A Town Like Alice | 
 enlarge | Author: Nevil Shute
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy Used: $5.68
You Save: $1.31 (19%)
Used (20) Collectible (2) from $5.68
Avg. Customer Rating:  65 reviews
Sales Rank: 200045
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: First edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0345353749
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.912
EAN: 9780345353740
ASIN: 0345353749
Publication Date: October 12, 1987
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
"A harrowing, exciting, and in the end very satisfying war romance."
HARPER'S
A TOWN LIKE ALICE tells of a young woman who miraculously survived a Japanese "death march" in World War II, and of an Australian soldier, also a prisoner of war, who offered to help her--even at the cost of his life....
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| Customer Reviews: Read 60 more reviews...
 A wonderful book, told by building small details into the story of two extraordinary (yet apparently ordinary) people December 7, 2008
This is a wonderful book, set against the backdrop of some pretty dramatic events such as WWII. Yet, the reason it works as a novel is that it is actually very SMALL in scope. It's the story of two people who might seem very ordinary in today's glitzy world - an English typist and an Aussie cattle ranch manager. Neville Shute builds the story, and shows us their character, by layering detail after detail of small events which, in themselves, are not earth-shattering, but which add up to two lives, richly lived. The book is divided into three sections - the first is the shortest: an introduction set in London; then a flashback to the two main characters' years as prisoners of the Japanese in Malaya; then their experiences in the Australian outback. In the process of reading the book, I came to greatly admire the main character, Jean Paget, through whose eyes much of the story unfolds.
Capitalizing on what Fate throws at You October 20, 2008
Written on two levels,this tale has much to offer. Superficially the Australian novelist and aviator, Nevil Shute weaves a suspenseful roller coaster story energized by life altering events that happen to ordinary people in little known locales in Malaya and Australia. Beneath the surface if you care to look for Aesopian conclusions there is a feast of commentary on the British character. Without revealing too much let me simply say that more respect is lavished on those who fully adopt the land they live in when compared to those who don't. Complacency in the face of danger, inability to adapt as conditions change, and unrealistic hopes contrast with courage, perserverence and ingenuity. Read this book; the journey is intriguing.
And if you're like me you'll add a number of remote destinations to your "bucket list".
 I don't care how this book ends! February 18, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
OK, the first 100 pages were great. It was a very gripping story. But when the tension ended, the plot ended. Who cares if Jean wanted to make shoes? Who cares how many stops her plane made, going all over Australia? Who cares what the people looked like, and what they did? If I wanted a book called "People and Places in Australia," I would have checked it out. Meanwhile, back in the outback, there's no plot left. I can't make myself finish it.
 A Town Like Alice January 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Its a wonderful story, a good read! Book was a re-print tho and a few of the pages were out of order...but it did not detract from the story at all.
One of my very favorites. January 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is one of my favorites. I have a old well used copy on my book shelf that I bought years ago. The first time I read this book I borrowed it from the local library and the name was "The Legacy". This was probably 30 yrs ago. I think I have probably read this book at least once a year since then. I don't think I have done that with any other book.
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