I honestly don't know why it took me so long to read this utterly fantastic book--after all my dad spent years aged 4-14 in Australia and his sisters and parents returned there after WWII so all of my cousins except one are in Australia and I really should know more about the country, but I digress.
A Town Like Alice is wonderful. First person narration by a London solicitor, Noel Strachan, who recounts the story of one of his clients, Jean Paget, who is taken prisoner as a 20-year old in Malaya by the Japanese in WWII. She is a born leader, compassionate, practical, resourceful, and diplomatic. She rallies the other women and children who were also taken prisoner at the same time, and without fuss, arrogance, or power-mongering enables them to survive months of marching from town to town and then a couple of years as labourers in a rice paddy.
Early into her captivity she meets an Australian prisoner, Joe Harman, who befriends her and is crucified for his actions. The chemistry between Jean and Joe is not only palpable but achingly lovely. I don't want to give away the plot because reading the story fresh and without any expectations for how things work was such a completely enjoyable experience that I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
And I do want to stress how much I enjoyed this book. I enjoy virtually all the books I read, even those I don't like much, if that makes sense, because I enjoy reading. But this book is special--it truly captivated my interest and I found myself sitting slack-jawed as I marveled at the ingenuity, grace, and heart of Jean Paget. She's my new role model, and had I read this book as a young woman I might have set off for the Australian outback to try to find a town of my own to build.
After I finished the book I did a smidgeon of reading about the book on Wikipedia. Apparently, Nevil Shute based the Jean Paget character on a Dutch woman who had a similar experience in Sumatra, and the Joe Harman character on an Australian veteran of the Malayan campaign who had been crucified by the Japanese while working on the Burma Railway. It's clear that Shute based the narrator, Noel Strachan, on himself.
I honestly cannot praise this book too much--if you like love stories, read it--if you like history, read it--if you like dramas, read it--if you like great writing, read it. I do feel compelled to note that this book was published in 1950 and reflects WWII and post-war British/colonial views with regards to Australian Aborigines. The protagonists do use derogatory slang when referring to their Japanese captors also. It's not a politically correct book, but I do feel that it is historically accurate.
Now I get to watch the 5-hour BBC mini-series from 1981, starring Helen Morse and Bryan Brown. Tried as I might, I couldn't find a dvd so I hope the VCR still works--haven't used it for years. I've heard from many people that the mini-series rivals the book in terms of "OMG, this is so good!"
Great review, Jane. I love this book too. I hope your VCR works because I remember enjoying the mini series which I watched on tv when it first aired.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite book Jane. I am so glad you read it. The 1981 mini-series is great too. I just watched the 1956 movie version and enjoyed it too. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049871/
ReplyDeleteBlogger is acting up again and will not acknowledge my sign-in, so am leaving this anonymously.
Laurel Ann
Yes, this is a book I too have yet to read. But following your review, I will look out for it, because it sounds like one I really must make some time for but it'll have to on next year's TBR list, this year's is pretty full!
ReplyDeleteOh! How I wish I could join you to watch the miniseries. I dearly remember that series as it inspired me to read the book which I loved so much that I began reading as many Nevil Shute books as I could get my hands on. Pied Piper is also one of my favourite Shute books.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing the film "On the Beach" starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner, on TV when I was a teenager, and being very moved (and frankly scared) by it. The name Nevil Shute stayed with me too. I'm glad that "A Town Like Alice" was such a special read, feeding your Australian roots as well. Enjoy that mini-series--I'd watch anything with Bryan Brown! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is one book I've wanted to read (along with 100+ others of course). Your review makes me want to move it up on the list.
ReplyDeleteJane, I left a comment previously on this post that must have gotten eaten up by the Blogger gremlins. I adore this book. I first saw the movie adaptation on Masterpiece Theatre and then read it in one night. Totally gripping story. Thanks for reminding me how much I love it. I often recommend it at work.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this one. Thanks for introducing me to it; definitely sounds like some I will enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI might have seen the mini-series first on Masterpiece Theatre but I love the book too. A zillion years ago, before the Internet, some summer when I was unemployed and watching TV, I came across a TV show called Tenko, which is about a group of women held in a Japanese internment camp near Singapore. It was on A&E but in a weird way - I must have seen the first episode 3 times, then the next time I found one it would be episode 5, and so on. I never saw the whole thing at all or chronologically. A number of years later I bought the whole thing on VHS tapes from someone who was downsizing but I never had time to watch them. Anyway, it was very good and much like A Town Called Alice except not much romance that I recall. It was one of the first things I looked up when the Internet became an option.
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