👶👶👶👶 The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah

This newest masterpiece by Kristin Hannah is as raw and intense as the Alaskan Wilderness itself. It is no surprise that Hannah elicits profound emotion in her writing, as this has been her cornerstone. What shocks me every time, is her ability to do so, regardless of the subject matter. She invests so much into her novels, clearly researching and delving into each subject matter, that her work leaves me breathless without fail.

This time around, I was transported to a landscape with an often harsh, deadly climate, which was in direct contrast to its breathtaking beauty. This contrast seemed to me, a direct parallel with Ernt’s personality after his experience in war: in one moment he was a loving, devoted husband and father, in the next, a fierce, brazen, dangerous man.

The author adeptly laid bare, the cognitive dissonance of a woman trapped in domestic violence, the inability to separate hope from reality. The fear ignited in me while reading the scenes of violence were all-encompassing. I felt Cora and Leni’s constant stream of anxiety around this man who was supposed to be their protector… Ms. Hannah allowed me to understand why battered women have such a difficult time leaving their violent partner.

Hannah also led us into this impenetrable bond between mother and daughter and the beauty of such pure love. I am always in awe of how she construes these incredible relationships, and it is so obvious that she loves her characters as much as her readers do.

The one issue I had with this novel in particular was the slow start. It took a while for the novel to pick up steam and for me to become emotionally invested, but once I did, there was no turning back.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read 2/11/18