Review: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Title: The Great Alone
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Edition: Hardcover (440 pages)
Genres:

• Fiction
• Historical Fiction

Literary Awards: Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction (2018)
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 1974, the Allbright family set out for Alaska to begin a new life. Ernt Allbright, a veteran and former POW, returned from Vietnam a psychologically troubled man. His wife, Cora and daughter, Lenora "Leni", hoped this would be a new beginning for the family. A former army buddy of Ernt's had gifted them land in Alaska, and to Ernt, it seemed a perfect place to put his troubles behind him. But the family, unprepared, physically and psychologically, for the harsh conditions Alaska offered, faced danger from within and without. As Ernt becomes increasingly out of touch with reality and progressively more abusive, Cora and Leni have to face a terrible choice in order to save themselves.

This story is an amazing read. It confronts issues of the day--the cold war, environmental concerns, cultural shifts, protests, and development of the last frontier. It also addresses the complexity of domestic violence which, in 1974, was not yet even on the radar of America's social consciousness. It also is a profile of a young girl's struggle to keep her family together and be a parent to her parents.

The emotion in this book is powerful, and sometimes overwhelming. Because I enjoy such stories, I think it is one of the best books I have ever read, and it will stay with me for the rest of my life, I am certain. The writing and description is lyrical and haunting.