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Up front, I'm reacting to this book as though the story were true, even though I know it's based on bits and pieces of reality and distortion. And I know there are flaws in the way it was written through the eyes of Noel Strachan, because we were privy to thoughts of hers that Jean would not have put in a letter (like some of the scenes on Green Island). But I really did like these characters and was inspired by Jean's ingenuity and strength.

The third that's set in Australia was very reminiscent of the 1920s in East Africa, with the challenges of terrain and having to improvise. It was wonderful the way she melded her idea with the need to find a place for herself in Australia if she was going to make a life with Joe, even before they got back together. I know I know it's all a bit too good to be true, but it's kind of the opposite of 'for want of a nail ..." isn't it? One little thing led to another and boom, a Town Like Alice.

I was stunned during the part in Malaya at what happened to Joe--I was really not expecting that nor had I heard of that horror. It was all the more powerful because it was told as a matter of fact, complete, over, he died. So when we found out he had survived, I was equally surprised. I hadn't read the summaries in advance (whew) and I thought her Australia connection was going to be payback for his kindness and sacrifice as had her building of the well in Malaya. It also helped that the Japanese guards weren't merely painted as monsters and that a few of them helped the women and were caught in their own predicament over the prisoners.

The Gift of the Magi twist of Joe going to England as Jean went to Australia was delightful, as was Strachan's affection for Jean. Near the end, I was worried that Joe was going to perish and Jean would have to go it alone, so I was relieved that Shute didn't use that device. All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to enjoy this book.

Deb, I'm not sure where you stopped, but the part after Jean and Joe got together was mostly about the outback and how Jean had an idea for making Willstown (is that the right name?) a place both men and women would want to live in. She built a small factory to take advantage of the local availability of alligator skins at low prices to make shoes like those her boss sells in London. In the process she attracted women to work there, which in turn attracted men to come to town and work on the stations. She opened an ice cream parlor next door, which provided more jobs and a gathering place where women could go too, and then kept building onto the town until it became "a town like Alice"

Mixed in was a dangerous bush rescue of one of the station managers in which both Joe and Jean figured heroically, along with a bush radio network. Oh and Noel was able to go visit them--you probably read that part.
I think that sort of covers it.

When you take those comments in isolation it is pretty bizarre, isn't it? I noticed the one about the bruises and fate worse than death and thought "huh?" did I skip a page? But then again, she was still a virgin after all she'd been through and wanted to wait til they were married. She probably thought she was being shameless in even thinking about wanting him to make a move on the island.

I laughed at the DDT bit too; little did they know...

The crucifixion came as such a surprise and was so unbearable to think about that by the time we found out he survived I was shocked but relieved enough to accept it.

It's also hard to read about the racism and male chauvinism that Australia is so famous for. I imaging that, like anything else, it's not fair to overgeneralize attitudes, but given the decades and discrimination, it's hard not to. There's an article I was reading earlier on the chauvinism aspect--not sure what conclusion to draw from it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/20/women.australia There's so much to like about fun-loving Australians, but there is that other side.

I think you all are right about Nevil Shute being a bit captive to his times as well. Given that, he was pretty generous in making Jean so strong and successful, if a bit two-dimensional.

I really enjoyed the book and look forward to discussing it.

Even when Jean was younger, she was depicted as having an internal strength that was truly admirable--her time in Malaya and among the prisoners. She was fairly intrepid, to me, in traveling back as she did; even though by now she was backed by the security of money, there was no security in her travels. World travel on the spur of the moment, as in her trip to Australia from Malaya was pretty impressive too.

I liked that Shute didn't depict her as doing it out of desperation but rather that she was a practical, determined, compassionate young woman when captured. Hmmm, a little too perfect, eh? Oh well, I guess only the men were allowed the character flaws. (Like stealing each others cattle)