The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah Review

Janereads

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah was an amazing read. At first I had trouble getting into it (not the book’s fault), but then the story suddenly latched onto me and sent me on an entertaining and emotional ride. I am very rarely reduced to tears when I read, but this book had me wiping away tears on public transport and having to hide behind my sunglasses. Be careful reading parts of this book in public!

The Great Alone by Kristrin Hannah
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, ISBN 9781447286004, 440pp, Pub Feb 2018

The story is told from the point-of-view of Lenora (Leni) Allbright, who we first meet at thirteen-years-old. She is the only child to a beautiful, fragile mother and a damaged father. Her dad was a POW during the Vietnam war and returned a changed man, prone to outbursts. But her parents love each other intensely.

They move to Land’s End, Homer, Alaska in 1974 to start a new life in the wilderness after an army buddy leaves his cabin to Leni’s dad. They are woefully unprepared for the harshness of Alaska. Their cabin has no running water, no electricity and they have no idea how to live off the land. The tiny town of Homer is full of colourful inhabitants who band together to welcome the Allbright family and help them prepare for winter–a time when the unprepared don’t survive. But there’s a greater danger lurking than winter and it will affect the Allbrights and everyone around them.

There are so many themes in this book such as motherhood, death, family dynamics, domestic violence, growing up, love and survival in a wild place. At times it was a difficult, harrowing read given some of the subject mater. Kristin Hannah has an evocative way of writing. Her descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness made me feel like I was there. I have always wanted to visit Alaska so it was great to be able to visit it between the pages of this novel.

The Great Alone is the first book I’ve read by Kristin Hannah and I am sure it won’t be the last.

Verdict: Read this if you want to be carried away to the Alaskan wilderness by a story that tugs on all your emotions.

Have you read any books by Kristin Hannah. What’s your favourite? Tell me in the comments.

21 thoughts on “The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah Review”

  1. Sheree Strange May 12, 2018 / 3:34 pm

    I feel like I’ve been seeing this one *everywhere* lately – glad to hear it lives up to the hype! Maybe it could even move my stone heart to actual tears, ha! 😉 And I seem to be being followed by stories about the Alaskan wilderness at the moment, too, hmmm… maybe the universe is trying to tell me something? Haha. Thanks Jane!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janereads May 12, 2018 / 3:36 pm

      Yes maybe you need to visit Alaska–or at least read about it. 😁

      Like

  2. acosyreader May 13, 2018 / 6:09 pm

    Great review Jane! Although I am SUCH a crier in books I think I’d ahve to confine myself to the house to read it 😛

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janereads May 16, 2018 / 7:08 pm

      I need to read that one!

      Like

  4. kayceeskidmore May 17, 2018 / 12:48 am

    I’ve read Firefly Lane and The Nightingale! I loved them both immensely. Your review definitely makes me want to read The Great Alone next!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janereads May 17, 2018 / 11:30 am

      I highly recommend it. I really need to read The Nightingale. It’s on my tbr list.

      Liked by 1 person

      • kayceeskidmore May 17, 2018 / 11:21 pm

        I think you’ll enjoy it! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. ladysharon May 20, 2018 / 8:08 pm

    This was my first of her books too, and I agree, it won’t be my last. It was so tense!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janereads May 21, 2018 / 5:35 pm

      Yes! Parts of it were hard to read due to the tension.

      Like

  6. ladysharon May 20, 2018 / 8:09 pm

    This was the first of hers I’d read too, and I agree, it won’t be my last either! So. Much. Tension!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. TheReadersBay June 9, 2018 / 5:26 am

    Oh my my. YOU SHOULD READ THE NIGHTINGALE BY HER. That book is on a whole new level amazing!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janereads June 9, 2018 / 6:30 am

      I agree with you! I actually read it recently and loved it. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

        • Janereads June 9, 2018 / 7:01 am

          I will review it soon and we can fangirl together. Such an amazing book.

          Liked by 1 person

  8. Pingback: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Review – What Jane Read Next
  9. Jules July 15, 2018 / 10:47 am

    Hi Jane! Years ago I was recommended Kristin Hannah by a writing friend and so I went on a glom. She is a huge favourite of mine but I must admit I haven’t read anything recent of hers – but I can totally recommend pretty much anything on her backlist, in particular these:
    Once In Every Life – a timeslip where a deaf scientist heroine ends up in post-Civil War America. Gut-wrenchingly emotional.
    When Lightning Strikes – romance author goes back in time and ends up in her own story.
    Waiting for the Moon – amnesiac heroine, psychic hero. Highly emotional too.
    The Enchantment – bluestocking alpha heroine and treasure hunter hero, on the search for treasure in the 19th century.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janereads July 15, 2018 / 11:47 am

      Thanks for the recommendations. It looks like she has a big backlist of books.

      Like

Comments are closed.