In 1974, the Allbright family picks up and moves to Alaska.
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, has been deeply troubled since returning from Vietnam. He's prone to drinking, bouts of anger, and he can't hold down a job. After being fired yet again, he learns he's inherited a piece of land in the Alaskan wilderness. And he just knows that living in the wild will make him feel better. He packs up his wife, Cora, and his thirteen year old daughter, Leni, and they set off for the Great Alone.
At first, the long days and hard work seem to be comforting Ernt. But as the nights grow longer and the weather turns, Ernt's mood starts to sour...
Though it's obvious to us that Ernt suffers from PTSD, the 70's based story reminds us that traumatized vets were often left to fight their demons on their own. Hannah vividly portrays his paranoia, his anger, and the effect his moods have on the other characters. Though our narrator, Leni, doesn't immediately recognize that her parents' relationship is abusive, she routinely notes her mother's new bruises. It doesn't come as a surprise to the reader when the abuse happens in plain sight, but those scenes are difficult to read.
Kristin Hannah's novel, released in 2018, is an engaging story. It is ultimately a coming of age tale, as Leni grows to see her family for who they truly are and finds the strength to survive in the harsh environment.
The descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness are breathtaking, and the community that welcomes the Allbrights feels vibrant and amicable, if a little odd. With that same talent for description, when Cora and Leni walk on eggshells around Ernt, the tension is equally palpable.
Though for me, this book was difficult to start, the story progresses rapidly once the family reaches Alaska. The end feels a little abrupt, but manages to tie up the story nicely.
If this sounds like your kind of novel, pick up a copy of The Great Alone here.