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 … 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.
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Set both during and just after World War II, A Town Like Alice explores the growing relationship between an Englishwoman who becomes a Japanese prisoner of war in Malaya, and a man she meets while being marched from town to town in search of a Japanese POW camp. One that’s willing to take on her and the group of women and children with whom she’s …
I first learned of A Town Like Alice when the TV version was shown on PBS alomost 30 years ago. Its story has haunted me ever since. l finally got the book form out of the library was blown away how the author captured the time of Australia post WWII and the trials of Joe and Jean as prisoners of war by Japanese. Vivid, heart-wrenching at times, …
This was a great story. I should not want to be in her shoes. What a trooper . She created a town from nothing. What inspiration.
This book is a must read. Especially the WW2 part that then allows the characters to regain their dignity
Very human
I read this book many years ago after seeing a movie based on it on TV. I don’t remember a lot of the details about the story but it was about a strong woman who faced many tribulations but made a good life for herself and that resonated with me. I’ve been fascinated by Australia ever since.
I read this book many years ago and I found it very interesting. I did not know much about Australia’s WWII experience so I learned more about it.
I read this book 30 years ago. I should re-read it because, I can’t remember details, but I remember I loved it!
Great book 5 stars plus. All of his books are good. Especially On the Beach.
One of my top 10 favorite books!
This is one of my most favorite books! I reread it several years – it’s that good a story. The Masterpiece Theater series with Bryan Brown was AWESOME. It’s really a great story set during and after WWII….in Australia and war in Pacific. It’s just that good a story. This writer wrote many books such On the Beach….
My cousin gave me this book years ago, and I loved it so much that my husband somehow managed to find me a first edition copy of it. I have now read and re-read it so often that the pages are starting to fall out. It’s a great story – especially the second half. Whenever I need a little encouragement, I read A Town Like Alice. If that’s not the …
Great Book. Great story and writing. Great characters. Takes place largely in Australia. I don’t like books that are about war. Although some of the book is about what happens in war, it’s more about the characters lives and perspective.
One of my favorite books and towns.
Loved the characters. Did not want it to end.
This is a really good book about love in the time of war and what war can do to people. The main characters are very interesting and their tale of love found, then lost, then found again keeps the pages turning. However, I watched the Masterpiece Theater adaptation of the book years ago and found it was a much better story than the book.
I loved the narrative style of this book, The historical references are spot on, the characters are completely believable and I found it inspiring. The focal characters have such inner strength and optimism – really refreshing in the face of our current society. It’s a surprising story of survival and an improbable love story. A really good read.
Wonderful story. I didn’t know anything about the author. I was concerned the book would be dated, but the story stands the test of time. It was also very interesting to learn about Australia and the Malay peninsula during and after WWII. Do not pass this one.
Love d it
Great book but you have to get past the first 100 pages. I almost quit because it was depressing but the rest of the book was wonderful.