Want a great story to keep you occupied all weekend? You need The Great Alone.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is simply a corker story. It’s a sweeping, wild adventure punctuated by intense human drama and fascinating titbits about surviving in a harsh environment.
When young Leni’s dad drags her and her mother to rural Alaska in the 1970s, he’s trying to outrun the demons of the Vietnam War – but of course the demons just follow the family there.
The Great Alone is a story about survival in every sense. It’s a family drama on a grand scale, that’s basically tailor-made for the big screen. (And sure enough, a movie is on the way!)
My favourite thing about this book was learning how people live in the remote Alaskan wilderness, storing food for the winter, ensuring supplies are kept out of the reach of bears, and the struggle to stay warm in the bitter cold. The novel draws on Hannah’s lived experience in Alaska and the ring of authenticity makes these small details truly fascinating.
I’ve heard great things about Hannah’s novel The Women, and plan to read that soon.
And of course, I’ll be keeping an eye out for The Great Alone film.
Cherie lives, works, and reads in beautiful Tasmania – the green island gem below Australia known for its gorgeous landscape and beautiful wildlife. She holds multiple academic qualifications in English, journalism, and fine art theory, and has worked in writing, editing, and communications roles for more than a decade. Most importantly, she has a deep love for books that began as soon as she learned how to read.
Old, new, any genre – for Cherie, reading is about as vital as breathing. She is interested in sharing books that move, excite, and compel, so others can share the joy of a truly great read. While she reads across most genres, her favourite is literary fiction. Particularly anything by Margaret Atwood, Ottessa Moshfegh, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler.
Cherie frequents Tasmania’s beautiful boutique book shops as well as scouring secondhand shops for books to add to her extensive home library. Catch up with her on LinkedIn and on Instagram.
