I finally read this book because you all told me I HAD to! I am super excited about today’s post because it is a review of a book I loved, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. This book was included in my Fall/Winter Reading Guide and I am so glad I included it because it is perfect for the fall.
Synopsis
Alaska, 1974.
Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown
At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they 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 Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. 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. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.
The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.
Why Did I Decide to Read this Book
This is a super hyped up book, so I had been hesitant to read it. However, The Nightingale by the same author was super hyped too and I loved it so I was very excited to read it. I was saving it for the fall because of the setting. In sumary, I read it because you all told me to!
Rating
5 Stars (An Absolutely Amazing book!)
My Thoughts
You all were right, this book is amazing! It gutted me and I was so attached to these characters. I am definitely going to miss them. This is a great book to read in the fall, but please read the content warnings because this is a heavy book.
What I loved the most about this book was the characters. This book is what I call a character driven book with a plot. It is an engrosing story with some amazing characters. I loved Leni but also loved some of the side characters like Large Marge. You have characters to root for and then characters to despise like Ernt. It is a book that gives you all the emotions.
Another thing I loved about the book was the setting and descriptions of the various places they were at, I trully felt like I was there. Kristin Hannah has a gift of doing that! I felt the same way about The Nightingale.
I alternated between the audiobok and the physical book becuase this book is over 500 pages so that helped me get through it. The narrator is Julia Whelan which is my favorite audiobook narrator. I definitely recommend the audio format for this book.
Content Warnings
Death, physical and emotional abuse, cancer, military PTSD
Who I Recommend this Book to
For fans of historical fiction. If you loved The Nightingale and other Kristin Hannah books you’ll love this one!
Get the Book!
Did this review of Don’t Look for Me convince you to read it? You can get the book from Bookshop.org here. Please consider ordering it from a Black owned independent bookstore. This list of Black owned independent bookstores accepts online ordering.
