Publisher: MacMillan, 2018
My Source: Land O Lakes library
I haven't written a blog post in quite awhile, but this book inspired me to return to blogging, yes, it is that good! And I'm not too proud to admit that I experienced a wide variety of emotions and even shed a few tears.
Normally I would not be attracted to a book celebrating the great outdoors as I am more of a stay at home and curl up with a book and a blanket kind of gal, but I read this book because I loved the Nightingale also written by Kristin Hannah (and highly recommended by critics and myself.)
Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959. "North to the Future" is the official state motto, adopted in 1967 for the centennial of the Alaska Purchase. It was selected by a committee who sponsored a contest with a monetary prize for the best entry. Juneau journalist Richard Peter won the contest, stating that the motto "...is a reminder that beyond the horizon of urban clutter there is a Great Land beneath our flag that can provide a new tomorrow for this century's 'huddled masses yearning to be free'."
This story embodies that motto. The characters in the novel move to Alaska from the mainland to live off the grid, reinvent themselves, leave behind the hustle and bustle of the cities to the south, and experience true freedom. One character in the story, Large Marge tells newcomers that, "in Alaska, everyone is either running to something or running away from something." The author portrays her characters as brave and self-sufficient people knowledgeable in survival skills either innately or by necessity.
The other main character is the state of Alaska itself. There are numerous wonderfully written paragraphs describing the scenery and wildlife of Alaska. My mind was full with vibrant imagery. The story is also rich with foreshadowing in the form of repeated warnings about the dangers of Alaska and the many ways one can die there.
Alaska can be moody with its beautiful mild summers and harsh freezing winters which demand the respect of the people who call it home. The same can be said of Ernt, Leni's father, whom after being rescued from a POW camp in Vietnam suffers from horrible PTSD. PTSD was not well known or understood in the 1970's so Ernt receives no treatment for his illness. Ernt's moods change as quickly as the unpredictable seasons in Alaska, and like the seasons, his moods threaten the safety of those around him.
Leni attends a one room schoolhouse where she learns about friendship and the history of Alaska. One lesson she learns, and of which I was not aware, is that during WWII, two of the outer Aleutian Islands—Attu and Kiska—were invaded and occupied by Japanese troops. They were the only part of the continental territory of the United States to be occupied by the enemy during the war. Their recovery became a matter of national pride.
The Great Alone is a marvelous book packed with vibrant well-developed characters and exciting story lines. I don't want to give too much away because I want readers to discover the magic of the novel for themselves.
Rating: 5 out of 5 high fives
