Books and Jams Readalong discussion

We are 2/3 through. How have you found the pacing? Have the characters changed at all? How do you think the Alaskan setting is influencing things? Have any of your initial impressions changed?

WOW!
Yep. That's all I've got...

Man, I'm probably going to end up finishing this tonight. This is so intense right now. I need to at least finish 1978, I think.

I was so frustrated with Leni's Mom and Dad during this section. I do not think Dad became like this because of PTSD. Maybe, it triggered something inside him but I feel like he was possessive and emotionally abuse during the early parts of their marriage. Her Mom thought that was love because of her inexperience.
Matthew and Leni's love seems sweet and Matthew is a sweet and caring person but because of what she experienced in her family, Leni's love/obssession over Matthew seems unhealthy as well. They need to be in a place where their lives are not threatened by people/nature to evaulate their feelings for each other.
I am glad Leni and her Mom escaped her Dad and I cannot wait to read what happens next.
I still think Alaska is not the place for me ;)
I feel like it will be a four star read for me.

I think the pacing is suspenseful and at the time feels like forever when Leni can go to college. These feelings are most likely what Cora and Leni feel too. I really wish Cora would get fed up with Ernt, at least try to leave, runaway, anything! In such a small town I agree running away to someone there would be a recipe for disaster but Jeesh!
Yes hard to put down... there’s no way Ernt is going to let this go...

I have read past this point because it's so intense! I was so frustrated with Cora for most of this book. I have no personal experience to know what loving someone who is like this would be like, but it's just so unhealthy and I can't see myself ever putting up with it. She has lied to herself for so long. I just have a bad feeling of where things are headed for this family.

I love how I get tense every time Ernt is in the picture - just as it describes Cora and Leni having to be so careful with their words and try so hard not to upset him. I can feel that tension while reading, which adds so much to the reading experience!

I feel for Cora and Leni. As Berna said maybe Cora's inexperence and being married to Ernt at such a young age makes her unable to realize what true love is. I do think that in an abusive realtionship women struggle to leave because they feel that they are unworthy of real love. I have never exepernced an abusive reationship nor know anyone who was in one but I am sure it is so hard to get out from under.
I felt the worst for Leni because she was stuck,not because of love for her father but the love and worry for her mother. I think that if she had of left her father would not have come looking for her like he would her mother.
I loved that Leni stayed in touch with Matthew and through the letters. They both have suffered so much and I think the letters to each other helped them get through rough times. I also am glad Matthew came back for his final few months of school.

I'm on chapter 18... & for as excited as I was/am to be buddy reading this I'm shook for what to say about it.

Wooow!

I do know that I'm thoroughly enjoying this book & it's rainbow of emotions (in it's story & evoked by). I already know I'll be looking for more of Kristen Hannah's work. Great Alone is the first I've read of her & it will not be the last. So absorbed in her writing! I want to capture more of all the feelings it's giving me but I can't pin them down & there's too many. Soo good! :)

Really pleased this is the first one I'm reading thanks to this book club!! <3

Crystal wrote: "I'm on chapter 18... & for as excited as I was/am to be buddy reading this I'm shook for what to say about it.

Wooow!

I do know that I'm thoroughly enjoying this book & it's rainbow of emotions..."


You have to read Nightingale such a great book of hers. Also Fire Fly Lane. Really every book I have read of hers are wonderful