An engrossing read with a beautiful and harsh Alaskan backdrop

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Iiiireader

The Great Alone: A Novel 

By: Kristin Hannah

Rating: 5 of 5

When I decided to read “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah, I had no idea where the subject would take me. It is a coming of age and beyond book about a young girl/woman, Leni, who is moved to Alaska when her father, Ernt decides it is the next place for them to live. This is after many other moves in the past as he tries to escape the emotional trauma he is left with after being a POW in Vietnam.

Living with her damaged father and her mother Cora, who will not stand up for herself against her husband, Leni
learns first to survive in the harsh Alaskan landscape and then to learn to love the land for all of its harsh beauty.

Ernt continues his spiral downhill and Leni learns more and more about just how bad he has become. She is blessed to have found a friend her own age, Matthew, who gives her an emotional break from the drama and trauma of her family life. Notwithstanding her friendship, her life continues to get darker and darker where both physical and mental survival become her primary goals.

The book was an amazing read in the resilience of a young personal determined to make a life for herself. I will certainly be reading more books by this talented author in the future.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

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