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waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The novel takes place in the 1970s, but you need not worry about unfamiliar settings and references because Hannah makes the world around the Allbright family both richly detailed and extremely accessible.
The main character, Leni, is beautifully written. It’s so rare for an author to get a child/teen’s voice right, but Hannah nails it. Leni is thoughtful, intelligent, and sensitive; she’s a whole person. And we see her struggle and grow up in a turbulent family within a small community in a remote part of Alaska.
Though this story features many forms of abuse and domestic violence, Hannah uses a sensitive hand in the writing of it. It is believable and heart-breaking to watch Leni and her mother, Cora, both suffer at the hands of Ernt, their father and husband respectively. I love that the rest of the townsfolk stand up to Ernt and call out his behavior. I’m so used to media that features only hand-wringing bystanders. I love seeing people fighting back on behalf of Leni and Cora.
The (too many) twists of fate in the last third are terribly hard to read, partly because they’re so excruciating and partly because they require a lot of suspended disbelief. I would argue that the events in the last third take the plot outside the realm of what I see as plausible, especially considering the first two-thirds is written like a “slice of life” story.
I believe that making
My rating on the first 66.6% of the book is 4 out of 5, but it just goes off the rails in the final 33.3%. These out-there events that feel forced/crammed in is what ultimately made me decide to rate this novel a 3.5 out of 5.
It’s a weird book, but it’s packed with action and heartache in a captivating, soap opera kind of way. You can’t help but feel for the characters, even if some of the events are quite farfetched. I can’t help but want what is best Leni, and that is my litmus test for what makes for a good book.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
vanesst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
heidishartrandnewell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
kmsander4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It's so easy to be drawn into Leni's world. To feel her fear, her anger, her joy, and her love. You fall in love with character after character and will find yourself dreaming of those long Alaskan summer nights (not so much those dark winter nights though...).
If you told me this story was a biography, I would believe you, in a heartbeat - the mark of an excellent historical novel. I will - without a doubt - be returning to one of Kristin Hannah's worlds soon. She's too good not to be celebrated far and wide!
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Terminal illness
drraytay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Torture, Medical content, Pregnancy, and War
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
atlas_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Fatphobia