Nevil Shute (1899–1960)

This book was published in 1950 and it feels dated in its depictions of women and other races, but its heart is in the right place and its a great read. Partly set during WWII with a group of women forced on a death march around Malaya by the Japanese, then later set in Australia after the war where the enterprising Jean Pagett brings an isolated community to life. It is a love story and an epic tale, but its also a kind of blueprint for how a local economy works. The narrator is a rather paternalistic lawyer who has control over Jeans inheritance, and its soaked with the sexism of the time, but she is written as a strong independent woman and its a very enjoyable book.… (more)

What a beautifully written novel inspired in part by a real event during the Japanese occupation of Sumatra during World War II (which I learned in the Author’s Note at the end)! The story itself was compelling — I barely took a break all of New Year’s Day as I devoured it. The central characters were well drawn. Given this novel was published in 1950, I was surprised and pleased that the female protagonist, Jean Paget, was portrayed as a strong, competent, savvy, visionary woman, who endured and rose above the deplorable conditions of her captivity during WWII in Malaysia and whose later unexpected inherited wealth comes full circle from Australia to Scotland and England back to Australia. The story is told from the perspective of Noel Strachan, one of the trustees of the trust for Miss Paget’s benefit, a London solicitor, who is also an interesting character. Thrilled to have started my 2023 reading journey on this high note.… (more)