Title: The Great Alone
Author: Kristin Hannah
Published: 2018
Call #: FIC Hannah
A beautifully woven and complex tapestry of deeply human experiences and themes - both modern and old as time - this book tugs at the heart and inevitably causes the reader to reflect on their own lives, piecing past experiences together in an attempt to better understand the domino effect of one’s choices. It is a touching story that explores the unshakable bond between mother and daughter, the warmth of friendship, and the eternal burden of love.
The Albright family, barely making ends meet, move from Seattle to Kineq, Alaska upon receiving a parcel of land left to young father, Ernt by a slain war buddy. The year is 1974, and neither Ernt nor his family are prepared for the unforgiving rigors that living in Alaska entails. Ernt Allbright is a familiar but frequently forgotten figure in recent American History. A decorated Vietnam vet, he struggles to make a life with his wife, Cora and 13 year old daughter, Leni while trying to keep the demons of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at bay. Without the small community rallying together to help the family they would not survive the brutal Alaskan winter or the hardships that are to follow. Their new friends help them stock up on supplies and work the land in preparation, providing a sense of much needed warmth amidst the bitter cold. While the family’s fellow homesteaders pitch in however they can, Cora and Leni are unable to escape Ernt’s increasing abuse and domestic violence, darkening their home as the crippling winter darkens their days. Leni clings to her mother and the bond between the two strengthens as Leni watches her father’s fragile mental health deteriorate.
This becomes Leni's story. The reader explores the way she navigates the burdens she grows up with, the bond between her and her mother, the toxic attachment her parents possess toward each other, and her search for identity…all the while struggling to survive both the relentless abuse of her father as well as the harsh, breathtaking beauty of Alaska.
Blanca S.
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