A Town Like Alice

By: Nevil Shute

Narrated by: Robin Bailey

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Jean Paget is just twenty years old and working in Malaya when the Japanese invasion begins. When she is captured she joins a group of other European women and children whom the Japanese force to march for miles through the jungle. While on the march, the group run into some Australian prisoners, one of whom, Joe Harman, helps them steal some food, and is horrifically punished by the Japanese as a result. After the war, Jean tracks Joe down in Australia and together they begin to dream of surmounting the past and transforming his one-horse outback town into a thriving community like Alice Springs...

©1989 The Trustees of the Estate of the Late Nevil Shute Norway (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

I love Neville Shute!

I have read two books by him: Trustee from the Toolroom and this one, A Town Like Alice. I love the measured, logical unfolding of his stories; the old world gentility of times gone by, and of the pioneer spirit of the people of those times. If you like gentle, positive stories of good, thoughtful people... read Neville Shute!

I adored this little book

I started this at the onset of the stress and worry of the Pandemic. This book brought me a lot of solace and created a little place for my mind to travel and escape to easily. Not every book can do that.
There are a few things which by today's societal standards would be unacceptable I suppose but that must be accepted as the time it was written in.
The story was sweet, the characters were very likable (I secretly why to be Jean Paget) And it went into various different directions, almost creating new stories within one book.
I really enjoyed the narrator as well

Liked this book very much.

Where does A Town Like Alice rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is in the top half of the audiobooks I have listened to so far.

Any additional comments?

Very interesting listen.

Great story and well told.

This was an enchanting story. I had trouble putting it aside at times. The narration was beautifully done, and all characters were aptly portrayed.

Great Fiction about Determination and Leadership

I thought this was a great novel. I loved the lead character, Jean Paget. She had such determination and showed such leadership. It is amazing to learn that a similar march of homeless women prisoners and their deaths really happened in Sumatra during World War II. Very fascinating!
I highly recommend this novel by Nevil Shute.

inspirational!

Would you listen to A Town Like Alice again? Why?

yes, the character Jean Padgett is my hero! I want to strive to be just like her. Girls, you will love her strength, inner beauty and compassion.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Town Like Alice?

The fate of Jean and Joe meeting despite the dire circumstances

Have you listened to any of Robin Bailey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no but I will now!

If you could rename A Town Like Alice, what would you call it?

"Climbing the Mountain of Life"

Any additional comments?

This is a great story and I love Robin Bailey's voice. It is very English and proper, which I find refreshing.

Almost great

Loved this book, but there is one episode in the last third that is way too long a tangent. I'd give it another star if that had been condensed.

One Great Read!

loved it, loved it, loved it! This book has it all, from the multidimensional characters to the incredible landscapes, through a horrific war and a suprising love affair.....you will never be bored.

In addition, the narrator is superb!

A wonderful performance

Hearing a book that you treasure is always risky but this performance is truly inspired. Hats off to a sensitive and persuasive master of audio books.

I didn't know!

Any additional comments?

I picked this up without really knowing anything about it -- and was almost immediately swept into a great story. The heroine is interesting and strong, the narrator is an unusual voice, and it's an unexpectedly sweet love story.

Robin Bailey does a great job reading -- his voice is plummy and soooo british, and by the end I was a little bit in love with him, which is exactly how it should be. Highly recommend you give this one a listen.