse it, even though Cora tries to. It takes Leni, the teenager so affected by the discord, to have a hand in being the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. I found myself cringing and gritting my teeth through many scenes. While the story focuses on Leni and her family, there are other strong, likable characters in this saga. Matthew Walker has more than his share of terrible struggles, and he proves himself worthy. Big-hearted Large Marge and Tom Walker are sturdy, faithful friends. For those who love adventures, this book has lovely descriptions as well as danger. I found myself experiencing a wide range of emotions – anger, of course, but humor, awe, sorrow, surprise, and joy.

The Great Alone begins in 1974 when Leni is 13. It spans twelve years, through 1986. Leni grows from childhood through adolescence to womanhood during that time. Kristin Hannah has created a remarkable work of fiction that felt real. It’s a coming-of-age story, a survival story, and a tribute to the power of community and friendship and love. Love is never perfect; it can be challenging and harsh. It can be breathtakingly beautiful and enduring. Love between parent and offspring, between young lovers, and love humans have for nature all dominate the daily lives of folks in Kristin Hannah’s Alaskan wilderness in The Great Alone. As 2017 draws to a close, I am thinking that perhaps I saved the best book for last. This one certainly makes my top three.

My thanks to NetGalley, St.Martin's Press, and the author for an ARC of this wonderful book. My opinions are my own.

5 stars