A Town Like Alice in Around the World in 80 Books

Apr 13, 2017 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001, travel-the-world

Another wonderful tale by Nevil Shute. Yes, a bit dated and some prejudices, but beautiful writing.

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Sep 17, 2014 Tanya rated it it was amazing

A wonderful classic of Australian/British Literature. I understand why it is #17 on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels. Beautifully written story that chronicles the life of heroine Jean Paget. From her days held as a Japanese prisoner in WWII (based on a true account of Dutch women and children that were marched for years in Sumatra) to her post war life in England. She becomes an heiress from an uncle she barely remembers and we follow her back to the South Pacific and Australia as she searche ...more

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Jan 15, 2022 Jen Pratt rated it really liked it

This book is a compelling story ver loosely based on a true story. It follows a group of British women in Malaya captured during WWII by the Japanese, somewhat led by Jean. They were marched all over for years, supposedly headed to different prisoner camps and never actually arriving at any. At one point an Australian prisoner helps them and then gets crucified and beaten. Later on life Jean moves to Queensland and uses her inheritance to improve the town. The atrocities in this book are describ ...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Andy Plonka rated it it was amazing

It's hard to believe this book was written in 1950. The main female character Jean thinks like many women today. Since she is based on a real woman that did many of the things she did you have to admire her courage and just plain guts. ...more

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