Fabulous. Loved every minute of it (I listened to the audio, which is incredible). The only reason I am lacking a star is because I felt for such a length of book to get through, the ending was incredibly rushed.

Lenora, her mom Cora, and dad Ernt head to to Alaska in the early 70's to find retribution and a new beginning. They find unbelievable living conditions, harsh realities, and the beauty of Alaska. They find friends, love, horror, and the realization that new scenery cannot fix what ails ones mind and relationships. This is an epic saga of their lives, with Alaska almost its own character in the backdrop of their lives.

Highly, highly recommended.

Truly another great read from Kristin Hannah. This book inspired me to go back and read all of her older titles.

This book is very different from The Nightingale, as many have said. They both have family conflict and extensive research, but the settings alone are very different.

I found this book to be somewhat repetitive; not that I want to avoid reading about painful things, but sometimes repeated events did not seem to advance the story.. I will say that there were some plot switches that surprised me, but as many others have noted, it felt like the narrative suddenly accelerated toward the end. I did appreciate the points that jolted to me to some of the realities of the '80s. For example, women were at a disadvantage when it came to getting help with the law on spousal abuse cases and DNA testing was not at the useful levels it is now.

One thing about Kaneq that did impress me: the sense of community among the residents. I wish more people and localities could experience this.

I loved this new book from Kristinn Hannah. Her writing is beautuful! The story was haunting and sticks with me weeks later.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kristin Hannah's newest book takes place in Alaska in the 70s and 80s. The land is wild, unpredictable, and harsh. The Allbrights think Alaska will be their salvation, but for a family in turmoil, it will become the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright has returned from the Vietnam war a broken and volatile man. After losing another job, he makes a rash decision to move his little family north, to Alaska, where he has been left property by a fallen soldier. Here they can make a fresh start, live off the land and by their own rules.

Leni is thirteen and is the voice of reason in her parents' passionate and tempestuous marriage. She hopes that the new opportunity will lead to a better life for her family. Her mother Cora would follow Ernt anywhere, even at the cost of a relationship with her parents.

They seem to be adjusting well to life on the great frontier. They have forged relationships with some men and women in the community that show them the ropes and how to survive. Winter is coming and they need to learn how to prepare and survive the wrath of Mother Nature. When winter arrives with dark days, Ernt's mental state suffers and he turns just as dark. Life outside is nothing compared to life inside their small cabin. The women are isolated—they are on their own with no one to save them so they must save themselves.

Hannah explores the resilience of the human spirit juxtaposed against the beauty of Alaska. This is a story of love, loss, survival, and man against nature and himself. I was completely caught up in the the story, it was absolutely riveting. Hannah's writing is such a gift. Her descriptions of Alaska were sweeping and vivid. Alaska becomes a character and at times is the hero and other times is the villain.

The theme of survival dominates the story—the family are surviving the harsh winter and the women are surviving the harsh realities of living with a POW with post-tramatic stress. Cora and Leni must carefully navigate Ernst's outbursts that lead to his explosive rage and violent outbursts. Hannah does an incredible job in her execution—you hate Ernst for his abuse and yet you feel sorry for him because he is living with an undiagnosed mental illness. The reader also flip flops with their loyalty to Cora—there is a level of frustration for staying with Ernst and exposing Leni to his violence, but on the other hand you pity her because she is a victim of domestic abuse.

Hannah pens some dynamic supporting characters. I just wish she would've come up with something more original than 'Large Marge'. She creates a whole town of interesting personalities that are integral to the plot. This is no small feat.

The difference between 4 and 5 stars is because of the last part of the book. There was a disconnect and I wasn't as invested in their journey by that point. Without spoiling the ending, it didn't work for me. I wonder if her editor made her rewrite it? That being said, Hannah fans are going to love this book.

The year is 1974 and thirteen-year-old Leni Allbright and her mother walk on eggshells around her father Ernt. As a POW Vietnam Vet Ernt lives with nightmares that neither of them can imagine. So when he decides to move the family to Alaska to claim the land his fallen comrade left him Cora and Leni decide to embrace the decision as an adventure. They were woefully unprepared for the harshness of life in Alaska. Thankfully their new neighbors in the in fishing village welcomed them and taught them how to live life in a small cabin with no electricity and no running water. They learn the importance of stocking up and preparing for the fast-approaching winter, things like hunting, canning, and chopping wood. They learn the importance of neighbors. But even their new neighbors couldn't prepare them for what the harsh Alaskan winter would be like, the brutal snow, and the endless nights. The already abusive Ernt cannot keep his demons at bay during the endless nights. Everybody in the community knows or suspects that Ernt abuses Cora, but she stays because she loves him. Until the night three years later when he turns his anger towards Leni. That one night changes their lives in irrevocable ways. Will Leni's life ever be the same?

I think there is a little part of all of us that dreams of chucking it all and moving to Alaska. I know my husband and I have talked about more than once. In her new book, The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah gets honest about the fact that no matter how much we may romanticize Alaska, the truth is that it is brutally dangerous. As much as I love Leni and Cora I despised Ernt. I thought it was interesting the "prepper" mentality that he had because you all know how much I love apocalyptic books. Of course, he took it to extremes. I am not sure if the paranoia was because of his time as a POW or if it was just an inherent personality defect. I really enjoyed everything about The Great Alone. I thought that Leni was a strong young woman who learned a lot about life from her mother and not always because her mother always behaved the right way. My heart broke for Leni more than once, but her resiliency is a strong theme throughout this book and I was very pleased with the way the book ended. I don't think their story was over, though.

Bottom Line - Kristin Hannah has such a gift for telling stories that are just more. Her books are more than just words on paper. They have a way of making you feel like you are part of a different world. The Great Alone is just another place that I have visited thanks to the gift of Kristin Hannah. The Great Alone is on sale Tuesday, February 6th.

Details:
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
On Facebook
Pages: 448
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 2/6/2018
Buy it Here!

The Great Alone is another great novel by Kristin Hannah, but be prepared and have a box of tissues handy when you read it.

The setting is 1974 Alaska. It is the story of a Vietnam vet, Ernt and his wife Cora as they move to Alaska for a new start in their life. They were completely unprepared for the harshness of the Alaska winter that lay before them. With short days, constant darkness, not enough firewood to keep warm, Ernt suffers from depression and PTSD and his family suffers along with him. If it weren't for compassionate neighbors and fellow homesteaders, they would have perished. A must read for anyone who thinks dropping out of life and moving to the woods is an easy out. This is also a study of how difficult it is for our Vietnam vets to reintroduce themselves back into society.

This book transports you to Alaska. It is a family drama that takes you into the life of a former soldier, who suffers from PTSD. His wife and child are left to deal with the repercussions. I really liked the character development in this story. Ms. Hannah knows how to tell a good story. I would highly recommend this book.

This book was wonderful! I absolutely loved the descriptions of Alaska. I felt like I was really there. I was rooting for Leni and her mom so much and was very heartened to get to the ending. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

The first book I read by Kristin Hannah was The Nightengale and it blew me away entirely. It was such an all consuming book, and it’s a for sure top read for me.
So I was a little anxious going into The Great Alone.. because you don’t know where this next, new, book is going to take you. Is it going to suck, or be better? And I am here to say that while I don’t think it was better than The Nightengale, it is definitely up there on the amazing scale for me. It was gripping, the story was excellent, and as always, the writing was impeccable. Kristin Hannah completely drew you into this book and didn’t cut the cord until the very last page.

unfortunately, our reviewer did not finish the book. We love this author but just did not connect with the characters. We were sad to have this happen as this author has shown us that she writes beautiful stories.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a fantastic read. Kristin Hannah never disappoints.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah was one of my favorites of 2015, a tale of two sisters set in France under German occupation. Her new novel, The Great Alone has solidified her as a story teller whose novels I will seek out forevermore. The story begins with a family in the early seventies living in the United States. The father Ernt Allbright, is a former Vietnam POW, who has returned as a volatile man scared by his experience there. Leni, a young girl, who is coming into her teen years in a home filled with violence with a mother and father whose passion burns brightly and ignites a stormy relationship. Leni’s mother, Cora, holds on to an ideal that the love of her life Ernt, the man she knew before the war, will return. To help him, Cora agrees to move the family to the wilds of Alaska- yet another plan to cure Ernt’s ills and bring him back to her as he was.
Like most who dream big of starting anew in a wild and untamed land, they arrive unprepared. The community pitches in to help them learn what they need to know to survive in the brutal and beautiful land in the remote corner of the state of Alaska. With long summer days, they at first feel as if this rugged landscape is the answer. Yet as winter and the darkness descends on the family’s small and sparse cabin and dwindling resources Ernt’s fragile mental state comes apart. Cora and Leni become aware of a troubling realization – They are alone in this with no one to save them except them.
This novel is a picture of a troubled man and his family. A story of a young girl coming of age. A story of Domestic abuse. A story of survival. It is also a three stories of love. One gone wrong, one for all the right reasons and one of Alaska - a love song to its beauty and its beasts. It will hold you and take you on a trip you will not soon forget. I highly recommend The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

I would like to thank St. Martins Press, NetGalley and Kristin Hannah for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. Once again, she has selected a contemporary issue, spousal abuse, and presented it as in all its harshness and unadorned terror.
Fresh from the Vietnam War, a scarred soldier takes his wife and young daughter to the wilds of Alaska. He hopes to shed his old skin and face life head on, Alaska is the perfect spot for such hopes which is one of the most appealing aspects of this book. The insights to Allbright's character juxtaposed against the rawness of Alaska are so beautifully written. The role his wife and daughter portray bring terror but, ultimately, light .The characters are so richly written. Large Marge, a former prosecutor in DC, is drawn to the land and through her character the legal issues are brought forth.
It's a beautiful coming-of -age story brought against the brutality of life. Once again, Hannah has created an unforgettable story and world.

Although not perfect, I found "The Great Alone", to be amazing. I think Kristin Hannah nailed the character Lexi as a young girl. She also showed the helplessness of so many women who are addicted to and in love with a man who is unable to control his anger and takes it out on them through physical abuse. This is particularly true of the time period in which she places her characters. The 70's and 80's were a time of changing views and lifestyles, particularly for women.
All these factors would make good elements for a story, but this book includes an original and interesting addition. The main characters move from Seattle to Alaska to make a new start in a survivalist setting with some unique and interesting neighbors. Unfortunately, the great alone, as Alaska is sometimes known, in fact adds fuel to the fire within Lexi's dad.
The Alaskan setting is starkly beautiful and skillfully described. It deepens the intensity of the story and is one of the things that I most enjoyed. It also leaves Lexi and her mom in a desperate situation when her father drifts further and further into his disturbed beliefs and psychoses. The pages practically turned themselves as I couldn't wait, yet dreaded, what was to come.
Ms. Hannah is fast becoming one of my favorite fiction authors. She has an uncanny ability to create characters who are real and feel intensely. I love that I can't predict the direction that her stories will take and often they veer from what I would have expected from other authors. Her strengths at characterization and plot development are original yet always realistic.
I think this book will appeal to not only women, but men as well. It portrays a time period following the Vietnam War that shares some of the social ills and distrust of government that are current today. All these elements together are just brilliant, but the addition of an endearing love relationship completes the picture. I recommend it highly.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything by Hannah (she has 15 other books), and The Great Alone is making me doubt my life choices. Leni is a stranger in a strange land. In an effort to escape their lives, her parents have moved with her to remote Alaska. “We’re going to grow our own vegetables and hunt our meat and live by our own rules. We’ll be pure. Pioneers.” It’s not that easy, though. Alaska is dangerous, even in the summer, and Leni’s dad is dangerous too. How can you love a place – or a person – that could kill you? Leni sums it up:

This state, this place is like no other. It is beauty and horror; savior and destroyer . . . You learn what you will do to survive. That lesson, that revelation, as my mother once told me about love, is Alaska’s great and terrible gift.

The Great Alone is a page-turner that draws you into a foreign world, where daily amenities that you take for granted are gained only with difficulty, where a unique culture flourishes in its own strange and twisted ways, and where there is no escaping the people and the wilderness that can variously mean survival or death.

Read if: You don’t have to get up early in the morning.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is a book set in the wilds of Alaska. The characters in this book are so well developed and the setting is wonderfully depicted. This is a wonderful book by a talented author. My only difficulty with this book is that it was hard to get into and seemed to move slowly at times. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. These opinions are entirely my own.

What a wild, full ride this book was. I actually ended up putting it in time out for a week or so because I was scared to keep reading. I was so connected to the main character that I was worried how things would turn out for her.
Picked it back up and finished the last 30 percent of the book in one sitting.
The characters are just so real. You feel like you know all of them. I loved the setting. Everything was described so well I could almost feel the cold.