Books and Jams Readalong discussion

We made it! What are your final thoughts about this one? Did the characters have redemption or transformation? What were some of the themes that stood out to you? If this was your first Kristin Hannah do you think you would read more from her? What will you rate this one?

Thanks for reading with me

I really enjoyed this and gave it 4 stars. It missed a 5th star because Hannah kept going on after multiple perfect endings. I get it, it's hard to let go of great characters. But I was bored with the last 20 pages or so. When MJ got excited about skipping his first rock, the story was done for me. But no... she just kept tying up other bits and it kind of ruined things for me.

Overall, the story was engaging, and I could't wait to see if/how things resolved. While I don't think I would survive living in Alaska, I'd love to visit and see the beauty Hannah describes firsthand. And the characters were... well some were characters indeed! Does everyone have a Large Marge in their lives? If not, find one! I've been fortunate to have had 2 in mine, and I miss both of them every single day.

Great choice on this one, Krista!

I agree about the multiple endings. I was perfectly happy knowing that Matthew was slightly recovered and met his son, we didn't really need to go any further than that. And I thought the whole police station and court room scene could've been done completely without. I did love this story, though. I ended up reading 270 pages of it today because I couldn't put it down! So, solid 4 stars from me. And definitely ready to check out The Nightingale (not necessarily soon, but maybe April or May).

I want to see if I could survive in Alaska. I don't know that I'd want to go alone, though, and I don't think I could ever convince my family to go up there. It's a growing dream, though.

I was thinking that I really need a Large Marge in my life. Or an Esther from The Snow Child.

I liked the book enough to give it four stars but I liked Kristin Hannah's Night Road much more. I will definitely try Nightingale because everyone raves about that book.
I loved the characters and their descriptions of feelings. Aside from Leni and her mom, all the side characters felt so fleshed out. I despised Leni's Dad with a passion, I was expecting him to be eaten by bears :))
I agree with Summer, Large Marge was a character that everybody needs in their life. Loving, clever and efficient.
The descriptions of the atmosphere, Alaska and the cold was also really good because I felt like I was there. I have to say I did not like the feeling at all because I am from a warm climate big city and I love both warm and big cities :) As I have said before, I probably would not survive in Alaska even for a couple days.
The reason I gave it four stars was because of the plot, I was becoming a bit tired of reading about the abuse, Mom's blind love, wilderness and cold in the middle sections.
I am glad Matthew is much better but I agree with you all, the last couple chapters were unnecessarily long. Maybe, the author finally wanted to write something cheerful at last ;)

I'm going to give this 4 stars. I did like it. I agree that the ending was a bit drawn out. The coerced confession by the police chief was just not needed, although on the other hand I guess it gave Leni a chance to be honest and free herself. It was very predictable how that played out. The abuse was maddening, but abuse is. It seems Leni did find a way to love Matthew is a healthier way than what she was modeled her whole life. I liked the characters in this book (except for Ernt), especially large Marge. Yes, we all need a large Marge in our lives. :) Overall, it was a good read, kept my attention and I will recommend it. I have downloaded the Nightingale and just started it. This was fun and I am thinking about joining Middle Grade March. I have the book Sweep checked out.

I read this book last fall and I only gave it four stars.

I think I will give this book 4 stars, I’d give it 4.5 is Goodreads would let me. I didn’t want to put the book down I needed to know that Matthew made it even though I thought it was the case (just how recovered was the question in my mind). I seriously though Hannah was going to have Leni be locked up after all that so I’m glad that it really didn’t happen and was unnecessary.

This was my first Hannah book and I just had this (incorrect) feeling she wasn’t going to let it end happy - I’m so glad she did! When Leni returned to the cabin I thought one of her dad’s inground bombs was going to go off. Thankfully that was not the case!

Overall I love stories about survival so really enjoyed this one and will get to The Nightingale down the road.

I think the story itself won the novel Historical Fiction Goodreads book of 2018 but I didn’t feel that the historical details played too much into the story. Many Goodreads awards seem to be based on popularity IMHO. I felt like the book was told in an almost more current voice than its actual setting.

Candace wrote: "I think I will give this book 4 stars, I’d give it 4.5 is Goodreads would let me. I didn’t want to put the book down I needed to know that Matthew made it even though I thought it was the case (jus..."

I totally thought one of the bombs was going to go off at the end, too!

This is the the fourth or fifith Kristin Hannah book I have read and have loved them all. I give it 4 stars also but would give 4.5 if I could. I am glad it ended the way it did. I am a happy ending book reader and hate when a story ends on a sad note even though laugh is not always happy endings. Abuse is a tough and real issue in our world and so is the issues with PTSD among our returning solidiers. It is sad and I am glad that we have more help for our soldiers today than we did back then.

I loved the descriptions of Alaska and would love to go and visit. I think I could actually enjoy a winter in Alaska. To be in a cabin in the wilderness with my books and coffee/wine I would, I feel do just fine. I don't know that my family would survive the isolation although. I live in upstate New York and our winters are pretty cold and we do tend to get a bunch of snow, but nothing like what was described in the book, But Alaska is definitely on my bucket
list.

Thanks again Krista for picking such a great read and glad to have been able to join in with the group. I have been out of the reading loop for awhile and enjoyed reading the group discussions of all of you wonderful ladies.

I finally finished this yesterday!

This last section had a lot! I was so happy that Cora and her parents were able to have some reconciliation. They were given a second chance to love and accept with Leni and MJ.

What did you guys think of Cora and Leni's relationship? As much as I was frustrated with Cora and her codependent nature both with her husband and her daughter, I also loved her and Leni's relationship. Their bond was certainly strong even if it was in large part forged by fear.

I hear what y'all are saying about the ending, but I was just so caught up in the story that I wanted it to just keep going. I particularly loved that they had an Alaskan memorial for Cora. That got some tears from me. I loved the resolution between Matthew and Leni. Loved that Alaska was almost it's own character. It was brutal and beautiful and had a way of seeping into the characters, and the reader I think too. I have always wanted to visit, but now even more so.

Krista wrote: "I finally finished this yesterday!

This last section had a lot! I was so happy that Cora and her parents were able to have some reconciliation. They were given a second chance to love and accept w..."

Krista I so agree with you, I just wanted the story to keep going. So glad she went back to Alaska. Loved the descriptions of Alaska and the story made me want to got there the more I read. I am not usually your go into the wilds girl but would so love to get there some day.

I just finished this and I really enjoyed it. I'm with the majority here and rating it 4 stars because it really was just a bit too long and the courtroom/confession thing was just silly, unless Hannah was going to end the book with Leni going to jail. That entire part was a giant eyeroll for me. BUT, there were so many amazing parts in this last chunk.

I loved when Cora admitted that she was a crappy mom (that may have been in the second part but either way...). I keep thinking about the idea of how women stay with abusive men and I know that is a real thing. But I think about how some of them should love their kids so much that they get help. And in this book, obvi Cora didn't until she had to basically choose between Ernt and Leni. And then to admit she should have done better by Leni EVEN if she loved Ernt. I thought that was major character growth and so believable.

When Cora is dying and she and Leni are having their last conversation I was really really sad. One of my best friend's mom just died and this scene was so real to me. What would you say if it was the last conversation?! Just so touching.

I didn't like the many possible ending parts either. I did like how it ended, mostly, with Cora's beach side funeral. It felt right. I'm glad that Matthew was able to be a father to MJ and that Leni got somewhat of a happy ending.

I loved Alaska as a setting. Untamed wilderness is such a beast and to see that there were real people who homesteaded that is incredible.

Also, I really enjoyed Cora's explanation of love. It feels so real and I think it's something I will remember for a long time to come.

I forgot to add that as much as Ernt is someone to truly despise I feel like Hannah could have given him an edge of humanity if she went into his POW/war experiences. I know this story was more about Leni and Cora than him but it may have given that character a bit more depth than just an abusive/angry/jealous man.

Oh, and last thing, I TOTALLY cried when Leni has decided to go to college to get away from her dad and all of the townsfolk are chipping in to make it work. Tom was going to pay the tuition, Thelma was going to give her spending money, Large Marge was going to pay for her books (I think). This is what community is all about and I wish it was more of a reality in this day and age.

I'll continue to read Kristin Hannah for sure.

Leslie wrote: "I just finished this and I really enjoyed it. I'm with the majority here and rating it 4 stars because it really was just a bit too long and the courtroom/confession thing was just silly, unless Ha..."

I loved the community in the book also. I agree Leslie we need more of that in our world today.

Leslie wrote: "Oh, and last thing, I TOTALLY cried when Leni has decided to go to college to get away from her dad and all of the townsfolk are chipping in to make it work. Tom was going to pay the tuition, Thelma was going to give her spending money, Large Marge was going to pay for her books (I think). This is what community is all about and I wish it was more of a reality in this day and age. "

Me too! It was the community coming together that made me cry. My favorite part...