2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

*Featured Buddy Read*
This buddy read is featured on the homepage and is pinned to the top of the April Buddy Reads folder. Otherwise it works just like every other buddy read!

If you are new to Buddy Reads, check out the sign-up-thread for instructions and to sign up for future buddy reads!

You can join in the discussion even if your name isn't on the list!

This thread is to discuss The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

Pages: 435 pages

Length: 1 month (April)

Participants: Joan, Lina, Allison, Alaina, Krysti

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Looking forward to this one. I had found the book within the year at Goodwill for a $1. Great condition! I've heard good things about it. A little worried about the length of the book. Should be starting it on Sunday or Monday.

I’m first in line for the next copy that gets returned to the library. I think it’s due back April 6th….hopefully that someone returns it on time. I couldn’t join a buddy read last month because someone still has that book for almost a month overdue now!

I haven't signed up for this buddy read because I have already read this book several times.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I do feel the need to "warn" or "alert" readers to the fact that IMO this is a heavy book. PTSD is a major theme, as is domestic violence. I was not prepared for these elements the first time I read the book, and was quite affected emotionally.

Elizabeth wrote: "I haven't signed up for this buddy read because I have already read this book several times.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I do feel the need to "warn" or "alert" readers to the fact that I..."

Thank you for the warning.

I'm probably going to start reading this one tonight. I only have 50 pages left of the book I'm reading now and this one is up next.

I've finished this book and I loved it. I think it has been a while since I've found a book that has almost made me cry.

As the month gets closer to the end I will be happy to post my spoilers closer to the end of the month so I'm not accidently giving anything away.

I'm in the middle of chapter 4 so not very far but the description of Alaska is beautiful.

(view spoiler)[ However, I'd kill my husband if he expected me to live in that house with no running water. I could deal with no electricity (except during the dark months of Alaska) just because I read a lot. I knew they were going to end up in that type of house. At least they had some help getting set up. I guess we'll see what's in store for them. Sounds like where the house is is beautiful. I would visit for a weekend. I wouldn't live there!!! (hide spoiler)]

Kendra, if you want you can always post them now but spoiler mark them like Joan did - you do that by typing spoiler, but with < and > at the beginning and end of the word at the beginning of yout text, and then /spoiler again with the < and > at the end of your text. :)
Hoping to get to this book soon, too!

HI, I just finished "The Great Alone" today.....absolutely loved it!
The bond Leni & Cora shared was heart warming. It brought to light the atrocity that occurred as a result of the Vietnam War. One we cannot ignore took place, but need to educate as unfortunately it is a part of history. Mental Health of all kinds should never be ignored.
This is my 4th Kristin Hannah book and I am hooked. I started off with "The Nightengale", The Women, The Four Winds. She writes historical fiction, which I personally find fascinating!

I just read through chapter 11. It has definitely drawn me in. I'm currently reading 5 books at a time. I don't usually do this. One of the other ones I'm reading is 11/22/63. I think this point of The Great Alone that I'm sucked in and will keep on with this one until it's done. I'm also loving 11/22/63 though. Such different books. I'm also listening to Somebody's Daughter on audio when I drive and I have Happy Place on ebook. I'm also reading The Road with a book club. I'm at least caught up on that one though. All of these books are so good and I'm just vacillating between them all!!!

I haven’t started yet but my hold for it did come in this weekend so I at least have the book now.

I picked up the book on the 3rd of this month and read most of it before putting it down.

I hadn't come here first, didn't realize the amount of abuse, violence, trauma and ptsd and found myself making excuses as to why it wasn't that bad and how I could continue reading it to finish the book, until I realized that I needed to just stop, so I did.

The writing is top tier. The descriptions, the relationships of all sorts.

I just read through chapter 23.

(view spoiler)[Kind saw it coming that Leni was going to get pregnant. I'm glad the Mom shot him. Beginning of the next chapter says he's dead so I'm glad about that. I wonder what is going to happen with Matthew. The violence is horrible in it but unfortunately people live that way. I think she brings a quality of "realness" to her characters. I wasn't expecting to be so enthralled with this one. If I wasn't so busy this week I would have completed it before now. (hide spoiler)]

About halfway through. I really love how Kristin Hannah develops characters. I am really really attached to Leni and Cora… and nervous for them… and dying to know how it all turns out.

My toxic trait is thinking I could (and would like) living in the Bush for a year or two.

Krysti wrote: "About halfway through. I really love how Kristin Hannah develops characters. I am really really attached to Leni and Cora… and nervous for them… and dying to know how it all turns out.

My toxic t..."

I might try it for a week but that's it!!

I would not try it. Nope. Hard pass.

I started it but only made it up to Chapter 6.

Wow so I finished and yes - what a ride! I haven't cried that much reading a book in a long time. It's probably a book I'm going to keep.

(view spoiler)[I didn't realize until I got to the acknowledgments that the author's family moved to the Pacific Northwest in a VW bug. That solidified the 5 star read for me.

I liked the way the book ended up. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. My daughter has a TBI so even the parts about Matthew was hard for me to read. She doesn't look disabled and it wasn't anything like she had to relearn to read or walk or anything but she suffers from headaches every day for the last five years.

A lot of this book was hard to read but it was beautifully written. It makes you realize what some people live through. I enjoyed the parts about Alaska. I thought it was descriptive enough but not overly descriptive that you get bored in the descriptions.

The characters I won't forget. I think the book will stick with me. I wish Ernt was killed off earlier. (hide spoiler)]

This is the second book of hers I've read and I want to read more. I have Firefly Lane but I saw the Netflix series. I wonder how much it differs from that. It seems like The Nightingale is a highly rated book of hers. I'll have to keep my eye out for that one at the used book stores and Goodwill that I frequent.

Joan, have you read The Winter Garden, also written by Kristin Hannah. It is similar to The Great Alone in that it also deals with the horrors of war, but in this case the war is WWII in Russia. The story deals with a dysfunctional family and the effects of keeping secrets. To me it was also a dark book in places, but ends in the light .

Elizabeth wrote: "Joan, have you read The Winter Garden, also written by Kristin Hannah. It is similar to The Great Alone in that it also deals with the horrors of war, but in this case the war is WWII in Russia. Th..."

I have seen that one but haven't heard much about it. I'm guessing you liked it! I'll keep my eye out for that one as well! Thank you!

Joan, yes The Winter Garden gave me a great deal to think about. I did like it, but it is a sad book. At 64, I find books about new beginnings/starting over/crossroads of life more meaningful because I have had to make the decision to let go of what isn't working and embrace new possibilities.

I’m up to chapter 10 but not really into this book. So far, I liked our other buddy read (The Four Winds) better.

I finished! Wow, what an intense and emotionally charged book that cannot contain the tears in many tense moments. It portrays the complexity of human relationships in an ingenious and often harsh way and describes the struggle for survival in a hostile environment as if we were in that same environment. The narrative of the characters' journey makes us become intimate with their relationships and feelings.

(view spoiler)[Unfortunately, Ernst's aggressive attitudes and Cora's passive ones remind me of my father and mother. This bothers me a little because I know we should have asked for help. (hide spoiler)]

This is the first book I've read by Kristin Hannah. I'm going to want to read more.

Cassia wrote: "I finished! Wow, what an intense and emotionally charged book that cannot contain the tears in many tense moments. It portrays the complexity of human relationships in an ingenious and often harsh ..."

I agree with how she makes you feel about the characters. Her characters are very believable and identifiable.

I’m getting a little bored with this one. Nothing new is happening. We get it; it gets cold in Alaska, the father is an a-hole. There’s been several times now where the author recycles the same sentence:

“If you want to live in an old, abandoned bus, you can. If you have a rusted truck on your lawn and a fridge on your porch, that’s Alaska. No one will question it.”

Not a direct quote but basically it’s been said over and over and I’m only up to Chapter 16.

Which something might be happening soon….they keep dropping hints.

Allison wrote: "I’m getting a little bored with this one. Nothing new is happening. We get it; it gets cold in Alaska, the father is an a-hole. There’s been several times now where the author recycles the same sen..."

That's kind of how I thought I was going to feel about it before I read it. I honestly couldn't believe I liked it as much as I did.

I’m up to Chapter 23. (view spoiler)[Finally, someone is going against the freaking father! (hide spoiler)]

Allison wrote: "I’m up to Chapter 23. [spoilers removed]"

Did you decide to finish it?

I’m going to finish it…have about 25% left of the audiobook. I stopped reading it about half way and switched to audio.

Allison, I commend you on your decision to finish it. I think it took me two tries to complete the story. I can't say that I enjoyed it, but I was satisfied with the ending.
I'm glad the audiobook is making it possible for you to finish the story.

❤️


Although to be fair, I’d have DNF this in a hot minute if it weren’t for the buddy read lol.

Allison wrote: "I’m going to finish it…have about 25% left of the audiobook. I stopped reading it about half way and switched to audio."

Sometimes switching helps. I often have to switch from audio to the actual book if the reader's voices are driving me crazy.

Finally finished. I really didn’t like this book. I was bored. The mother/daughter main characters were so stupid. I like the side characters; Large Marge, the grandparents.

Allison, I applaud you for finishing a book with which you struggled on so many levels. I'm glad you found some characters that you liked. May your next read be a better fit and more enjoyable.

Allison wrote: "Finally finished. I really didn’t like this book. I was bored. The mother/daughter main characters were so stupid. I like the side characters; Large Marge, the grandparents."

I'm glad you finished it. I'm sorry you hated it. I thought the supporting characters were really good in it as well.

I am so sorry for not getting around to this in April. I went on vacation and surprisingly ended up not having any time to read. I will try to read it this month and then read all of your comments and reply here!

Lina wrote: "I am so sorry for not getting around to this in April. I went on vacation and surprisingly ended up not having any time to read. I will try to read it this month and then read all of your comments ..."

Life happens!!! Interested to see what you think