Sign in with Facebook
Matthew's Reviews > The Great Alone
The Great Alone
by
by
Matthew's review
bookshelves: gr_awards_2018, historical-fiction, audio, library, 2018, favorites, suspense, tear-jerkers
Dec 23, 2018
bookshelves: gr_awards_2018, historical-fiction, audio, library, 2018, favorites, suspense, tear-jerkers
What a story! I mentioned this in one of my status updates and I think it is the best way to describe this book: every new scene in this book is out of the frying pan and into the fire!
My wife recommended this book to me and we usually have a pretty good idea of what the other will like (probably a 95% success rate). We have both read and enjoyed The Nightingale, which is probably what Hannah is best known for even though she has quite an extensive resume of novels. This book is quite unlike The Nightingale, and, dare I say, even better.
At first I thought it started slow and I was having trouble connecting to it. But, about 1/3 of the way through the intensity and the story really ramped up. From then on out it is a rollercoaster suspense-thriller-tear jerker that warms the heart and will terrify you with the possibilities of the human condition.
I can easily recommend this to almost anyone. It is just great storytelling of a unique and captivating tale.
My wife recommended this book to me and we usually have a pretty good idea of what the other will like (probably a 95% success rate). We have both read and enjoyed The Nightingale, which is probably what Hannah is best known for even though she has quite an extensive resume of novels. This book is quite unlike The Nightingale, and, dare I say, even better.
At first I thought it started slow and I was having trouble connecting to it. But, about 1/3 of the way through the intensity and the story really ramped up. From then on out it is a rollercoaster suspense-thriller-tear jerker that warms the heart and will terrify you with the possibilities of the human condition.
I can easily recommend this to almost anyone. It is just great storytelling of a unique and captivating tale.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
The Great Alone.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
August 10, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
August 10, 2017
– Shelved
October 30, 2018
– Shelved as:
gr_awards_2018
December 19, 2018
–
Started Reading
December 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
December 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
audio
December 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
library
December 21, 2018
–
84.0%
"This entire book when a new scene starts = out of the frying pan and into the fire"
December 23, 2018
– Shelved as:
2018
December 23, 2018
– Shelved as:
favorites
December 23, 2018
– Shelved as:
suspense
December 23, 2018
– Shelved as:
tear-jerkers
December 23, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 61 (61 new)
message 1:
by
Deanna
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Jul 23, 2018 09:51PM
I hope you check this out. I would love to hear what you think :)
reply
|
flag
Deanna wrote: "I hope you check this out. I would love to hear what you think :)"I will get to it someday - I really liked The Nightingale. Good to see a 5 star reviewer recommending it!
it's a great piece of writing! the easiest category to vote for me this year is historical fiction
Happy to hear you enjoyed this so thoroughly, Matthew. It's a dandy.
Yes! So glad you enjoyed this one, Matthew!
I had sworn off Kristin Hsnnah as too lite weight, but a friend said you just have to read the nightingale, was so glad I did. After your great review, I'll have to add this one. Thank you.
Can't wait to read this one, thanks for a great review!
Glad you enjoyed this one! I liked it too :)
Zoeytron wrote: "Happy to hear you enjoyed this so thoroughly, Matthew. It's a dandy."Yes, indeed! 😄 Going to check out your review now, too!
Nicola wrote: "I’m really looking forward to reading this! Happy to see you enjoyed it so much."I hope you enjoy!
Ashley wrote: "Yes! So glad you enjoyed this one, Matthew!"😁Thanks! You, too!
Great review Matthew. It's on my radar for next year.
Debi wrote: "I had sworn off Kristin Hsnnah as too lite weight, but a friend said you just have to read the nightingale, was so glad I did. After your great review, I'll have to add this one. Thank you."You're welcome! This is definitely not lite weight - I hope you enjoy!
My_Strange_Reading wrote: "Can't wait to read this one, thanks for a great review!"Thank you and you're welcome!😄😄😄 Enjoy when you do!
Tori wrote: "Glad you enjoyed this one! I liked it too :)"Thanks - that's awesome!😁
I can’t wait for my Overdrive turn to come up!
Terrific review. I enjoyed it, too. Merry Christmas.
Tracey wrote: "Great review Matthew. It's on my radar for next year."Thank you, Tracey! Enjoy when you get to it!
Greta wrote: "I can’t wait for my Overdrive turn to come up!"I had to wait about 3 months - 90th on the list - when I first put it on hold on Overdrive.
Bianca wrote: "Terrific review. I enjoyed it, too. Merry Christmas."Thank you, Bianca! While I just dropped a Merry Christmas over at your review, a Merry Christmas here, too!
Damn! 90th! Your town must be bigger than mine. I have been waiting a couple months but I am up to number 2 on the list now. Started at 30It takes longer for us because I think our library only has 1 or 2 copies.
Greta wrote: "Damn! 90th! Your town must be bigger than mine. I have been waiting a couple months but I am up to number 2 on the list now. Started at 30It takes longer for us because I think our library only h..."
I think there were 6 copies - and my Overdrive account is Evergreen Indiana which is made up of 100+ libraries in Indiana. So, more variety, but you are fighting with a lot more people to get the book!😃
Great review, Matthew! I read this back to back w/ The Nightingale & really likes both stories, but I loved this one - especially the Alaska descriptions!
I’ve been apprehensive to read anything by her since I didn’t think it would be something that I’m interested in reading but you may have persuaded me to dive in!
Brandice wrote: "Great review, Matthew! I read this back to back w/ The Nightingale & really likes both stories, but I loved this one - especially the Alaska descriptions!"Thanks, Brandice! At first, it makes Alaska sound a bit scary, but by the end you want to go!
Andrew wrote: "I’ve been apprehensive to read anything by her since I didn’t think it would be something that I’m interested in reading but you may have persuaded me to dive in!"If you give it a shot, I hope you enjoy!
Great review Matthew! I'm gonna check it out!
Tom wrote: "Great review Matthew! I'm gonna check it out!"Thanks - good to hear! I hope you enjoy! :)
Great review! I just started this and am looking forward to digging in!
Eileen wrote: "Great review! I just started this and am looking forward to digging in!"Thank you! Enjoy! :)
Holy freaking crap! I LOVED this book!!
Tom wrote: "Holy freaking crap! I LOVED this book!!"Holy freaking crap, indeed! 🤣🤣🤣
Oh my!!!!! I am soooo in love with this book and all the hate emotions it stirred!!!
Katie wrote: "Oh my!!!!! I am soooo in love with this book and all the hate emotions it stirred!!!"I have been reading lots of great books lately that stir the hate emotions!
I just started yesterday and I'm already 3/4 of the way through--it's amazing! And yes, it is definitely stirring the hate emotions!
Eileen wrote: "I just started yesterday and I'm already 3/4 of the way through--it's amazing! And yes, it is definitely stirring the hate emotions!"It is definitely enthralling, so I am not surprised you are that far already!
Great review, Mattthew. Glad you enjoyed it!
Sharon wrote: "Great review, Mattthew. Glad you enjoyed it!"Thanks, Sharon! You, too!😃
Matthew wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I just started yesterday and I'm already 3/4 of the way through--it's amazing! And yes, it is definitely stirring the hate emotions!"It is definitely enthralling, so I am not surpr..."
For sure! I couldn't put it down for the last 3.5 hours so I ended up going to bed around 3:30, lol. But it was so worth it! Gripping book and I cheered the ending! It was very fitting.
Eileen wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I just started yesterday and I'm already 3/4 of the way through--it's amazing! And yes, it is definitely stirring the hate emotions!"It is definitely enthralling, s..."
Definitely a complete and satisfying journey start to finish. There is just so much there. If I recall, when I finished I just had to stop for a breather for a bit.
Yep, I'm taking a break with "As You Wish" (Princess Bride) for something lighthearted, lol! And I'm going through it slowly. I want to hit The Nightingale next, but I may have to do a few light books before tackling that one. I know it will be good, but it's likely to be intense.
I am a little more than half way through and so far totally agree. More when I finish.
Eileen wrote: "Yep, I'm taking a break with "As You Wish" (Princess Bride) for something lighthearted, lol! And I'm going through it slowly. I want to hit The Nightingale next, but I may have to do a few light bo..."As mentioned in my review, it's very different but very good. Enjoy that one, too!
Henry wrote: "I am a little more than half way through and so far totally agree. More when I finish."Cool! Enjoy!
I agree. I liked it better than the Nightingale. And it does start off a little slowish. One of my faves from last year.
Susan wrote: "I agree. I liked it better than the Nightingale. And it does start off a little slowish. One of my faves from last year."Yes - it was a great book to end the year with!
So far I'm liking The Nightingale, but time will tell if I enjoy it as much as I did this one. It does remind me a little bit of All The Light You Cannot See, which was fantastic, imho.
I am listening to the audio in the car on my long trip to and from work. I am half way through and don't want to get out of the car when I get to my destination. It has me on the edge of my seat.
Eileen wrote: "So far I'm liking The Nightingale, but time will tell if I enjoy it as much as I did this one. It does remind me a little bit of All The Light You Cannot See, which was fantastic, imho."Sadly I was not a fan of All The Light You Cannot See. Glad The Nightingale is going well so far!
