Gosh, we have reached the final Reading Roundup post for September already! This last week, I only managed to finish one book. The was relatively short and I read it quite quickly. I have also started a second book, but it is much longer, so I haven’t reached the end yet. It’s not a race, after all!

This week, I tried another book by Kristin Hannah: The Great Alone. This is the (long) blurb:

”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.”

I gave this book three stars on the Goodreads website and wrote the following review:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m beginning to realise, after two books, that Kristin Hannah likes to write about total misery and then leaven it with a more positive ending. To say that I enjoyed this book would be wrong. I did enjoy parts of the book, but was, rightly, horrified by others. The descriptions of Alaska were interesting and well written, but there was far too much repetition. I have read other fiction based in the State which has given me a taste of the scenery and living conditions already.

The characters were either very extreme or sketchy. The issues raised were terrible and heart-breaking but also piled on brutally. I have one more book by Hannah in my library queue but after that ai will definitely take a break!

View all my reviews

---

I am now about half way through this amazing book, so will give you my considered response next week.

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📖📚📖📚📖