A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A Town Like Alice
Book Review: A Moving Story that Makes You Proud To Be Human
Summary: 5 Stars
Shute captures the famous Death March with telling detail and a quiet understatement that lets the drama speak for itself. The "sequel" to that march in the town of Alice is an equally adept picture of how ordinary humans rebuild life and beauty in the midst of strife and emptiness. Some readers find the work structurally odd, thinking that Shute has slapped together two stories that are only loosely linked by character, but I find here a solidly unified tale, the story of a woman who descends into the realm of death and despair and then marches back out again. It's touching and inspiring and a reminder of what can be best in all of us, but without being treacly or preachy.Book Review: A Town Like Alice
Summary: 5 Stars
An unlikely title---until you read on. A wonderful story. The journey of Jean Paget and Joe Harmann through WWII and then to their meeting again six years later. Jean proves to be a character of strength, courage and compassion as she marches through Malaya with other women and children. This story encompasses life at it's worst and people at their best. This is an adventure of the soul and a journey of the heart. A happy and poignant ending to a lovely book.Book Review: A Town like Alice
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this on Masterpiece Theatre on PBS and loved it. I then listened to it on tape and it was very true to the production. It is one of the classic love stories of our time. It gives Rhett and Scarlett a run for the money. A true classic and probably my favorite love story. It has all the elements, love, passion, war, separation and never disappoints. I can not recommend it any higher.Book Review: A book you cannot forget
Summary: 5 Stars
I have listened to many of Nevil Shute's books, and this is my favourite. The book's starting-point is a real story that happened during World War II: When the Japanese invaded Sumatra, they captured 80 Dutch women and children. The prisoners were forced to walk along the roads for 2 ½ years, and by the end less than 30 were alive. Shute's novel takes place on Malakka, because he knew this island better than Sumatra. His main character is an English-woman called Jean Paget. In a touching way he describes how the women have to fight for their survival.
When the war ends, Jean is told that she has inherited some money, and decides to go to Australia to meet a man she cannot forget
Book Review: A classic will they- won't they tale with a nice twist.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book opens in Malaysia during WW2, with descriptions based on Shute's own experiences in Indonesia during the war. In a chance encounter an English Girl and an Australian soldier meet and feel something special exists between them.After the war, each attempts to contact the other. They travel the world to find out if their memories of that defining moment are real, or were a personal illusion, not held by the other person.
A real heart rending tale of true romance set in a passionate backdrop of war and the aftermath, and the wild spaces of central Australia. This is not just an Australian classic, it is a classic! A relly good memorable read.