Kristin Hannah: The Great Alone

Hi everyone

I just finished The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. It was a New Year’s gift from my parents, who traditionally give us one or two books to celebrate the start of a new year. A tradition I wholeheartedly stand behind!

"Alaska, 1974
Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes the impulsive decision to move his wife and daughter north where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Cora will do anything for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. Thirteen-year-old Leni, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, has little choice but to go along, daring to hope this new land promises her family a better future.
In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own."

This book was a mix of highs and lows for me.

I fell in love with the setting. Alaska, the small towns, the homesteads, the magnificent nature; it was all absolutely gorgeous. Kristin Hannah has a real talent for creating a story with characters you want to know better and a way of life that feels both foreign and fascinating. I loved how she brought it all to life, and the atmosphere was captivating.
I really enjoyed reading about their lives; the homesteading, the school life, the isolation, and the struggle to survive the winters. It was immersive and compelling.
The love story was fine. It wasn’t overly dramatic or over the top, and I loved that they were friends first. Their love felt natural and earned.

The first half of the book was amazing. But after that, it really went downhill.

The mother-daughter relationship amid the domestic abuse felt wrong. Hannah portrays Leni and Cora as having this perfect, almost telepathic connection, where they intuitively understand each other’s thoughts and feelings. But that doesn’t ring true for me. This is clearly a co-dependent relationship, especially from Cora’s perspective. Cora always puts her husband and her own desires before Leni, and as Leni grows up, she never expresses anger or resentment toward her mother for not leaving her father, even when others are clearly willing to help them. Instead, Cora makes Leni responsible for the abuse, telling her to be careful and not selfish or he will become agressive.
I found Ernt believable; his PTSD, the abuse stemming from it, and Cora’s decision to stay with him felt realistic for the time period. We know so much more about PTSD and therapy now, but back then, options were limited. That said, I wish we’d gotten more insight into his mind; his struggles, his thoughts, his demons.

The part after the accident felt off. I couldn’t understand why Leni would cut off all contact with Matthew’s family after writing him letters every week for years. She could have stayed in touch with his father or sister. No contact at all just doesn’t fit with her character before the accident. I get that they feared being tracked, but I’m sure Hannah could have found a way for Leni to stay connected without risking her safety.
And the part after Cora’s death was way too dramatic and overstuffed with events. The lovely, slow pace of the first half gave way to a few chapters that were too fast, too chaotic, and too much.

The medical stuff was laughable. As someone with a background in midwifery, I couldn’t overlook the glaring mistakes: pulling out your own IV with no bleeding, no nurses in sight in the ICU, no badge required to enter the ICU? My inner midwife was screaming.

I have an 8-year-old daughter at home, and she doesn’t act or talk like MJ. MJ sounds and acts like a much younger child (reading by sounding out words, not reacting when his mom talks about killing her dad, his way of playing). It didn’t feel authentic at all.

Lastly, every bad thing that could happen, did happen in this book. Kristin Hannah piles on the tragedy, and it gets old quickly. There was no need for so much misery and catastrophe. In fact, I think the story of the abuse and the setting would have been more impactful if it had been a bit more realistic in its scope. The story went downhill after the accident, and by that point, I was done with all the bad decisions, accidents, and disasters.

The Great Alone had so much potential, and the first half was incredible. But the second half really let me down. It’s still a beautifully written, atmospheric novel, but it could have been so much more.

Have you read The Great Alone? Did you love it, or did you struggle with the same issues I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Should I read anything else by Kristin Hannah?

Happy reading!
Helena