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Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Great Alone in Books
Dec 6, 2018
Totally memorable
THE GREAT ALONE was the book I didn't know I wanted to read until I read a few pages and proceeded to devour it over two days. This book had a powerful, captivating story to tell as well as educating me on the struggles and beauty of Alaskan life and community.
Narrated over a few decades, THE GREAT ALONE focuses in the main on the growth from teenager to adulthood of Lenora (Leni) Allbright. She’s a teen whose dad is a broken man post-Vietnam POW experiences, he’s ill and abusive and her mother can’t stop loving him. They move to Alaska without any experience of that kind of environment. Their struggle to survive was absolutely gripping and tangible. The descriptions gave the environment and abuse high-definition quality with sight, sound and smells.
The themes of this book were difficult to read at times, I needed breathers and the occasional tissue. I would say that the love story between Leni and Matthew was subtle and yet powerful. I willed them together despite the risks, I wanted some joy in Leni’s life. I felt Leni’s emotions with regards to her parents so convincingly. The local community in their Alaskan village made for a developed character context, I loved so many of the side characters.
The book overall is so well written, considering the difficulty of conveying the setting and themes. I felt so many emotions reading this book and I am eager to try more by Kristin Hannah. The final wrap up of the storyline was a little fast but I was satisfied in the end result.
A copy of this book was provided by Jellybooks in return for my reading data, this by no means influenced my review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
Narrated over a few decades, THE GREAT ALONE focuses in the main on the growth from teenager to adulthood of Lenora (Leni) Allbright. She’s a teen whose dad is a broken man post-Vietnam POW experiences, he’s ill and abusive and her mother can’t stop loving him. They move to Alaska without any experience of that kind of environment. Their struggle to survive was absolutely gripping and tangible. The descriptions gave the environment and abuse high-definition quality with sight, sound and smells.
The themes of this book were difficult to read at times, I needed breathers and the occasional tissue. I would say that the love story between Leni and Matthew was subtle and yet powerful. I willed them together despite the risks, I wanted some joy in Leni’s life. I felt Leni’s emotions with regards to her parents so convincingly. The local community in their Alaskan village made for a developed character context, I loved so many of the side characters.
The book overall is so well written, considering the difficulty of conveying the setting and themes. I felt so many emotions reading this book and I am eager to try more by Kristin Hannah. The final wrap up of the storyline was a little fast but I was satisfied in the end result.
A copy of this book was provided by Jellybooks in return for my reading data, this by no means influenced my review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
Don't be a Nordic: Why Embracing the Scandi Lifestyle Won't Change Your Life
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Set aside those think-pieces on how 24-hour access to Lego creates the happiest nation on earth and...
Funimate make cool music video
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Ranked #1 on the App Store in more than 100 countries!!! Awesome video editor with great effects...
BBC Wildlife Magazine
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BBC Wildlife Magazine offers a window to the natural world, showcasing the wonder and beauty of...
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Take your essential oil usage knowledge to the next level by committing to daily essential oil...
Journey to Territory U (Extinction of All Children #3)
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Emma Whisperer’s journey continues in the third and final book in the Extinction series. Emma...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2466 KP) rated Murder at the Majestic Hotel in Books
Jul 14, 2023 (Updated Jul 14, 2023)
Honeymoon Interrupted but a Not So Sweet Death
This book picks up a couple of days after the third book ended. The newly married Stella and Lyndy have just arrived in York for their honeymoon, but they discover that, despite their reservation for the honeymoon suite, it has been taken by someone else for the night. The interloper is Horace Wingrove, owner of England’s most popular chocolate company. The next morning, Wingrove is dead, and Stella and Lyndy can’t help but worry that this might have been their fate had their reservation been honored. But Stella sees a few things that don’t quite make sense to her. Will she figure out what is really going on?
If you haven’t read this series yet, be aware that this book spoils some of the previous book in the series. It only makes sense considering what happened and how close in time this book is to the previous one. The plot seemed to wander a bit before it came into focus, but once it did, I was hooked, and things made sense at the end. While I enjoyed seeing Stella and Lyndy’s relationship continue to grow, I did miss some of the other regulars and the complications they bring. But the characters we did get to meet are good. The multiple viewpoint narration is great at bringing us the story as always. I also enjoyed the little bit of real history that is twisted into the plot. Fans of historical mysteries will be glad they picked up this series.
If you haven’t read this series yet, be aware that this book spoils some of the previous book in the series. It only makes sense considering what happened and how close in time this book is to the previous one. The plot seemed to wander a bit before it came into focus, but once it did, I was hooked, and things made sense at the end. While I enjoyed seeing Stella and Lyndy’s relationship continue to grow, I did miss some of the other regulars and the complications they bring. But the characters we did get to meet are good. The multiple viewpoint narration is great at bringing us the story as always. I also enjoyed the little bit of real history that is twisted into the plot. Fans of historical mysteries will be glad they picked up this series.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Goodbye, Vitamin in Books
Jan 21, 2018
Funny (2 more)
Sweet moments
Well-written
Lovely, touching read
After a rough breakup with her fiance, Ruth reluctantly accepts her mother's request to return home and help care for her father, Howard, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Once home, Ruth realizes that Howard--an extremely well-respected professor of history--has his good days and bad days, while her mother has stopped cooking (blaming the aluminum in cookware for Howard's illness). Floundering at first, Ruth eventually steps up, cooking for her family, helping her father, and generally trying to regain her footing. But even she cannot ignore that her father's condition is worsening.
This is an interesting novel, told in short bits and pieces, as if Ruth is talking to her father and describing their days. It covers one year after she comes to stay and comes across almost as if a diary, with a very conversational tone (interspersed with her random thoughts). It's oddly compelling and often humorous, despite the serious subject matter. Occasionally, we get a few snippets from a journal Ruth's father kept during her childhood, chronicling funny things she did or said as a child.
As for Ruth, there's a lightness to many of her stories and observations, but also a sadness: she's watching her beloved, intelligent father fall prey to Alzheimer's; there is a darkness as well, as she grapples with finding out imperfections about her parents' marriage and life. The character list is limited, but all we need, including Ruth's younger brother, Linus; Howard's former teaching assistant, Theo; and a few of Ruth's friends. Ruth comes across as a very real person: she doesn't have it all together, but that's okay. A few pieces of the overall story path are predictable, but do not detract from your overall enjoyment of the book.
The few portions we get from Howard's journal regarding young Ruth are amazing: they humanize him and definitely capture parenthood perfectly. They also so well illustrate how Ruth and Howard are slowly switching roles from child to parent, as Ruth almost begins to have similar observations about her own failing father. The way Khong depicts the sadness and poignancy in these moments is just beautiful and brilliant.
In the end, this is a different kind of book: you have to have the patience for it. It doesn't necessarily tell a story in a full arc, but it's sweet and moving. I very much liked Ruth and the novel (even I did wonder how both Ruth and eventually Linus could afford to stay with their parents, while jobless, but oh well.). Lovely and touching - certainly worth picking up.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review
This is an interesting novel, told in short bits and pieces, as if Ruth is talking to her father and describing their days. It covers one year after she comes to stay and comes across almost as if a diary, with a very conversational tone (interspersed with her random thoughts). It's oddly compelling and often humorous, despite the serious subject matter. Occasionally, we get a few snippets from a journal Ruth's father kept during her childhood, chronicling funny things she did or said as a child.
As for Ruth, there's a lightness to many of her stories and observations, but also a sadness: she's watching her beloved, intelligent father fall prey to Alzheimer's; there is a darkness as well, as she grapples with finding out imperfections about her parents' marriage and life. The character list is limited, but all we need, including Ruth's younger brother, Linus; Howard's former teaching assistant, Theo; and a few of Ruth's friends. Ruth comes across as a very real person: she doesn't have it all together, but that's okay. A few pieces of the overall story path are predictable, but do not detract from your overall enjoyment of the book.
The few portions we get from Howard's journal regarding young Ruth are amazing: they humanize him and definitely capture parenthood perfectly. They also so well illustrate how Ruth and Howard are slowly switching roles from child to parent, as Ruth almost begins to have similar observations about her own failing father. The way Khong depicts the sadness and poignancy in these moments is just beautiful and brilliant.
In the end, this is a different kind of book: you have to have the patience for it. It doesn't necessarily tell a story in a full arc, but it's sweet and moving. I very much liked Ruth and the novel (even I did wonder how both Ruth and eventually Linus could afford to stay with their parents, while jobless, but oh well.). Lovely and touching - certainly worth picking up.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review
Split Lens 2+Clone Photo Video
Photo & Video and Entertainment
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From the markers of Split Lens and Magic eye color effect:Split Lens 2 has finally arrived to take...