Happy New Year to you all !
It has been a while since we read a book that the group unanimously enjoyed; however, I’m glad to say that A Town Like Alice was one of them.
Although there were some traumatic parts to the book, and it was a book of its time (with many non-PC comments, language and ideas), we agreed that these issues were to be overlooked in favour of the many outweighing positive aspects.
In summary, the group particularly enjoyed the narration of the book by the lawyer Noel. Relaying Jean’s story through what he has been told and the use of letters was a good way to construct the novel.
We all really liked the protagonist, Jean. She was determined, kind, resourceful, clever and in many ways ahead of her time. She was a philanthropist, using her windfall inheritance mostly for the good of others, but she was also an entrepreneur, creating many thriving profitable businesses.
The book was full of jeopardy, which kept you turning the pages and kept up the pace of the story; would Jean survive the unending trek in Malaya, would Joe and Jean find each other, would the drive/ride into the outback have a positive outcome, would the businesses do well?
The book was well written and the descriptions of the heat and ceaseless trudging in Malaya, plus the heat and vastness of Australia, made you really connect with the places. The characters were also well-rounded and believable. Many of us enjoyed reading, what became in the second half of the book, a romance.
Those of us who were unfamiliar with Nevil Shute would be happy to read more from him.
The next book to be read will be "The People on Platform 5" by Clare Pooley.
This will be discussed on Friday 13th February 2026.