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A review by comfortfromwithin
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
4.0
4.25 stars, (8.5/10). This book was an amazing journey, with a not so fabulous conclusion. Don’t get me wrong, I love the pacing and character work of this novel. It was fabulously done, and I was loving the ride until the last 100 pages or so. But positives first:
- Amazing character study, especially surrounding PTSD and abuse. Most of the side characters felt like very real people.
- While the greater journey throughout most of the novel was survival, there were many subplots that helped breathe life into the novel. It truly felt like a young girl exploring a new world, and I absolutely loved it.
- Alaska. I felt as though I was visiting, and as someone who has never been there, I consider a great accomplishment on Hannah’s part.
Negatives:
- The last 100 or so pages felt very rushed.
- A certain scene at a station that felt very forced, and had no ramifications. While I loved Hannah’s commentary about patriarchy throughout the novel, this scene felt entirely too forced and started a cascade of whirlwind events that left no time for the reader to care.
- Overall, while I enjoyed the overall ending, it felt like Hannah was just rushing to get there.
The Nightingale remains my favorite Kristen Hannah novel, but only because of this stories conclusion. Still a great read, and I highly recommend it.
- Amazing character study, especially surrounding PTSD and abuse. Most of the side characters felt like very real people.
- While the greater journey throughout most of the novel was survival, there were many subplots that helped breathe life into the novel. It truly felt like a young girl exploring a new world, and I absolutely loved it.
- Alaska. I felt as though I was visiting, and as someone who has never been there, I consider a great accomplishment on Hannah’s part.
Negatives:
- The last 100 or so pages felt very rushed.
- A certain scene at a station that felt very forced, and had no ramifications. While I loved Hannah’s commentary about patriarchy throughout the novel, this scene felt entirely too forced and started a cascade of whirlwind events that left no time for the reader to care.
- Overall, while I enjoyed the overall ending, it felt like Hannah was just rushing to get there.
The Nightingale remains my favorite Kristen Hannah novel, but only because of this stories conclusion. Still a great read, and I highly recommend it.