Newport Book Club: ‘The Great Alone’ by Kristin Hannah

Tuesday, March 2, 2021
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Alaska, 1974.
Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

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. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, 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.

This is a live program that will be conducted both in-person and via Zoom, a free online video conferencing platform. Registration is required. Limit of 10 attendees in-person. Please note in the Special Needs section of the registration form if you prefer in-person or Zoom attendance. For those attending via Zoom, on the day of the program, we will email you with a link to join the live program. You are not required to have a Zoom account.  However, if you would like to create a free account you may do so at https://zoom.us/signup. Questions may be directed to Valerie Davis at vdavis@cc-pl.org.

Everyone, age 6 or older, who attends library programs are required to wear masks.
Please note any accommodation requests in the Special Needs section of the registration form.

This program will take place outside our current hours of operation. For those attending in-person, a staff member will allow you entrance to the building.

Newport Branch