Alaska is not just the location where Leni moves to in the novel, it is a character in its own right. It is harsh, brutal, and beautiful. The landscape continues to change with Leni, going from warm and idyllic to vast and unforgiving, as she ages from trusting preteen to knowing teenager. Alaska shapes every character who lives there. Leni learns to survive, to adapt, to thrive and become her true self. She falls in love with Alaska and all the wonder and awfulness it has to offer. The descriptions are so vivid that you can feel the claustrophobia of the landscape. The outside mimics the increasing distress and confinement of the Allbright's cabin. Leni is trapped, by the cold, the snow, her father, and the need to protect and be near her mother. Again, it took a bit for me to get into this novel and I was so angry at Leni's parents and the other Alaskan adults for so much of the book. For their lack of action when it came to protecting this young girl from her father's cruelty. Ernt may have been hurt by the war, but he knew what he was doing was wrong and never thought to seek help or to leave. Cora should have left Ernt, but their love was like an infectious disease she could not rid herself of; and because of this, their sickness worked its way into their daughter's understanding of the world, helped shape her view of love. Several townsfolk knew what was happening, but continued to put the burden of asking for help or escaping on Leni. How is it that a young teen, Matthew, was willing to do more than anyone else, even at the expense of himself? All the adults in this novel failed these two teenagers. This novel shed real light on to the issues of spousal abuse in the 1970s, how women had little to no rights, and sometimes still do not. This was not the only topic this novel touched on, it also focused on isolation, the effects of war on survivors, growing up, and first love. Even with all of these immense topics, this book was really about the love between a mother and her child. The strength of that bond, stronger even then the Alaskan wilderness. Like Alaska, motherhood is both beautiful and terrifying. There is fear for your child, constant yearning for them to survive, but also a sense of wonder, gratitude and love. Cora may have taught her daughter some terrible lessons about love between a man and his wife, but in the end she shows her the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. I was in tears for this young woman who braved so much hardship and pain, but learned to live and love and find herself in a vast wilderness made to break even the strongest of souls. I highly recommend this story for anyone looking for a deep and meaningful read. Be prepared to be angry, emotional and tearful throughout.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Currently ReadingGraphic Novel
Feminist Essays
Archives
April 2024
|