The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah’s new novel takes us into the lives of the Allbrights. Ernt, husband, father. and veteran recently returned from Vietnam; Cora, loyal wife and mother; their daughter, 13-year-old Lenora (Leni) are a fragile family.
It is 1974 and Ernt has lost yet another job, and is angry at being tossed aside once more. Fed up with the way America is headed, he decides to move his family to Alaska to live off the grid, on some land left to him by an old army buddy. Both Cora and Leni are unsure about the move, but Cora will go anywhere and do anything for Ernt, and Leni dares to hope the move will make things better for all of them.
They arrive in Alaska ill-prepared for the harsh life they are taking on. Fortunately, the harsh Alaskan wilderness builds strong communities and their new neighbours help the Allbrights to settle in and to hunt, fish and gather the needed resources for the coming winter. Ernt, Cora and Leni make friends and join in the community, but Ernt’s paranoia and unpredictability begin to overshadow Cora and Leni’s lives and he begins to isolate them from the very people who can help them survive in the north.
As the days grow shorter and darkness descends, Ernt’s demons grow stronger and Cora and Leni realize the dangers they face are just as great inside their little cabin as outside in the wilderness. They are alone and will have to protect themselves from everything.
This is a story of love, loss and survival that pulls you into the wilderness with each chapter, one that you won’t want to leave once you start reading.
Helen Varga is a library technician at the Steveston Branch of the Richmond Public Library. She was born in Welwyn Garden City, about 30 miles north of London, England and enjoys reading historical and Canadian fiction and non-fiction.
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