My Review
Stepping into the literary world of Kristin Hannah is always an emotional journey, and her novel The Great Alone is no exception. I fell in love with Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, so this book brought a certain sense of apprehension – can it live up to that masterpiece?
Hannah chose to venture down a new path with The Great Alone. This novel, a family drama set in the rough Alaskan wilderness, stands starkly apart from the World War II narrative of The Nightingale. But the departure is worth it. It tugs at your heartstrings with a mix of young adult romance and gut-wrenching family struggles that’ll have you reaching for tissues.
The Alaskan wilderness is the backdrop is both breathtaking beauty and formidable challenges. Hannah’s descriptions of Alaska are vivid, painting a picture of an untamed wilderness unspoiled by the trappings of modern tourism. This mirrors the complexity of Leni’s life, marked by moments of breathtaking joy and harsh reality.
Leni is a mix of innocence and wisdom, tested far beyond her young years. She is forced to navigate her father’s increasing instability and the codependent relationship between her parents. Her mother, Cora, remains loyal to Ernt despite his escalating violence. And it’s through this tangled web of love and fear that Leni’s character is honed – strong, resilient, and wise beyond her years.
Romantic love is a central theme in the book as well. There’s the burning, tumultuous love between Leni’s parents and the innocent love that blossoms between Leni and Matthew, the son of a wealthy local family. These relationships, fraught with complications and crises, provide an emotional depth that’s heartrending and relatable.
In her intricate portrayal of the Allbright family, Hannah demonstrates the dichotomy of love – its power to heal and its ability to harm. Each character is authentic and flawed, from Ernt’s scarred psyche to Cora’s desperate optimism and Leni’s tenacious spirit. This complicated web of relationships shows us the different forms that love can take, each fraught with unique struggles and joys.
The characters are neither purely good nor evil. They are individuals, shaped by their experiences and circumstances, striving for happiness and peace in a world that often seems set against them. Ernt, though undoubtedly the antagonist of the story, is portrayed as a man broken by war, his love capacity crushed, and his mind plagued by paranoia and nightmares. His portrayal, though disturbing, also serves as a poignant commentary on the long-term effects of trauma.
The secondary characters are also thoughtfully developed. Large Marge, who runs the local grocery, becomes a beacon of hope and help for the Allbright women. Matthew, the son of a wealthy local man, becomes an essential part of Leni’s life, offering her friendship and love in a desolate and harsh environment.
The Great Alone delves into the complexities of love, the harsh realities of life, and the resilience of the human spirit. It tells a tale of second chances, heartbreaking endings, and the power of redemption. Like the Alaskan wilderness, life in this story is beautiful, harsh, unpredictable, and, at times, cruel. But through it all, the characters find strength in each other and within themselves.
If you found this review helpful, you can check out the book at Bookshop.org here and support local bookstores along the way!
