Litsy

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I really enjoyed this book about intrepid Jean Paget who leads a group of imprisoned women around wartime Malaya, comes into some money, and makes a life for herself in Australia. This is a quiet love story, but mostly Jean‘s story, and you can‘t help but root for this practical, can-do character who in building a life for herself also builds a town for her life.

Amiable Oh, a dear friend gave me this book 35 years ago —it was his favorite. He‘s since passed away. I still have the book and I think of him every time I see it. Such a good read. 😍 6d

24 likes1 comment

EverydayImReading

A Town Like Alice | Nevil Shute

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I saw the movie in my impressionable teens and it stayed with me. The trauma of the war the romance against all odds the crucifixion and the steak and two eggs for breakfast. The language is of its time and is now we know better, very offensive. It‘s also about a third too long and could have ended much sooner with an epilogue. Buts it‘s also quaint. Jean is fierce + determined. Joe is a strong masculine hero. I‘m glad I read it with adult eyes.

18 likes

Texreader

The Ghost Bride | Yangsze Choo

@vonnie862 Yes! There‘s a Netflix series! #foodandlit #Malaysia #Malaya @Catsandbooks

TheBookHippie Ooooo 3mo

Catsandbooks 👏🏼🇲🇾❤️ 3mo

49 likes2 comments

Texreader

The Storm We Made: A Novel | Vanessa Chan

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The Japanese occupation of #Malaysia in WWII is yet another story not told enough. Fortunately there‘s this book reminding all of us of the damage colonization can do, first by the British (but at least not physically brutal) and then by Japan. In this story, we learn early on that Mom Cecily was spying for Japan, planning its invasion, during the British occupation. The Brits treating Malaysians as inferior was a good enough reason to make ⬇️

Texreader Asia for Asians. The novel goes backward to the present (during WWII), and so we also learn during the war that Cecily‘s son is kidnapped and put in a Japanese POW camp to build the Burma railroad. Cecily also has 2 daughters and husband Gordon, who ingratiated himself with the British, at least pre-war, unbeknownst to him his wife was spying for Japan. Much more happens in this book and it‘s very well done except for an overuse of cliches. How ⬇️ (edited) 3mo

Texreader many times do we have to read “She released a breath she didn't know she was holding"? And there are a few more that made me cringe especially given the high caliber writing. Be aware there is sexual violence against minors and a few graphic descriptions of body parts. A good solid read for #foodandlit @Catsandbooks 3mo

Catsandbooks Wow sounds intense! 🇲🇾 3mo

50 likes3 comments

Texreader

A Town Like Alice | Nevil Shute

pick

Jean Paget is the only single woman on a forced march of 100s of miles during WWII by the Japanese of the women and children around #Malaysia because there was no POW camp to house them. This first part of the book is based on true events in Sumatra. One of the few survivors, Jean became a creative leader, finding ways to keep the others alive, while balancing intricate communications with the captors and the Malayans met ⬇️

Librarybelle, BarbaraBB, Catsandbooks

Texreader along the way because of the expected deference of women to men in these societies. During this time she meets an Australian POW, Joe Harman. The second part of the book is about her search in #Australia to learn whether he lived or died having seen him tortured. There, her leadership skills turn into an inspired entrepreneurial spirit in hopes she can make a dusty old sad town into a “town like Alice.” ⬇️ (edited) 4mo

Texreader The story is told by her attorney in England, who controls the money in her trust. Fortunately, he believes in her spirit and helps fund her wild ideas from her trust. I love the hero that is Jean Paget. I read this book in high school, and I‘m sure this strong female role model was inspiring even then because I had fond memories of this book. I‘m so glad I had a chance to reread it for #foodandlit and #readingoceania ⬇️ (edited) 4mo

Texreader Treat yourself and read this one. (When I read this copy of the book in the 1980s, it cost $2.95.) (edited) 4mo

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BarbaraBB I read this long ago and forgot all about it but your review is fantastic and makes me want to reread it! 4mo

Librarybelle Great review! 4mo

quietjenn This was such an unexpected pleasure. 3mo

Texreader @quietjenn It really is! 3mo

Texreader @Librarybelle Thanks! 😊 3mo

Texreader @BarbaraBB It was a much faster read than I expected too! So you might be able to squeeze it in! 3mo

Catsandbooks That's wonderful! 🇲🇾❤️ 3mo

46 likes1 stack add10 comments

Texreader

A Town Like Alice | Nevil Shute

#fortheloveofbooks @TheSpineView

Whoohoo! I finished the tagged book last night. #Malaysia #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

KCofKaysville @Texreader I like that book and others by that author! 4mo

Texreader @KCofKaysville This was a reread and I still like it!! I‘ve tried reading On the Beach but it‘s a really really hard book to read because of its premise. I need to read some of this others. I have a stack of them. 4mo

KCofKaysville @texreader. Pied Piper is good about an old man who saves kids in France at start of WW2 4mo

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TheSpineView Fantastic!👍 4mo

Catsandbooks 👏🏼🇲🇾❤️ 4mo

Texreader @KCofKaysville I may have that one. I‘ll have to check. It sounds right up my alley (edited) 4mo

39 likes6 comments

Texreader

The Storm We Made: A Novel | Vanessa Chan

My next audiobook for #Malaysia #foodandlit @Catsandbooks

Catsandbooks ❤️🇲🇾 4mo

49 likes1 stack add1 comment

Texreader

A Town Like Alice | Nevil Shute

It‘s September already (soon) and time for us to move to #Malaysia for #foodandlit! I‘ll be reading the tagged book.

Catsandbooks

Catsandbooks ❤️🇲🇾 4mo

39 likes1 comment

Texreader

A Town Like Alice | Nevil Shute

I‘ve started this audiobook for #Malaysia #foodandlit It also works for #readingOceania for #Australia

I‘ve read it before back in high school and really liked it.

Free on Audible

Librarybelle, BarbaraBB, Catsandbooks

Librarybelle Thanks for posting! 4mo

Catsandbooks Yay! 🇲🇾 4mo

50 likes1 stack add2 comments

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