Books and Jams Readalong discussion

There are 31 chapters so I'll just divide them up in groups of 10. What are your first impressions so far? Were you captivated right away by this story? What do you think of each of the characters?

Just starting chapter seven and I am already completely invested in the story. I must say though that I am reading with a slight sense of dread because you can just tell that terrible things are going to start happening. It's much better than my experience reading Mystic Lake (also by Kristin Hannah) which I DNF'd. The writing in The Great Alone is much better. I am loving the descriptions about living off the land and I love the Leni.

I just finished Chapter 10. I am invested in the story but as a person who lives in a warm climate and in a big city, I am terrified by this kind of living style. I feel like I would not survive even two days in Alaska :)
Leni is a lovely character, and aside from the physical conditions, I feel so sad she has to endure her father's PTSD and her mother's blind love which is self-destructive.
Matthew was another character that I loved and I was devastated to read about what happened to him and his mother.
The writing style is really good and easy to follow as well.

The book drew me in fairly quickly. As I mentioned in the "who's here", I am listening to the book. The narration can make or break an audio book and this one is good. I'm already so sad for Leni, but also amazed at how she really is handling herself, her situation, her father's frightful PTSD, and her mother's behaviors that subject not only herself, but her daughter to abuse. I have never been to Alaska and hear all about the beauty from those who have been. This so far paints a far different picture other than beauty.

I'm on chapter 13 and am loving the book so far. The lousy parenting makes me feel bad for Leni but I love her portrayal as a strong female teen struggling with very real world issues. I am excited to see where the story goes now that her Dad is back and she is older and more established.

I finished the 1974 part today (ch. 1-11)! It took me a few chapters to get around the narrating style (for some reason it just didn’t jive with me), but I’m very much interested now.

Reading about Cora and Ernt (is this an actual name?) and their unhealthy love for each other really remind me of Bonnie & Clyde. I was in the B & C musical a couple years back, and there are just a lot of similarities. There’s even a song in the show with this line: “My mistake was loving you, even if I walked away, my heart won’t let me get far.” I can hear Cora saying these exact words.

It’s funny how even with this brutal telling of Alaska life, I still hardcore want to live there for a time.

Poor Leni has to act much older than her age with her dad’s pstd and living in Alaska. Yes something is going to happen bad and already so much bad is occurring. When this escalates I’m not sure my heart can take it. Was so happy when Leni met Matthew and they could be themselves and speak about books. It frustrates me that so many misunderstandings and actions could be mitigated by just communicating!

Although I never could live in the darkness as Alaskans do I love reading about it.

I have finally picked up this book! I just finished chapter 9, so not quite at this break point, but wanted to just write a few thoughts. I am really loving hearing this story told from Leni's perspective. I love that she loves taking pictures and reading books. My kind of girl! She's a hard worker and loves her parents, but is just so lonely. I was so thrilled for her to have a friend in Matthew. It makes me sad that she can see how her parent's behavior is so unhealthy. She lives in fear of her dad and still has only seen a glimpse of what I fear is coming.

Kristin Hannah really builds up the anticipation for Winter. As soon as this family arrived in Alaska they were being warned left and right about winter, preparing for winter, stocking up for winter. It was all . anyone seemed to talk about. You just know things are going to be bad. I love her writing, as always. I just think she tells a good story!

In ch 9 we get into the start of winter and already things have taken a turn for the worse. Poor Matthew just lost his mom, the first death of the season. I feel like maybe there are more to come. Ernt (I also think this is a strange name) is going down a deep, dark hole, which we all knew was coming. I want to punch Mad Earl and tell him to shut it! haha. He's definitely not helping at all.

I really look forward to continuing on, even though I know it's going to make me sad and angry.

Oh, and I love the picture of Alaska we get. It's in turn very beautiful, but also so dark and devastating. Almost mirroring this relationship between Cora and Ernt. Some have decided the darkness of winter is worth enduring for the beauty of the beauty of the other super short seasons. I couldn't do it. Definitely would love to visit, but couldn't live there.

Oh so relieved I'm not the only one that's a lil' late to the party lol. Happy that I received this in time to participate & today is the day. I'm not far at all but am hooked already :)

The Vietnam has destroyed so many. It is sad to see what PTSD can do to people along with alcohol. I feel so horrible for Leni and having to be the adult of the family at 13. I know her and and her mom have been there for each other, but it is so sad to see her have to witness her father abusing her mother and watching her mother forgive him time and time again.
I love large Marge, I am so glad she is there for them and that she put her foot down and made him go away until spring. It is horrible what brought her Alaska. To know that your sister was being abused and she wouldn't let you help her had to be so difficult to deal with and for the husband to be free even after he killed her is atrocious.

Oooo. I'm super late to starting this book but am really into it. I will admit that I feel my subconscious is just not letting me get close to ANY of the characters because of that overwhelming feeling of dread. This is SOOOOO reminiscent of Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer. (I only saw the movie but I imagine it's very similar to the book. And if you aren't familiar with it, it is the true story of a guy who ends up going to live basically on his own in Alaska and all the mistakes that happen to lead to his eventual death. ) I just can't get over the notion that people are going to die in horrible ways and with the tumultuous relationship of Cora and Ernt it is just so ominous. I do like Kristin Hannah's writing.

I'm super into the living off the grid aspect of this book. Sometimes my friend's think I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist (nothing like Mad Earl, okay.. haha) but I could totally get on board with finding a community that really wants to help each other out and have a common interest in helping each other survive. I wouldn't mind going without the internet, my cell phone, the constant pressure to be a certain thing or live a certain way. However, it's not realistic at all for my life so I will just enjoy it in the books I read.

Ideally, I'd like to see Alaska from a cruise ship. :)

Leslie wrote: "Oooo. I'm super late to starting this book but am really into it. I will admit that I feel my subconscious is just not letting me get close to ANY of the characters because of that overwhelming fee..."

I'll join you on that Alaskan cruise. That's how I want to see the country too.

I also loved how the sense of dread was present in the book even early when things seemed to be going well. The family seemed to be excited about their move. Neighbors came to help out. But still I had this eerie feeling that things were going to turn south pretty quickly.