Published in 1950 when Shute had recently settled into Australia, A Town Like Alice tells the story of Jean Paget in post World War II London, who unexpectedly comes into an inheritance from her deceased uncle. I began reading it a while ago but never got past the first page or two – a bad habit of mine when trying a new author – so the other evening, wanting to tackle another of the BBC’s Big Reads, I decided to sit down and read it. Thus when he recently lent me A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute, number 37 in the BBC’s Big Read, I had little, if any expectations.
On the whole though, my father tends to read fact-based books, whereas I’m a fan of fiction. Having inherited my love of France from my father, I was keen for him to read one of my favourite authors, Joann Harris, most of whose novels are set in France, and he seemed to enjoy most of her books. Over the years we have, on occasion, exchanged books. At the time I was devouring Nancy Drews, Baby Sitter Club books and Judy Blume like they were going out of fashion, and I think my father wanted me to try some slightly more intellectual reads certainly ones whose focus wasn’t around shopping malls and boys.
One of my earliest book-related memories was being proffered a copy of I Am David by my father, who was less than keen on my choice of reading. For many years now it has been clear that when it comes to books, my father and I don’t always see eye to eye.
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