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The Great Alone

Kristin Hannah

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What Members Thought

Oct 19, 2018 Book Concierge rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, nature, book-club, library, concierge, strong-women, abuse, alaska

Book on CD performed by Julia Whelan
2.5**

Ernt Allbright is a damaged man; a former Vietnam POW he is prone to fits of anger and depression. When one of his fellow POWs dies, he wills his land in Alaska to Ernt. So Allbright takes his wife, Cora, and 13-year-old daughter, Leni, to a remote village on Alaska’s Kenai peninsula, accessible only by plane or boat to homestead the land he has inherited. They are woefully unprepared, though optimistic and not afraid of hard work, and the local residen Book on CD performed by Julia Whelan
2.5**

Ernt Allbright is a damaged man; a former Vietnam POW he is prone to fits of anger and depression. When one of his fellow POWs dies, he wills his land in Alaska to Ernt. So Allbright takes his wife, Cora, and 13-year-old daughter, Leni, to a remote village on Alaska’s Kenai peninsula, accessible only by plane or boat to homestead the land he has inherited. They are woefully unprepared, though optimistic and not afraid of hard work, and the local residents of Kaneq welcome them and rally to help them survive their first winter. But Ernt can’t accept help without rancor. He’s offended that people think him unprepared, and is likely as not to accuse anyone offering help of thinking him incompetent. He’s angry that a “rich man thinks he can buy my friendship” by offering the use of his tractor to help clear the land. He’s certain that the government is out to get him and he’s determined to show that he needs no one, and his family doesn’t either. As winter approaches and the hours of daylight diminish, Ernt’s depression worsens, as does his tendency to violent outbursts.

I was engaged and interested in the story from the beginning, but … I quickly grew tired of Cora’s constant excuses for her sorry husband. She seemed to never take seriously the signs that he was a danger to her … and to their child! I found myself yelling at the CD player over and over as she and Leni made one poor decision after another. I could perhaps forgive Leni, who was a teenager after all, but I never could forgive Cora. Yes, I know that women who are abused frequently feel powerless and unable to extricate themselves from the abusive relationship. Yes, I know that even when there are children involved, many such women stick with their abusers (and that time after time, abused children want to be reunited with the parent who has been abusing them). I know this reality, but I don’t have to like it. And in this novel, it irritated me no end.

Additionally, I thought that what happens to Matthew was manipulative on the author’s part, trying to force tears and heartache on the part of the reader (not successfully in my case). And I thought the ending was far too pat and neatly tied up in a pretty rainbow.

On the plus side, I really did enjoy the depictions of the majestic natural beauty of Alaska. This is set in the mid- to late-1970s, before all the cruise ships brought thousands of tourists every summer. I liked the self-sufficiency of many of the characters, and particularly liked the strong women of the community – Large Marge, Geneva Walker, Natalie Watkins and Thelma Schill.

Julia Whelan does a fine job performing the audio version. She has a gift for voices and makes these characters come to life. I particularly like the way she voiced Cora, Large Marge, Ernt and Tom Walker. Too bad she didn’t have better material to work with.
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Apr 15, 2018 Melike rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, botm

This book was the first book I read by Kristen Hannah. I was very impressed by her writing. Her description of Alaska was so vivid that I felt that I had traveled there many times and knew the landscape inside out.

I loved Leni and felt horrible that she had to live with those harrowing parents who were beyond dysfunctional. I did feel compassion for her mom, Cora, but still thought she made selfish choices. As for Ernt, I had zero compassion and was repulsed by his character.

The story had me a ...more

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Sep 28, 2018 Liz rated it really liked it

Shelves: ni-group-read, audio, 2018-book-list

4.5* I don't know if I should rate this at a 4 or 5. This book was a solid 5 star read for me until about the last 100 pages (then it moved to possibly a 4?) - it was unputdownable, & the descriptions of Alaska & the other characters, because Alaska truly was a character in its own right, pulled at me & made me feel so many emotions - fear, heartache, love, awe, anxiety, giddiness . . . . This is my second book by this author, & I love the way she pulls me into her stories. Beautiful. ...more

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Oct 20, 2021 TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library, 2021

WOW, I put this book off forever because I was worried it wouldn’t live up to it’s rave reviews. Now I kick myself for waiting to read it…It is AMAZING!! Had me laughing and crying and feeling all the emotions. Now to read all of Kristin Hannah’s books.

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