Today I’m SO stinking excited to be partnering with St. Martin’s Press for this awesome giveaway for something near and dear to my heart — a book club kit featuring The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah for one lucky winner and their book club!
I’ve been in a few book clubs over the years and I LOVE being in a book club. I’m kind of sad that my most recent book club fell apart because pretty much the bulk of us either moved or had babies. I had mentioned in this post I was having a hard time with my own move I’ve been in the middle of, as I’m not THRILLED with the area, but I was trying to be proactive about finding ways to not focus on that.
I immediately found a mom’s group on Facebook for the area and tried to just dive in and see what there was in the area that I could do with Riley and if there were any mom’s group/play dates. AND THEN, because I’m me, I asked if there were any local book clubs around and SO MANY WOMEN chimed in that they didn’t know any but would love to join one. So basically by the end of that day another woman and I are going to be starting a book club once I get more settled. Because apparently I just can’t get my feet a little wet…I just dive right in lol.
But really I feel like a book club is the PERFECT way to meet people and get more social if that’s a goal of yours. It’s not just a free-for-all and you have the perfect intro to a conversation rather than small talk. In some of my book clubs I feel like I really got to know the people from the conversations that books inspired.
Anyways, I was already thinking about a shortlist of books that would be good first book club books and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is one on the list! It’s got a great setting (1970’s in Alaska) and a story about a family that sounds heartbreaking and emotional and like there would be a lot to talk about for a book club.
ABOUT THE GREAT ALONE
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 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.
In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska—a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.
About the Author
Kristin Hannah is the New York Times bestselling author more than twenty novels. A former lawyer turned writer, she is the mother of one son and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
GIVEAWAY
I’m honestly a little bummed I can’t win my own giveaway because it would be SO fun to use the gift card and have the books for my fledgling book club in my new town. But one of you lucky readers could win this awesome book club kit!! If you don’t have a book club maybe winning this will be good inspiration for starting one. I have some tips here.
In the meantime:
Visit Macmillan.com
Like Kristin Hannah on Facebook
Follow St. Martin’s Press on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Read an excerpt from The Great Alone
Watch a video of author Kristin Hannah on The Great Alone
StephTheBookworm says
I have two book clubs. My own personal one that I started in 2013. We have 5 members and are very casual. We mostly love to snack and don’t always read the books – oops! We started as a Forever YA chapter but now we do our own thing / make our own book selections.
My second book club is the one I run at work (I’m a librarian). This one is only a few months old but it’s a Forever YA book club, and we do read the pre-selected choices.
Anna F says
I am actually in two book clubs. Crazy right? They are both great and. Chance for me to to catch up with friends. We read a wide variety of books which pushes me outside my comfort zone.
Jamie says
Not crazy at all!! At one point I was in 3 book clubs lol. I can’t handle THAT anymore but hey if you read a lot of books anyways what’s 2 or 3 books clubs lol.
bn100 says
not in a book club
Lacey Waters says
I’m not in one at the moment. I used to belong to an autism group that had an online book club where we read books that had autistic characters in them. I enjoyed that. I think a good book for a book club would the the Tearling trilogy.
Kim @ Kim Bocko says
I’m in a professional development book club with some colleagues, but I would love to start a more *fun* book club to talk about my favorite fiction reads!
Anne says
Was in a mother daughter book club when I was little! Might be a fun thing to do with Riley when she’s old enough
Edye says
I think “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins would be good!
Maeghan says
I’m actually in a book club with my mom and some of her friends. Each member throws their pick of book into a hat and one is selected. Since everyone has a different genre they like to read we get a well rounded year of books.
Christy Peeples DuBois says
I am not in a book club and I haven’t ever been. But I’m an avid reader. My Mom, aunt and I exchange reads with one another. We buy some but use our library a lot. From what reviews I’ve read about this book it would be a good one for a book club.
Amy says
I am not currently in any book clubs.
I think the book, “Save The Date” by Morgan Matson would make a great book club read.
Rachel @ Never Enough Novels says
I’m not in a book club, but I’d love to discuss a few fun fantasy reads like The Name of the Wind and The Court of Thorns and Roses series!
Kayla Whitter says
I started a book club in my last office, but we became understaffed and kind of fell apart. I would love to start another one to meet every other month or so, something that’s realistic for us to all meet! I loved Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and I think that would be an awesome book club book!
Chelsea Smith says
I have always wanted to be in a book club. It seems like a lot of fun. But I’m not sure how people find them and my friends are too busy to add another commitment.
Jeanna says
I’m not in a book club. I think being in a book club would be fun so you have some other people to talk to & get their opinions about the book! It would be fun to learn about new authors also!
Michel says
I’m not in an official book club but a group of friends and I exchange book recommendations regularly 🙂
Samantha says
That is how I found this giveaway was looking to find a book club to join. I want to join one now. I am a single mom I got to check things out before I buy.