The Great Alone

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He promises he’ll do better, that he’ll cut down on drinking. Leni has seen this all before but she won’t put up a fuss about moving again. She’ll do as she’s asked. Let’s start with Leni’s life before they move to Alaska. It’s already turbulent, with her family moving around often to find some peace. When Leni is told she is moving to Alaska, she accepts it. Cadden, Mary; Schnaars, Christopher (January 5, 2019). "Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' is USA TODAY's No. 1 book of 2018. See the others in top 100". USA TODAY . Retrieved March 13, 2021. I think I could write “I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS BOOK!” at least million times! This is not only my last year’s favorite book but this is also one of my all-time favorite books.

What do you think of the character of Cora at this point? Do you think she was a good mother to Leni? However, they could not have possibly prepared themselves for living ‘off grid’, in this raw, startlingly beautiful landscape, which is sharply juxtaposed against the harsh, brutal winters, the intensity of mother nature, and the terrifying odds of surviving in such extreme isolation. Yet for Cora and Leni, the danger that lurks around every corner, is within the confines of their own four walls. Cora says she'll help Leni sneak away so she can go to college but advises her to stay away from Matthew until then, to avoid setting Ernst off. Leni does this for months, but in August longs to see him. Cora and Ernst are going to city nearby to see a snow machine. Leni invites Matthew over and they sleep together, but fall asleep afterwards. They get away with it, but it's a close call. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and I am always excited when a new book is going to be released. When I found out that her new book, “The Great Alone” was set in Alaska in 1974 (the year I was born); I was itching to get reading. And for me, what’s even worse is the corny, schmaltzy melodrama and emotional manipulation. It kills my reading experience. It pushes me over the edge to where I’m shaking my head, rolling my eyes, and disappointed that I am, once again, responding in this way to these wonderful stories.How do you think this makes Leni feel? Do you think Cora confides in her too much, or does this help to draw them closer together? Henley, Tara (February 16, 2018). "Kristin Hannah's book The Great Alone explores living off-grid in Alaska". Toronto Star . Retrieved March 21, 2021. I knew I’d read it sooner or later, since I’d heard so much about it, but it got pushed off for a while when I was reading The Snow Child (also about a family trying to make a life in Alaska). I’m always a little hesitant to jump into books with similar premises or similar settings. But, moving on- This is not the only problem I had with the book. Please everyone in the US. Look up 911. Learn the history of it. It was around, but not common, even in big cities. We take it for granted now, so this might not have registered, but in the early seventies, calling 911 was not a thing. I also noticed a few other gaffes, like Cora smoking on her last cigarette, only to miraculously have a fresh supply the very next morning.

To be honest, I enjoyed the parts about surviving in Alaska, Ernst’s transformation and integrating with the community a lot more than and the parts about abuse. This is semi-unfortunate, since the novel becomes increasingly about Ernst’s violent temper as the novel progresses. Leni was tested to the brink of her endurance, yet she prevailed and found true love and despite everything she gets her happily ever after!! It’s romance 101!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I read about this brave woman--and so many others like her, women who put their lives at risk to save Jewish children--I found myself consumed with a single overwhelming question, as relevant today as it was seventy years ago. When would I as, a wife and mother, risk my life and more importantly, my child’s life to save a stranger? That question is at the very heart of the The Nightingale. It is a question that haunts me still. One thing is for sure, Kristin Hannah, hands down, is a talented author who can weave a tale. I have read many of her previous novels and always found them to be beautiful and thought provoking. This one, however, rubbed me the wrong way.

After Ernst comes home from Vietnam, he flounders, suffering from what we would now term, PTSD. His wife, Cora, sees a much different man in front of her than the one she married. But, she is determined to help him, and so when he inherits a home in Alaska, she and their thirteen -year old daughter, Leni, follow him into unchartered territory. As they begin their journey they are filled with renewed hope and optimism, but simmering underneath that forced enthusiasm, is a great deal of nervousness and trepidation. There are wonderfully described characters in this book. I loved Large Marge who would do anything to help her friends. Mad Earl is a man who is mad at the government, mad at the military and the war which took his son and a very bad influence on Ernt. Matthew is a big hearted, loving young man whose father Tom Walker is the owner of the salon in town and has lots of influence along with money. Tom and Large Marge begin to sense that things are not alright in the Allbright household but there is little they can do because Ernt won’t allow anyone to help them.

To top it off, the locals (while friendly and helpful) are gravely serious about the need for the family to toughen up and get used to the harsh reality of living there. While Leni feels caught between her father’s PTSD and her parents’ tumultuous relationship, she befriends a local boy. And as the harsh Winter approaches, survival becomes necessary when these characters face a string of haunting traumatic events as dark and cold as Winter itself. The results are both beautiful and devastating. Leni has a fairly nihilistic view of life: why do you think this is? Do you think she really believes that hope is pointless? Did you see Cora’s explosive act of protection coming? What did it feel like to read that scene? As a parent, do you think you’d be capable of the same act, or write such a confessional letter?

1986

How do you think Ernt and Mad Earle’s friendship impacts Ernt’s wife and daughter? Do you think conspiratorial thinking was inevitable for Ernt at this point? Is this predictable? Perhaps a bit. But this is an exceptional story populated by complex, fascinating characters and vivid imagery that made you feel you were experiencing the beauty and harshness of Alaska. Boy, did I love this. Leni and Matthew experience first friendship and first love. There is an obvious Romeo-and-Juliet aspect to their love story. How did you feel about their relationship as it was growing? Did you root for them? Or did you feel that Leni was taking a terrible risk that was going to have dark consequences.