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The Great Alone: A Novel by [Kristin Hannah]

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The Great Alone: A Novel Kindle Edition

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In Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone, a desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature.

#1 New York Times Instant Bestseller (February 2018)
A People “Book of the Week”
Buzzfeed’s “Most Anticipated Women’s Fiction Reads of 2018”
Seattle Times’s “Books to Look Forward to in 2018”

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.

Print length

450 pages
Language

English
Publisher

St. Martin's Press
Publication date

February 6, 2018
File size

7493 KB
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From the Publisher

The Great Alone: A Novel

From School Library Journal

Set in 1974 Alaska, this sweeping tale follows a girl coping with the dangers of domestic violence. Though ill-prepared for the extreme and harsh conditions, 13-year-old Leni and her parents, Ernt and Cora, have to learn how to survive in the unforgiving wild of their new home on the Kenai Peninsula. With the help of the small-knit community of endearing fellow homesteaders, the Allbrights manage to just barely stay afloat. But Ernt, who has never recovered from the trauma of fighting in the Vietnam War, struggles with the isolation and the interminably dark days of winter. Leni grows up witnessing her father (who is increasingly unable to control his paranoia and jealousy) abuse her beloved mother. Leni's greatest comfort and escape is her schoolmate and neighbor Matthew. Over the years, their friendship evolves into a forbidden romance. Hannah highlights, with vivid description, the natural dangers of Alaska juxtaposed against incongruous violence. VERDICT Give to teens who loved the author's The Nightingale and to fans of Jodi Picoult.—Tara Kehoe, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of February 2018: In Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone, a damaged vet named Ernt Allbright returns from Vietnam and moves his family to the wilds of Alaska to start their lives anew. Initially it's a welcome change, but as winter approaches, and Ernt's mental state deteriorates, his wife and daughter find themselves in an increasingly precarious position. Leni and Cora are the heart of what is as much a mother-daughter love story as it is a pressure cooker of a page-turner. Together they reckon not only with the elements, but with some bad decisions, born from the stubborn faith that Ernt will somehow be restored to the person he was before the war. It’s a testament to Hannah’s compassionate storytelling that you’ll be hard-pressed to call him a villain; Ernt actually shares the same Achilles heel as the rest of the Allbright clan: they do not know how to ask for, or receive, help (so much so, you just want to shake them). Fortunately the cavalry comes anyway, including a homesteader named “Large Marge” who doesn’t suffer fools (or domestic abusers). The muse of The Great Alone is clearly Alaska--in all its untamed, stunningly beautiful, dangerous glory. It provides the perfect backdrop for an equally dramatic tale, one that feels remarkably current for the 1970s setting. But Hannah’s latest also harkens to her mega bestselling The Nightingale: it highlights the heroics of everyday people, especially women. And it’s just a damn good read. --Erin Kodicek, Amazon Book Review --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

About the Author

KRISTIN HANNAH is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels, including The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds. A former lawyer turned writer, she lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Review

Praise for The Great Alone:

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller (February 2018) | A 2018 Indie Next Pick

One of...
Southern Living's "Books Coming Out This Winter That We Can't Wait to Read"
Pop Sugar's "10 Most Anticipated Books of 2018"
Working Mother's "Most Anticipated Books of 2018"
Brit & Co's "Most Anticipated Books of 2018"
Seattle Times' "Books to Look Forward to in 2018"
The Everygirl's "10 New Novels to Read this Winter"
Refinery 29's "Best Books of February"
BuzzFeed's "Most Anticipated Women's Fiction Reads of 2018"

"Featuring a rich cast of characters and elevated by the riveting portrayal of homesteading in Alaska in the 1970s, this is a compassionate story of a family." ―People, "Book of the Week"

"This epic atmospheric novel examines humans' will to endure the unthinkable." ―Real Simple magazine

"There are many great things about this book...It will thrill her fans with its combination of Greek tragedy, Romeo and Juliet-like coming of age story and domestic potboiler. She recreates in magical detail the lives of Alaska's homesteaders...and is just as specific and authentic in her depiction of the spiritual wounds of post-Vietnam America. A tour de force." ―Kirkus (starred review)

"Hannah vividly evokes the natural beauty and danger of Alaska and paints a compelling portrait of a family in crisis and a community on the brink of change." ―Booklist

"Reliably alluring...The Great Alone is packed with rapturous descriptions of Alaskan scenery… Hannah remembers and summons an undeveloped wilderness, describing a gloriously pristine region in the days before cruise ships discovered it." ―New York Times

"In this latest from Hannah, the landscape is hard and bleak but our young heroine learns to accept it and discover her true self...fans will appreciate the astuteness of the story and the unbreakable connection between mother and child." ―Library Journal

"Hannah skillfully situates the emotional family saga in the events and culture of the late ’70s... But it’s her tautly drawn characters―Large Marge, Genny, Mad Earl, Tica, Tom―who contribute not only to Leni’s improbable survival but to her salvation amid her family’s tragedy." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Hannah turns the written word into wonderful prose...Times are difficult for so many in this novel and Hannah captures their suffering with sensitivity. The author expertly shows how love, death and birth run the full circle of life." ―RT Book Reviews

Praise for The Nightingale:

"Haunting, action-packed, and compelling."―Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Absolutely riveting!...Read this book." ―Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute

"Beautifully written and richly evocative." ―Sara Gruen,#1 New York Times bestselling author

“A heart-pounding story.” ―USA Today

"A respectful and absorbing page-turner." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Tender, compelling...a satisfying slice of life in Nazi-occupied France." ―Jewish Book Council

“Expect to devour The Nightingale in as few sittings as possible; the high-stakes plot and lovable characters won’t allow any rest until all of their fates are known.” ―Shelf Awareness

"Powerful...an unforgettable portrait of love and war."―People

--This text refers to the hardcover edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06Y5WRS2C
Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press (February 6, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 6, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 7493 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 450 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,612 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #24 in Women's Sagas
- #34 in Women's Historical Fiction
- #62 in Mothers & Children Fiction

Customer Reviews:
27,593 ratings

About the author

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Kristin Hannah

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Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was also named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.

The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club.

The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with Dakota and Elle Fanning set to star. Tri Star has also optioned The Great Alone and it is in development. Firefly Lane, her novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix show around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently being filmed.

www.kristinhannah.com

Customer reviews

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2 star		1%
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~Open Range~

Clumsy and sophomoric

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2018

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After having read and enjoyed The Nightingale and seeing this book’s star rating on Amazon, I thought it would be as good or at least comparable to The Nightingale, but unfortunately that is not the case. It almost seems as though The Great Alone was written by a different author. The plot is formulaic and full of holes, the characters flat and kitschy, and many of the details highly unlikely. The book is a clumsy and sophomoric attempt at portraying complicated and compelling subjects matter.

538 people found this helpful

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lady reader

The Great Alone. Not so much.

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2018

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This was a novel of spousal and family abuse. The stroyline was at times laughably implausible. Too often I found myself reading and thinking “oh come on!” Not a happy tale. Not particularly an adventure. If you want to read about Alaska, read James Mitchner. Or Jack London.

305 people found this helpful

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ChickLit Meets Adventure With a Hearty Dose of Melodrama

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2018

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This can best be described as ChickLit meets Adventure with a hearty dose of Melodrama. It is a good story—the kind that keeps you turning pages to find out what happens. And if you enjoy books with riveting plots, this one is for you. But that's about all it has. The characters—and some are quite colorful—are far too one-dimensional. The bad guys are really bad. And the good guys are really good. And there is not much in between.

Written by Kristin Hannah, this is the story of 13-year-old Leni who moves in 1974 (in an old VW bus of all things) to the uncivilized wilds of Alaska with her parents, Cora and Ernt. Cora is a loving mother, who thinks of Leni as her best friend. Ernt is a former Vietnam POW, who has nightmares and rages of anger that he takes out on his wife with his fists. This is the classic story of danger, and even in the middle of winter in godforsaken Alaska the real danger can be inside the cabin—not out.

While most of the plot is predictable, there are a few unexpected twists and turns that save the book from being totally banal. Still, this is hardly great literature.

292 people found this helpful

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KC Mac

Good but Depressing

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

SO depressing. Per the usual, Kristin Hannah has created layered, fleshy characters and an engrossing story, but you really need to be in a good place emotionally to read this one. While many of her books are bittersweet and run the gamut of life’s emotions, this one is pretty bleak cover to cover. If all is stable and calm in your world and you read it from a place of peace and emotional homeostasis, or you need a catalyst for a bawl fest, go for it! It’s certainly an engrossing read and very well written. But if you have a lot on your plate, or more than a bit of emotional stress in your life at the moment, steer clear. Perhaps the fact that it has had such a strong effect on my state of mind is a testament to Ms. Hannah’s storytelling abilities, but I’d unread this, at least for the moment, if I could. I’m so exhausted and bummed out from reading this, I’m having a hard time getting out of my pjs this weekend! Additionally, there are a couple of areas where the plot line is a real stretch, but I think it’s so well-written overall that those things can be overlooked. Still a very good book, but good grief!

1,352 people found this helpful

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L. Pederson

Prepare to go on a journey

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2018

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Rarely in my 50 years of reading have i come across a story that enfolds me into its pages as did "The Great Alone". The character of Leni takes us on a journey where we don't always want to follow. Her story is raw and honest, told through the innocence of a girl coming of age in the tumultuous 60's. Her description of Alaska is like watching a documentary about the state where we are swept from the water up to the glaciers and see a great panoramic of the wild and pristine state. Alaska herself comes alive as a character here, just as detailed and meaningful as any other. I grew to love the inhabitants of Kenaq as if I had lived there myself. The story flows in an often unpredictable way and leaves the reader wanting more. I am so glad I read this book and I can't wait to recommend it to others.

248 people found this helpful

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Kathleen Brant

It seemed to be a list of what the 70's looked like in that it mentions all kinds of things but ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2018

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I couldn't read more than 3 chapters. Shallow, too much tell not show, none of the characters were remotely interesting. It seemed to be a list of what the 70's looked like in that it mentions all kinds of things but there is no depth or showing of them. I was deeply disappointed and sorry I wasted money on this.

154 people found this helpful

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Pamela J Blair

A Disappointment, after The Nightingale

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2018

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Loved it the descriptions of Alaska, but hated the treatment of the "PTSD." This wasn't just Vietnam-vet run-of-the-mill PTSD. This man must have had problems before he ever went to Vietnam. His "PTSD" was an excuse for spousal abuse, jealousy paranoid delusions of a survivalist nature . I was also disappointed in the relationship between the mother and daughter. The mother's mothering was also poor. She failed to protect her daughter from witnessing the spousal abuse (as well as the couple's sexual relations). The mother didn't really love her husband; she was addicted to him. The "two peas in a pod" line used multiple times in the book was a way of holding her daughter close, just at a time when she should have been individuating. However, I have to say, I was in tears at the end of the book. So, VERY flawed psychology in the book, not at all up to the bar that The Nightingale had set for her, but a tearful ending.

157 people found this helpful

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Cheryl Hand

The Great Alone

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

I’ve read many of Kristin Hannah’s books so was anxious for this one. It was not my favorite but it was good. I learned a lot about Alaska however the first half of the book I found repetitive about Alaska. Very descriptive which I like, but maybe 50pages or so too much description. The second half of the book was fantastic. A lot happened in this story -characters were well defined, the plot was twisting, sad and happy and also horrifying at times. There was a happy ending which made it worth the read and thinking back on it, I really did enjoy it. I do recommend -the author is a great writer. CH

86 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Linda Pfeiffer

Another masterpiece from Kristin Hannah

Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

As teens, Cora and Ernt fall in love and like so many kids, have a child themselves. Their daughter's name is Leni. Ernt is called up to join the war in Vietnam. He's captured and returns a broken man. He has become aggressive to Cora and at times abusive. When things are good and he's in control they have a happy life. When he is caught up in his rage, they all suffer So they travel from place to place until Ernt gets fired or needs to run two steps ahead of the law. They end up in Alaska, the Last Frontier and accept a plot of land and a shacky cabin in the woods from an old veteran friend of his who has since died. There they all have to learn to survive not just the harsh Alaska climate, but each other. Cora and Leni make some friends from the small community of neighbors fringing their world. Leni goes to school and meets the only other child in her age group, which is thirteen, Matthew. the son of one of their closest neighbors The Walker family.
As time passes the females seem to be able to handle the brutal weather, stark living accomodations and foraging and growing food. Leni and her mother learn to use weapons to defend themselves from the wild beasts roaming the land. But it seems that Ernt is becoming the wildest and most unpredictable of them all.

From that point on survival is key. Proven friendships are critical and teen age angst turns to love. The book is bittersweet.
I stayed up all night and could not stop reading and crying and then reading some more and sobbing again. The only other book I can remember crying about was the Nightingale. And Kristin Hannah wrote that as well. She's my hero and a tremendous writer. I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

13 people found this helpful

ctkenye

Creaky machinery throughout a relatively readable "hero's journey" novel.

Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2020

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This book is relatively readable, so I gave it 3 stars. It's major faults are that tends to drop into Explaining Alaska pretty often, but regional partisan writers do tend to do that. However, what cost me real trouble reading this were the rather too obvious plot setups. People don't tend to have individual characters so much as they are a collection of 'please note this useful fact/trait because it will be important later' plot propulsion devices. Same with events: You can see a mile away that certain things are only happening in order to maneuver characters into situations that can propel the plot, which did not not lead to the kind of believability that I would require to be able to to embrace this story.

5 people found this helpful

Max

The writing is poor.

Reviewed in Canada on March 28, 2021

Verified Purchase

Abusive PTSD war vet takes his victim-wife (who just can't get enough of him) & daughter, north to the Alaska wilderness and proceeds to embrace conspiracy theories and beat up his wife and turn into a rabid drunk.

The story is written from the young daughter's POV, and she refers to the father character as "Dad", so it reads very awkwardly and you start wanting to scream every time you see the word Dad coming (which is pretty much several times every page.)

Could've been a fascinating tale about carving a new life out of a hostile environment, dealing with the growth of the 3 main characters, and the necessity of community in such a place. Instead, we get immature dramas, a predictable trajectory of abuse & drunkenness, and a silly split-down-the-middle in the community because of "Dad's" pernicious influence on others ... oh God never mind.

So much is annoying and wrong about this very long novel.

Kristen Hannah is a bestselling author but I don't know why. I tried The Nightingale too - exactly the same junk as this book. But maybe it's potato chips to the fans?

3 people found this helpful

Rosemary Baker

Emotional Read

Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

From the fear of moving, yet again, with an unstable father and the mother who loves him, to the great unknown of Alaska without the knowledge and skills needed to survive, to feeling the awe, beauty, cruelty, fear, isolation, exhaustion, majesty and the desperate will to survive, not only the desolate land and all its ways to destroy you, but your own father- who may or may not destroy your mother, you, or both- this novel has touched every emotion a reader can feel. It’s the coming of age story of a girl raised in fear but also love, transplanted to a land where fear is not your enemy but a friend to be respected, learning who she is and learning how to find love and acceptance for those who have hurt her the most, but especially for herself and the choices she didn’t feel she had the choice not to make. I haven’t shed so many tears, reading a book, in a very long time!! I’d love to see this novel turned into a movie, capturing it’s beauty and the beauty that is Alaska.

17 people found this helpful

viewpoint101

Wow, what a book

Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

Just finished this book in less than a week, reading every night for hours because I couldn’t put it down. So incredibly suspenseful. And Hannah’s intimate knowledge of rural Alaska - I have read a number of homesteading books based in Alaska and never read one with such a clear insight into society there. So now my body will have to recuperate from the incredible ride this book has taken me on, but what a ride. Hannah is a rare talent. Highly recommended.

4 people found this helpful

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