The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
448 pages / 15 hrs, 2 mins

"Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America's last true frontier.

"Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents' passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown.

"At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women...But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt's fragile mental state deteriorates...Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves."   --from the publisher

It was hard to read about Cora's helplessness in her situation of domestic abuse. If that wasn't enough Ernt became more paranoid and unreasonable, and still Cora couldn't find a way to get help. It was difficult to see friends reach out to her, but not be able to do anything since Cora didn't want their assistance...more helpless feelings! Because of my own childhood experience with domestic abuse in our neighborhood it just hit too close to home. (No pun intended.) When the situation was finally resolved (well over half-way through!), I was able to enjoy the story better. I gave it three out of five stars.

Cold Storage, Alaska by John Straley

Cold Storage, Alaska by John Straley --- 298 pages

John Straley calls himself a crime fiction writer, but this is a novel that is almost impossible to categorize. It reminds me of the work of Carl Hiassen, Christopher Moore, Dave Barry, Cory Doctorow, and Elmore Leonard, all authors who like to mix humor, suspense and satire. Cold Storage is the kind of story that would make a great Coen brothers' film. 

The author says the book is about compassion, two brothers trying to reconnect, and people in a small town on the edge of nowhere attempting to cope with a world that's a lot stranger and more bizarre, when you stop and think about it, than they are. You'll know within the first few pages if this book is meant for you, because either you will crack up completely or you will shove the book back on the shelf in total bafflement. Straley is definitely a love him or loathe him kind of author; there's no in-between.  But for those who love him, there is a sequel, The Big Both Ways. It was actually published before Cold Storage, but Straley says it's a sequel, and hints that there may be more stories about the denizens of Cold Storage in the future.

I also found two videos of John Straley talking about the book.  Click HERE and HERE to hear more from the Writer Laureate of Alaska!