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A Town Like Alice
- Narrated by: Robin Bailey
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
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A Town Like Alice
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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...
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What listeners say about A Town Like Alice
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Catherine Howard
- 02-03-22
Beautifully written and beautifully read
Nevil Shute wrote novels with such gentleness that even horrific incidents like the crucifixion in this story can be read without horror. He doesn't set out to shock his readers or to create unnecessary tension which so many authors do. He simply tells a good tale well.
This is one of my go-to books which I have read 5 or 6 times over the years. Loosely based on a friend's war experience he expands and works with his characters drawing you into their lives.
It is beautifully read. The story is written as the memoirs of a 78 (ish) year old English solicitor and the narrator sounds exactly as you'd expect this man to be.
Perfect.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jennie Grady
- 29-12-18
Interesting, funny, moving
I enjoyed this book overall. It gave me some amazing insights into history and helped me understand the realities of post war lives. Funny at points, human and full of hope. Definitely worth a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Julie
- 01-04-21
An absolute joy
This is one of those classic stories I never got round to reading. I loved every second of the narration and didn't want it to end. I had a vague knowledge of the first part of the story in Malaya but the second part was a delightful surprise. I love to travel and I love to learn about world events and cultures through well told fiction - this book satisfied both requirements with flying colours. I'm diving straight in to On The Beach now.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 03-06-21
Absolutely delightful
I loved this book. The story is enthralling although often gently told, with a great sense of place in each of its three principle locations.
There is, however, some racist language used - usually casually rather than as hate speech - which may unsettle some listeners.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kara12
- 13-07-20
Perfect
I loved the book and the narration felt a perfect fit. Definitely pleased with this choice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jude
- 19-10-20
Love Conquers So Much.
A Town Like Alice is one of those books I simply love . I read this book for the first time over 40 years ago in my school English class. it has remained my favourite ever since . It's full of courage and determination. Lives are changed through suffering and as a result others' lives change for the better.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- dion ogden
- 21-11-22
Every instalment was a pleasure
Although it contains some quite harrowing material when dealing with the war period, this is a wonderfully uplifting book. The contrasts between post-war London, Burma and Australia are vivid and informative, and it is extremely well read by Robin Bailey
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- john
- 16-01-23
3 places and 2 live affairs
Bonza ,,l listen to this over and over and there’s always a new picture gained in my imagination. The narration is simply beautiful though the language is dated and l suppose racist, but it’s a novel of it’s time and I’m glad it reflects how far we’ve come
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maysheen
- 02-05-23
Fabulous!
One of the the best listens!!! It’s a brilliant story with an excellent reader. Loved it!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Antoinette
- 24-11-22
A Town like Alice. A treat .
Robin Baileys Voice, his amazing gift , Australian accents , unfailingly story telling.
And what a story..
I’m an Aussie, it’s impossible to know all of that sunburnt Country, it’s savage plains ..
This book comes close , a masterpiece.
I admit to listening time and time , laughing at some , tearful moments , especially the end .
But then , I know may begin all over again.
It’s the sort of book that needs to be listened to more than once .
The movie only deadly with half of this masterpiece, the Book is one that will make you dream...
Antoinette.
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