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A Town Like Alice

4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 · rating details · 16,681 ratings · 1,367 reviews

Nevil Shute’s most beloved novel, a tale of love and war, follows its enterprising heroine from the Malayan jungle during World War II to the rugged Australian outback.

Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman living in Malaya, is captured by the invading Japanese and forced on a brutal seven-month death march with dozens of other women and children. A few years after the war, Jean

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Paperback, 351 pages

Published September 3rd 2009 by Vintage Classics (first published 1950)

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Jan 07, 2011 Jeanette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-fiction, world-war-two-fiction, asia, europe-and-british-isles, four-star-fiction

What Nevil Shute may lack in eloquence he makes up for by providing the particulars that bring to life a distant place and time.
This is a love story, but not a romance. There's no sex, no sappiness, no gasping or google eyes. Just a lot of hardship, hard work, and, most notably, hope.

Jean Paget and Joe Harman meet in Malaya during World War II. She is British, he Australian, and both are prisoners of the Japanese. Joe sacrifices all to provide a little food for Jean's bedraggled group of women...more What Nevil Shute may lack in eloquence he makes up for by providing the particulars that bring to life a distant place and time.
This is a love story, but not a romance. There's no sex, no sappiness, no gasping or google eyes. Just a lot of hardship, hard work, and, most notably, hope.

Jean Paget and Joe Harman meet in Malaya during World War II. She is British, he Australian, and both are prisoners of the Japanese. Joe sacrifices all to provide a little food for Jean's bedraggled group of women and children who have been forced to walk hundreds of miles on meager rations. (Said forced march based on true events that occurred in Sumatra.) The few days Jean and Joe have together lead to an astonishing passel of coincidences six years later. They reconnect in Australia, where Jean uses her ingenuity, determination, and a sizable inheritance to transform a lackluster Queensland settlement into "a town like Alice."

Shute really fired my imagination with his portrayal of Australia in the late 1940s. He captures that frontier feeling of newness and possibility for those with vision and stamina, when Australia was still a young country in need of development. He also nails the difficulty of life for people on the cattle stations. Communication was only by radio, and not always reliable. This was essentially a life with no roads or bridges, often no transport except horses, no fruits or vegetables available, no entertainment, extreme heat with no AC, a lot of flooding, and many miles between stations. There must have been a lot of real life people similar to the Jean Paget character who were willing to sink their sweat and their money into the possibility of something finer.

I have two criticisms/complaints:

1)Noel Strachan as narrator. This is intrusive and unnecessary and at times downright awkward. Noel is the lawyer who manages Jean's trust in Britain. The convolution involves Noel telling us the story that Jean related to him, with Noel occasionally inserting himself into the narrative. I found it distracting, and there's one place where even Nevil Shute got lost in the unnecessary complication, having Noel refer to himself in the third person rather than "me" or "I."

2)Jean Paget seems to have sprung forth fully formed as this young woman full of grit and determination and leadership abilities far beyond her years. We're told nothing about early life experiences that would have developed those qualities in her. A little back story would have made her a more convincing character.
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Feb 05, 2009 Lucy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Town Like Alice reminds me so much of my favorite book, Mrs. Mike. Both catalog the difficulties and triumphs of living in remote areas. Both are historical. Both have a strong and engaging female protagonist who are in love with a man responsibly tied to a piece of land. Neither are fluffy Harlequins but make that pit in the bottom of your stomach churn with romance.

In short, I loved it. A Town Like Alice follows Jean Paget, a Scottish woman who was raised by her parents in Malay (now known a...more A Town Like Alice reminds me so much of my favorite book, Mrs. Mike. Both catalog the difficulties and triumphs of living in remote areas. Both are historical. Both have a strong and engaging female protagonist who are in love with a man responsibly tied to a piece of land. Neither are fluffy Harlequins but make that pit in the bottom of your stomach churn with romance.

In short, I loved it. A Town Like Alice follows Jean Paget, a Scottish woman who was raised by her parents in Malay (now known as Malaysia), returns to work there as an adult and ultimately finds herself trapped there as a Prisoner of War when the Japanese invade the Island during World War II.

Her captivity is accurately described as horrible, with starvation and long marches from town to town killing many women and children. But, it also shows that unique ability of women to nurture, even in the most degrading situations. When she meets Joe Harman, an Australian ringger (cowboy) and fellow POW, he tells Jean about his home and work near Alice Springs, a bonza town in the heart of the Outback. The two extremely lonely and isolated characters become friends. Eventually, when Joe steals five chickens to feed the sick and hungry women and children, Jean is interrogated and punished until Joe confesses and is later crucified by a cruel Japanese leader.

The story's narration is directed by an elderly British attorney, Noel Strachan, who is put in charge of a trust Jean's uncle leaves her. Even with the narration in his control, most of the story is told through Jean sharing her memories to Noel. Eventually, I found Noel's involvement and third party perspective very satisfying, mostly because it allowed the author to cover a greater amount of time without seeming overly jumpy.

The book was written in 1950 and feels like it at times. The attitudes of segregation and thoughtless caricatures of minorities creates feelings of discomfort and embarrassment.However, it's not done with malice, and the story isn't about racial barriers at all, so I didn't find it offensive. If anything, it allows a glimpse into an unapologetic view that most white people probably had at the time - which is actually an interesting glimpse on its own.

I appreciated this book - for its less frequently told story of female prisoners of war and for its celebration of the human spirit.(less)

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Nov 05, 2010 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads, historicals

This is a very hard book to categorize or review. I read it almost 2 weeks ago, and have been trying to figure out how to convey it's essence. I won't be able to, but here goes:

A Town Like Alice starts off fairly dry, with a narrative by an old English attorney (who will continue to be the narrator of the story). He sets up the premise of why young Jean Paget, our heroine, comes to receive an inheritance. It's the early 1950's, and the old attorney and Jean form a friendship due to the fact that...more This is a very hard book to categorize or review. I read it almost 2 weeks ago, and have been trying to figure out how to convey it's essence. I won't be able to, but here goes:

A Town Like Alice starts off fairly dry, with a narrative by an old English attorney (who will continue to be the narrator of the story). He sets up the premise of why young Jean Paget, our heroine, comes to receive an inheritance. It's the early 1950's, and the old attorney and Jean form a friendship due to the fact that his firm will handle her money until she is 35 years old. This section is kind of dull reading, but then the narrative takes off when a cold, windy rainstorm keeps Jean and the attorney at his home one afternoon, and Jean tells him her story of being a Japanese prisoner of war in Malaya during WWII. She recounts how she survived the death march (which is based on actual events) and met the man of her future dreams: Aussie Joe Harmon.

This section of the book I adored SO much. It was 5 star all the way, and I wish it could have continued. However, Jean and Joe's wartime attraction was abruptly brought to and end, and the story fast-forwarded back to 1950's England.

The final section of the book dealt with Jean receiving her legacy, and her dream to do something positive with the money to help others. It then focused on her trip to Australia to find Joe, and see for herself if anything could come of their attraction to each other. They reunite, court and marry and live to build up a no-account outback town into "A Town Like Alice" ("Alice" being Alice Springs).

Frankly, this section of the book wasn't as good as the Malayan portion. It seemed as if the romance was a little contrived, and I got soooo tired of hearing Joe Harmon exclaim "Oh my word" for the 100th time (don't Aussie cowboys have a more colorful vocab. then that??)

In the end, I'm giving this book 3.5 stars because the middle section was excellent, and it carried the weaker sections for me. It's definitely worth reading, and I'm glad I did :)(less)

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Apr 18, 2009 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: australia-oceania, war, survival

I tried to describe this book to my husband, and found myself unable to talk about the book without narrating the entire plot, but then backing away from that outline to explain that it wasn't a spoiler because what happens in the book is like the skeleton that the author hangs the depth of the story from.

That depth is in the characters and in the modest, yet compelling way the author describes as positive progress the way development can happen and economies can be created out of the will for...more

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Jun 30, 2011 TJ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century-historical, classics, book-club

3.5/5.0

Considered a classic and one of the top 100 of all time, I can totally understand why, even if I don't completely agree. This is a rather quiet yet moving story taken from the real life experience of a young woman during WWII who was captured and spent two years as a POW in Asia participating in the woman's version of the long walk, her life after and the love she finds amidst the horror. It's very interesting, if not riveting. It slows considerably after her war experience, however, stil...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Mikejencostanzo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

When an author, artist or playwright takes in hand to tackle the theme of World War II, the result is always deep, often frightening, usually moving, and only sometimes ending in hope.

So, what makes a happy ending when our topic is war? So many of the war novels & biographies I've read take the reader through the war, and wrap up with an ending of hope just as V-day comes or the troops arrive to rescue the POWs. After a brief denouement, the reader is ushered away from the scene with a vague...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Dottie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: old-best-sellers, classic, worth-rereading

I have never recommended this book to anyone who didn't absolutely love it and put it on their favorite list. It is very well written with an interesting plot and good love story.

A story of a young woman who inherits some money. The story is told from the attorney who manages her estate. She tells him about her experiences in Singapore during the war when the Japanese invade the English colony where she was just a young woman who was there working temporarily. There is nothing very special abou...more

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Aug 16, 2007 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers interested in WWII history, Australia, entreprenurial women,

This latest reading was my fourth time with this story. I have read it, listened to it, and seen a movie of it. Every time I enjoy it again on so many levels.
It is based on a real part of WWII history in which British women prisoners were marched under Japanese guard for months. The female lead character, Jean Pargeter, used her wits to stay alive and help others as well. Later on, after she was free again, she used her wits again to transform her adopted home, Willstown, into a "bonzer town" as...more

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Jan 30, 2009 Kara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Story--great; writing--terrible. That pretty much sums it up for me. The author took interesting characters and concepts and made them as dull as possible by telling it through the eyes of the lawyer. I was constantly frustrated by that feeling of being removed from the characters and the action. I wanted it to be so much more vivid. If this had been written first person from Jean's perspective, it would have made a world of difference.

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Apr 19, 2009 Amie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What an excellent read. I enjoyed the narration of the story. It is told by an older man who is a solicitor in London. He tells the story in a matter of fact way but is not left without emotion. I can't believe all that happened in this relatively short story. It did not seemed rushed. The characters were very likable and heroic. My sister in law Erin gave me this book to read. Thank you again for another great book. She said that it is not in print anymore, but I will try to track down a copy....more

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May 13, 2013 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-read, 4-star, kept-my-attention, war, well-done

This felt like I was reading a really good black and white movie. It is much more enjoyable reading a good story, rather than the "I never saw that coming" books that are so popular today.

This story is basically a love story and a celebration of a woman with a lot of strength and character; a topic that maybe wasn't as well explored in the late 40's as it is today. What made this story more interesting than today's exploration is that this woman, Jean Paget, while doing extraordinary things, is...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Two Bibliomaniacs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: evan-top-1-100

Noel Strachan got more than he bargained for when, as solicitor, he notified Jean Paget of her unexpected inheritance. He was intrigued by his new client and quickly learned of her horrific past. It turned out that Ms. Paget was taken prisoner by the Japanese’s army while working overseas in the country of Malaya. Along with several other women and children the group was marched unapologetically back and forth across the country while WWII ran its course. The conditions were ghastly and many fro...more Noel Strachan got more than he bargained for when, as solicitor, he notified Jean Paget of her unexpected inheritance. He was intrigued by his new client and quickly learned of her horrific past. It turned out that Ms. Paget was taken prisoner by the Japanese’s army while working overseas in the country of Malaya. Along with several other women and children the group was marched unapologetically back and forth across the country while WWII ran its course. The conditions were ghastly and many from the group didn’t survive, yet, for Jean Paget, a chance encounter would alter her life forever.

We have so many good things to say about A Town like Alice, so let us get started. We loved the Aussie, Joe Harman. Yes, we loved Jean Paget too, but Joe Harman is the most recent addition to our ever-growing list of all time favorite literary characters. That being said, Jean Paget was an extraordinarily courageous woman. She took on a leadership role in the jungles of Malaya during an incomprehensible set of circumstances. And her post war life was no less impressive. We don’t want to say too much, but she was charitable when most people would have looked the other way and she managed to survive a pretty epic horse journey. We also enjoyed the irony of Jean being unable to fully take control of her inheritance because her benefactor didn’t think too highly of the money management skills of females. Guess who gets the last laugh... if she would have been the type to laugh at things like that.

We don’t have too many negative things to say about A Town like Alice, but we could see how some readers might think the actual climax occurred at the halfway mark with the culmination of WWII. For us though, there was so much more to the story and we loved to watch the intriguing post war scenario play out. We also thoroughly enjoyed exploring the villages of Malaya and various parts of Australia. Still, what makes this novel even more interesting is that much of the plot is based on real events. Why do we suddenly want to move to the outback?

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Jul 02, 2009 Maureen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

a piece of historical fiction that always seems to be on british "must read all-time" fiction lists, i thought since i enjoyed on the beach so much that i should try another by nevil shute. this book was not as engaging for me as on the beach, probably because it isn't post-apocalyptic.

the book is told by an english lawyer who finds the heir to a trust, a young woman who has already had a lifetime of experience living out the second world war in malaysia, under japanese occupancy. the bulk of t...more

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Feb 22, 2008 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Ellen by: BBC Big Reads

I discovered this book through the BBC big read where viewers choose their top 100 novels of all time. I decided that I would make it my goal to read all 100 books as a way to broaden my reading horizons.

While this book is an enjoyable read I believe that it hasnt dated that well and is quite racist in parts particularly against the Aboriginal people. Some of the language and terms used tended to jar with me and left me feeling quite uncomfortable. Although written in 1949 I still feel that the...more

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Jun 30, 2008 Josi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: josi-recommends-it

This is the story about a woman caught in Japanese occupied Malay during WWII. After the war she inherits some money and the final 2/3 of the book is what she does with it. I'm rather surprised I liked it so much since it didn't have a strong plot or characterization--and yet it was a fascinating read. It is not a true story but even after finishing it it's hard for me to beleive it didn't really happen--it feels so real. I learned a lot about England, WWII, and Australia. It was a slower read t...more

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Jul 03, 2008 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutely loved this book! I saw the movie years ago at my grandma's house & fell in love with it. I couldn't forget it & decided to finally read the book. I loved it, too! Though it's not a true story, the POW experience of the women is taken from a true story in Sumatra. I love the characters from this book & the main character is a strong, confident, smart, yet feminine woman. The only thing that really bothered me in this book is the rascist treatment of the Aborigines. Since...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Amy Glover rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the first half of this book but thought the second half, which is a completely different story, was just eh. So, five stars for the first half, three for the second, lands it at a bit less than enthusiastic, four.

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Jan 08, 2009 Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; although, you can tell that it was written by a man in the 50's. This book was broken down into three main parts: Jane's time during the war, two years after the war, and then her time in Milstown, Austrailia.

Jane Paget is a young English woman working in Malaya at the time of the Japanese invasion. She, along with 31 other women and children are marched around Malaya in an attempt by the Japanese to not have to deal with them. The first part of the book focuses o...more

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May 06, 2013 Ida Marie Heggem rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, love-stories

Completely mesmerizing! One of the best novels I have ever read! Fascinating and intriguing from beginning to end. The vivid and detailed descriptions creates picturesque environments for the story to take place, from buzzing London to beautiful Malaysia and the magnificent landscapes of Australia.

Based on a true story that took place during the second world war, a group of women with their children are forced to walk across entire Malaysia because none of the Japanese officers want the trouble...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Raima Larter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I saw the Masterpiece Theater mini-series made from this book many years ago and finally decided to read the book itself. The writing style is a little old-fashioned, starting with the use of a narrator who can't possibly know the things he claims to know about the other characters' thoughts and feelings, but this didn't particularly detract from the pleasure of reading the story. It is a gripping tale about a woman and man who find themselves drawn together by war, then torn away from each othe...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Dolors rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

The story about an ordinary extraordinary woman, Jean Paget, who was held prisoner together with 30 British women and children in Malaya by the Japanese during the Second World War. As there wasn't any camp for them, the Japanese kept them walking from village to village without knowing what to do with them, provoking the death of more than half of the party due to exhaustion, bad nutrition and tropical diseases. Their luck changes when they meet an Australian prisoner named Joe Harman who stole...more The story about an ordinary extraordinary woman, Jean Paget, who was held prisoner together with 30 British women and children in Malaya by the Japanese during the Second World War. As there wasn't any camp for them, the Japanese kept them walking from village to village without knowing what to do with them, provoking the death of more than half of the party due to exhaustion, bad nutrition and tropical diseases. Their luck changes when they meet an Australian prisoner named Joe Harman who stoles medicines and food for them until he is caught and flogged to death by the Japanese Captain. Or so they think.
Some years later, Jean comes into some money because she inherits her uncle's fortune and decides to go back to Malaya and do something good for the people who finally helped them and that's when she discovers that the Australian didn't die. So, she decides to go and look for him.

The story is told by a third character, who is in fact the lawyer that handled the inheritance of Jean's uncle and the trustee of the money until she turns 35 years old.

All this seems like a pretty good plot to me, but somehow, I couldn't get into the book and I thought the narrative to be dull and flat and unemotional.
Apart from that, there's always a conservative tone in the story, there's continual references to the inferiority of women and Aborigines (or "Boongs" as they call them), the obligations in marriage (I found the scene where Jean finds it normal that she's covered in bruises after a "passionate" night pretty disgusting) or the way the author talks about sex, which is absolutely outdated and embarrassing.

Some say the story was romantic but not mushy. I don't agree. The book was not romantic at all. It was completely unemotional. You kept reading about children dying and the only detailed account was about how to bury the body and the inscription that was to put in the tomb. Not for a single moment, did the writer describe his character's feelings, they seemed pretty inhuman to me.
Then, there's the love story. First of all, we only read like 5 pages when they meet so you don't get the impression that there was any attraction for each other in Malaya. Then, after the long part where you don't know if they are going to meet again or not, I couldn't help but feeling disappointment about their so long expected encounter. Jean was only worried about business and investments and Joe was a short minded guy who only talked about cattle and his station in Australia.

All in all I felt a bit cheated, because having seen the other reviews, I expected an emotional trip and I found an objective novel which tells you all about how to start a business and talks nothing about feelings or digs deep into the characters of what could have been an engrossing tale of hardship and love.(less)

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Dec 25, 2012 Oscar rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Certainly one of the better Shutes that I have read, this book tells the gripping and unexpected story of the recent years of the life of Jean Paget, narrated by her solicitor, the ageing Noel Strachan. The story is well told, following the path of Miss Paget's life, but it starts with Noel Strachan, meeting up with Douglas Macfadden to draught his will. In this will, he indirectly leaves £53,000 to his niece, Jean Paget, which was only to happen under very specific (and for the author, convenie...more Certainly one of the better Shutes that I have read, this book tells the gripping and unexpected story of the recent years of the life of Jean Paget, narrated by her solicitor, the ageing Noel Strachan. The story is well told, following the path of Miss Paget's life, but it starts with Noel Strachan, meeting up with Douglas Macfadden to draught his will. In this will, he indirectly leaves £53,000 to his niece, Jean Paget, which was only to happen under very specific (and for the author, convenient) circumstances. Otherwise, it would go to other family. Because these unlikely circumstances occur, Noel Strachan ends up as trustee for Miss Paget, looking after her money until she is 35.
He gets to know Miss Paget a bit, and eventually she tells him the whole of her story of her experience of world war II in Malaya. One of a group of 32 women taken prisoner by the Japanese with no camp to go to, they are made to walk. After months of walking, the numbers are reduced to 17, Miss Paget has met an Australian man who was killed (so we think...), and their Japanese guard has died. They settle down in a village on the east coast of Malaya for the last three years of the war, growing rice in the paddy fields.
After the war, she returned to England, where she later learned of her inheritance (1948) and eventually decides to build a well for the women of that tiny Malayan village as thanks. While she is there, another (convenient) twist to the story, she finds out that her Australian man, Joe Harman is still alive, despite being crucified and beaten. She sets out to Australia to find him, only to find out he had set out to England to find her. We waits down under, he comes to see her, and after an awkward reunion, they get along and get engaged.
Aww, sweet, but then (stilly married at this point) Miss Paget decides to open an alligator skin shoe manufacturer in Willstown, the tiny town in which Joe lives, and en she builds an ice cream parlour, then a swimming pool, and then she makes it into her own business world. The town expands, they get married, live happily ever after, and then we end with Noel Strachan in his flat (he had been down to visit Jean a few months earlier) now unable to care for himself, or leave the flat.all he has are his memories of that place and the regular letters from Jean. An unnecessary but realistic ending in my mind.
It is a great book, and a wonderful read, however I found that too many things went just how Shute needed them to go,always so perfect, making it unrealistic at times. More than a four star, but less than a five because of the unrealistic ,moments, so I rounded it down to four as my Spanish teacher always did.(less)

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Jul 30, 2012 J. Travis Moger rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 18, 2012 Stuart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very optimistic book about a young woman who comes through wartime horrors, finds love, and transforms a desperate town in Australian cattle country into an attractive place like Alice (Springs). Jean Paget is respectful of the Malays she lives amongst, is quietly positive in captivity, and imaginative and unconventional in transforming the lives of people in the outback. Written in 1950 it celebrates a sense that the past can be redeemed (she does all this on the back of an inheritance, manag...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another read for my local book club. This is an "old" book--published around 1950--with a heroine, Jean Paget, at its center. Its narrator is English solicitor/attorney, Noel Strachan, who has been selected to administer an estate/trust for Jean. Jean, a native of Scotland, had spent a good portion of her childhood in Malaysia (or "Malaya" as the book calls it) due to her father's business interests. However, Jean and her elder brother get caught up in strife when Japan invades Malaysia during W...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Adam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was suggested by Maria Bustillos in a stinging article on Ayn Rand as a better version Atlas Shrugged. Like Atlas Shrugged, the hero is a woman who puts hard work and capital to use building businesses that employ and elevate the other characters of the story. The similarities end there. There are no struggles between rich and poor or, as Rand put it, “creators” and “moochers”; no cartoon-like heroes spun from the fantasy of someone thoroughly dissatisfied with everyone but herself; an...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century, historical-fiction, love, marriage, romance, world-war-two, pacific-theater, malaya, australia, prisoners-of-war, non-combatants

I couldn't tell you why I have resisted reading "A Town Like Alice" for so many years. But I did. Perhaps it is for the best whatever time it is we chose to land a particular book in our hands.

When I began to read Shute's book, I quickly fell into it. Noel Strachan is perhaps one of the most charming narrators I've encountered. Shute's use of the aging British Solicitor to unveil the story of Jean Paget drew me into the tale.

It was a simple enough matter. Strachan was hired to write the will an...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Mary Lou rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Nevil Shute’s novel A Town Like Alice is an old-fashioned romance, historical fiction that is informative enough about World War II, Scotland, Britain and Australia to boost it into worthwhile pleasure reading. A bonus for women is that Shute’s female protagonist is independent, creative, and adventurous. She attracts the main male characters with her spirit and personality although her looks are a plus and her brain secures their admiration.

The story begins with a woman Jean Paget and her soli...more

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May 25, 2011 Jane Stewart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-with-romance, 4-plus-star-other

4 ½ stars. The last 2/3 of the book was uplifting and feel good. The first 1/3 was sad and depressing about prisoners of war.

STORY BRIEF:
Jean Paget was a single 21-year-old English girl living in Malay when the Japanese invaded Malay in 1942. The men were sent to camps but there were no camps for English women and children. The Japanese commander didn’t want responsibility for the women and children so he had some of his soldiers march them out of his area. Thus began many months and hundreds of...more 4 ½ stars. The last 2/3 of the book was uplifting and feel good. The first 1/3 was sad and depressing about prisoners of war.

STORY BRIEF:
Jean Paget was a single 21-year-old English girl living in Malay when the Japanese invaded Malay in 1942. The men were sent to camps but there were no camps for English women and children. The Japanese commander didn’t want responsibility for the women and children so he had some of his soldiers march them out of his area. Thus began many months and hundreds of miles these women and children were forced to walk. They were repeatedly told that they were being walked to a camp in Malay, but no camps existed. They suffered malaria, dysentery, starvation, and exhaustion. Many of them died.

Joe Harman was an Australian cattle rancher who was also a prisoner of war, working as a mechanic for the Japanese. He met Jean during her forced march and helped her by stealing medicine and food for Jean and her group.

Jean survived the war and returned to England. She worked as a typist. When she learned she inherited some money, she wanted to build a well for a small village in Malay as a thank you gift. The people in that village were a huge help to her group during their march.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The first third of the book is about the forced march during the war. I don’t like reading about war atrocities. This was not pleasant. But it wasn’t as bad as other war stories I’ve read. Another book I recently read about the Nazis haunted me for a long time after I finished it. Although the Japanese caused death in this book, it wasn’t done in a way that stayed with me. It did add depth of understanding about the characters.

The last two thirds of the book were excellent. I was glad I went through the first part. The best part was Jean’s character, her choices, and her actions – so unassuming yet the results were important. This 21-year-old girl interacted with the Japanese and other people with logic, courtesy, and respect. As a result she caused things to be better.

I enjoyed learning what life was like in the remote areas of Australia. And there is a happy, feel-good romantic ending.

There were some instances of aboriginal racism of the time (1948) which may bother some readers. For example, an ice cream shop needed two sections, one for whites, one for aborigines. I didn’t like it, but it didn’t detract from the book. The purpose was historical accuracy rather than political correctness.

CAUTION SPOILER:
Joe believes Jean would never be happy living in his remote area of Autralia. Jean visits him and agrees. But then she does something to change the town. And then she does more to change the town. By the end I was surprised and delighted with the changes she caused and her effect on others. This turned out to be an enjoyable simple illustration of small town economics. It was comforting and inspiring to read. At one spot I was saying “I’m delighted!” At another spot I was saying “Loved it!”

DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 10 hrs and 22 mins. Narrator: Robin Bailey. Swearing language: I don’t recall any. Sexual language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1942 and 1948 mostly Malay, England, and Australia. Copyright: 1950. Genre: historical fiction with romance.(less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Rosanne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Town Like Alice was recommended to me several times as an option for my book club. I decided that it was time to read it. I should have skipped it.

Jean Paget is a prisoner of war on the Island of Malaya along with a rag tag group of English women and children. It is there that she meets Joe Harman an Australian soldier who is crucified by the Japanese in charge because he stole chickens to give to the starving women. Upon Jean's return to England many years later; she inherits a substantial a...more

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About Nevil Shute

Nevil Shute Norway was a popular British novelist and a successful aeronautical engineer. He used Nevil Shute as his pen name, and his full name in his engineering career, in order to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels. He lived in Australia for the ten years before his death.

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Quotes from A Town Like Alice

“She looked at him in wonder. "Do people think of me like that? I only did what anybody could have done."
"That's as it may be," he replied. "The fact is, that you did it.” — 4 people liked it

“I know you've taken risks to do these things. Do Please be careful."
"Don't worry about me," he said. "You've got enough troubles on your own plate, my word. But we'll come out all right, so long as we just keep alive, that's all we got to do. Just keep alive another two years, till the war's over.” — 3 people liked it

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