The Great Alone
By Kristin Hannah
I enjoyed reading Kristin Hannah’s “The Great Alone”, her new work of historical fiction. Though it was a departure from her successful World War II novel, “The Nightingale”, that is hardly a criticism. I admire her ability to write something so different and avoid the proverbial rut.
Lessons from Alaska
Set in Alaska in the 1970’s, this novel focuses on a family running away from civilization, places they haven’t been successful. Barely a teenager, Leni, the couple’s daughter, finds herself in a new and wondrous place. Frightened by the increasing violence of her Viet Nam-veteran father’s PTSD and her mother’s inability to change things, Leni takes comfort in learning all the lessons Alaska teaches her in self-reliance.
The young woman finds enduring friendships and learns to reach out to them for help sometimes. She grows up and comes to grip with the most difficult problems in her life. In some cases I felt her lessons were too harsh. In others I thought she lucked out a little too much. But that is life.
Alaska Historical Fiction
The Alaska setting brought a freshness and sense of wonder to this work of historical fiction. Until I read Hannah’s own background story, I supposed this novel to be loosely based on several current popular TV series that are set in our 49th state. (Confession: I only know this because I have watched many episodes myself.) But Kristin Hannah has close personal ties to the area around Homer.
Having traveled to Alaska once myself, I feel she describes the surroundings and atmosphere just right. I loved the Homer area and could imagine myself living there. The Great Alone recreates what it was like in the 1970’s, before the Alaska pipeline and cable TV brought so many more people to the state.
