wonderful novel

I thoroughly enjoyed and was entertained throughout, it had a great story line and narration was excellent 5 stars

3 people found this helpful

Great setting but too much melodrama for me

I am feeling so very torn writing this review. I loved the first ¾ of The Great Alone. No, I mean I really, really LOVED it! There is nothing better than armchair travel into a wild and remote place, and The Great Alone delivered that in spades. Hannah’s description of the harsh and yet beautiful Alaskan landscape created images so vivid that I could have mistaken them for real personal memories. I was living and breathing the story, and it totally sucked me in.

Hannah certainly knows how to wreak havoc with her readers’ emotions, and she proves this once again with her latest book. Telling a story of domestic violence and dysfunctional family dynamics through the eyes of a beautiful and smart thirteen-year-old was always going to upset your average reader, and the descriptions of Ernt Allbright’s violence evoked almost visceral emotions of anger and fear as he terrorised his poor family. I thought that she did a great job in portraying this man affected by PTSD, self-medicating with alcohol to overcome his demons, misunderstood by society in the era the book was set in. I have met men like him, and whilst I could not condone his actions, my heart went out to him for the damage that had been done to him by war. As the Alaskan winter approached, it was not only Leni who could foresee the problems that the dark and confinement would cause the Allbright family – the reader knows it, too. With the construction of the wall, tension built into such a powder-keg of impending doom that I couldn’t put the book down until I knew how this would play out. There was such great potential here for a nail-biting finale that I felt totally devastated and let down when the story took an about turn and turned into a mixture between a hallmark movie and a tea-time soapie.

At this point the story descended into a YA romance / tearjerker that stood in stark contrast to the tense tale of survival and family drama I had so enjoyed earlier. WTH happened? Obviously, I am not the target audience here, as I avoid those melodramatic stories like the plague, being much too old and cynical for such tearjerker moments. I wanted to go back to the moment it all turned to mush, and follow through with the careful groundwork the author had laid for a nail-biting finale full of tension, danger and fight for survival. Instead, there were a few quick fixes, a huge jump in the timeline and lots and lots of melodrama – I could hear the violins playing in the background.

So, how do you rate a book you both loved and hated equally? It’s hard to even consolidate the two very separate parts of the story. I am left feeling slightly cheated, as if standing in front of Ernt’s wall with the door firmly bolted shut to the fitting end of a story I had loved. But hey, I am one in a million and don’t let my old cynical self stop you from reading a book 90% of readers obviously adored. Seldom has a book made such waves on social media, so Hannah has found a formula that works for most of her audience. Sadly, that obviously doesn’t include me. Whilst the Allbrights will stay in my mind for some time to come, as I imagine different outcomes to their story, the one thing I will take away from the book is the visual image of a wild Alaska, and a truly magnificent armchair travel experience.

6 people found this helpful

An Epic story informed by experience

Having only recently returned from Alaska, this novel was truly meaningful. It is such a beautiful if unforgiving country full of characters you don’t associate with The United States, possibly more rural Canadians. This novel also had meaning in other ways. The hidden violence within marriage, the enduring love that seems no longer to exist and the sense of home and family. In most ways a woman’s book - although that in itself is stereotypical. At least this man found it both meaningful and charming. Great writing and impressive narration. It deserves to be a best seller on Audible. My wife I know will love it.

2 people found this helpful

Love love love

Could not stop listening to this audiobook, one of my favourites.
Cannot say anything negative.

1 person found this helpful

Breaks your heart and mends it all at the same time

Loved this beautiful story along with the detailed and vivid description of the Alaskan wilderness in all her glory and brutality. Made we want to pack up and experience even an inkling of it.

Just…. WOW!

What an amazing story of hardship, survival and love. I loved every minute of this book and I’m not sure if I’ll ever find another as good.

Exceptional

Loved this wonderful family story. Filled with drama sadness and love. Would recommend this beautiful book.

A Beautiful Novel

I loved this. The imagery of the environment and how it pertains to human survival is described so eloquently. The story is deeply moving, and makes you think and feel in equal amounts. Lots of tears were shed on my drives home from work listening, especially in the final few chapters.
The reading was fantastic, the best audio book I've listened to; I will actively choose books narrated byJulia Whelan in the future.

A wonderful story that is read so well, loved it !

I loved this story, I stayed engaged from start to finish. Great characters. I was hoping it wouldn’t finish too soon and it didn’t. You won’t be disappointed, I highly recommend this book and I don’t review many books on audible, this was one of those few great reads I’d like to recommend.

Gripping

Loved this book from beginning to end. Brings all the emotions through at just the right times. Highly recommend!!!