The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Print, Hardcopy
Pages: 435
Start Date: March 19th, 2023
End Date: March 26th, 2023

My Ratings
Overall: ★★★★★
Character Development: ★★★★★
Ending: ★★★★★
Tear Jerk-ability: 💧💧💧
Pace: Medium to Slower
Recommend: Absolutely, Yes
Triggers: Mental Health Topics, Domestic Abuse

Summary In My Words
This is the story of Leni, a 13 year old girl living the the mid-seventies in small rural Alaska. This isn't your typical coming of age for a young lady, this is an extraordinarily unique experience living off grid. Leni learns survival skills need to live both inside of her home with her parents & outside of her home to live in the rugged & sometimes unkind environment around her. 

My Thoughts - 🚨 Contains Spoilers, Continue at Your Own Risk 🚨
Honestly, at this point I haven't read a book written by Kristin Hannah that I haven't liked. I Immediately I liked Leni, I liked the relationship that she had with her mother. It was innocent, it was sweet, & it was genuine. As the story progresses you learn more about her mother Cora, how they essentially grew up together as she was a young mother. I was saddened when more was revealed about her father, Ernt (which looked to me more like a sound than an actual name, but that is neither here nor there - sorry if you're name is Ernt). I had this hope, much like Cora & Leni did, that Alaska would heal him. Sadly, it revealed his monsterous darker side instead. 

The small town & the people in it were all so supportive of the Allbright family, it was where I really thought Ernt had it right. The world can be so crazy, but to find a little corner of the world where the people are kind & the landscape is breathtaking - it had the potential to be healing for him. Watching the relationships grow & blossom for both Cora & Leni despite how Ernt behaved was nice to see. Gave them both the security & support they desperately needed, even if they hadn't known it in the moment. Reading about Matthew & Leni's blossoming love was so wholesome & sweet. They needed each other. 
I was impressed by Cora - she may have not ever stood up for herself, but I loved that she took a stand for her daughter. A parent's love knows no boundaries. She clearly learned some from her parents, while they made a mistake turning her away or maybe not being as supportive as she needed in the past. They made up for it later when she & Leni really needed them.

I'm Curious

1. We're you suspicious of Ernt right away or did it surprise you to see how violent he was? 
2. Why do you think he specifically abused Cora? And what do you think was his reasoning when he did finally attack Leni?
3. Cora stuck by Ernt, no matter the circumstances. Do you think love is just that blinding?
4. Cora's parents seemed to be patient & kind. Do you think you'd stand by your daughter even after years of not loving her choices like they did?
5. Do you think Leni made the right choice turning herself in? Do you think that her being the honest & kind person that she was saved her in the end?

Next Book: A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham