'A Town Like Alice' by Nevil Shute follows the story of Jean Paget, a young woman who becomes a prisoner of war in Malaya during World War II. Jean's journey, along with a group of British women and children, is narrated by an English solicitor named Noel. The story spans across different locations such as England, Malaya, and Australia, showcasing Jean's resilience and determination to make a better life for herself and others. The narrative delves into themes of love, survival, and self-reliance, providing a glimpse into the historical context of the post-war era.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings for war violence, death of children, and casual racism reflective of the era.
Has Romance?
A Town Like Alice contains a high level of romance, primarily focusing on the relationship between Jean and Joe.
From The Publisher:
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 is back in England, the nightmare behind her. However, an unexpected inheritance inspires her to return to Malaya to give something back to the villagers who saved her life. But it turns out that they have a gift for her as well: the news that the young Australian soldier, Joe Harmon, who had risked his life to help the women, had miraculously survived. Jean's search for Joe leads her to a desolate Australian outpost called Willstown, where she finds a challenge that will draw on all the resourcefulness and spirit that carried her through her war-time ordeals.
Ratings (10)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (3) |
Reader Stats (27):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (13) | |
Not Interested (3) |
2 comment(s)
Weirdly enough I have read a few ww2 books that I never do normally. But it's good to dip my toes into genres I normally don't read too. An intresting little book. The old batterd and oh so well read copy I found on my library only added to my interest to read it and I'm not disappointed in it. I enjoyed the way Nevil Shute writes his stories and I was so eager to read more of them and quickly but only found an collection ebook on my book app. But it's better then nothing.
Read this as a young girl and remember it to this day. Haunting, breath-holding, beautifully written.
What can you read after
A Town Like Alice?
About the Author:
Nevil Shute Norway was born in 1899 in Ealing, London. He studied Engineering Science at Balliol College, Oxford. Following his childhood passion, he entered the fledgling aircraft industry as an aeronautical engineer working to develop airships and, later, airplanes. In…
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