Who wrote this book and when?
Nevil Shute published this in 1950. It was also published in the U.S. as “The Legacy.”
Has there been a film version?
Yes, in 1956 as a film and in 1981 into a TV miniseries.
Who are the important characters?
Jean Paget – a young woman who finds herself a transient prisoner and leader of a group of women in children in the country of Malay when it is invaded by the Japanese
Noel Strachan – a solicitor (lawyer in the UK) in charge of Mr. MacFadden’s will
Joe Harman – an Australian captured in Malay by the Japanese
What’s it about?
Jean Paget is a very rich woman – almost. Her entire family is dead from one thing or another, and her uncle has left her a great deal of money to be inherited when she is 35 and not before. Jean, however, is a sensible woman. She tells her solicitor and the supervisor of her estate, Noel Strachan, about her experiences in Malay when the Japanese invaded and she was taken prisoner along with 35 other women and their children. They were forced to walk all over the country, almost 2500 miles, nearly unsupervised as the Japanese were too busy fighting a war to take care of them. And she tells him of the tenacious Australian prisoner who stole food and medicine for them and also managed to capture her independent heart, until he was crucified by the Japanese.
Why is this book a classic?
It’s an enchanting love story and a tale of overcoming obstacles. Usually those make for a good read.
Do you recommend I read this book?
Yes, it’s pretty alright.
Why did this book make your list?
I don’t remember. Probably from one of my Top 100 lists somewhere…
Has it won any awards?
Nope.
Favorite quotes:
“She smiled gently, ‘Do I have to remind you, Mat Amin, that it is written, ‘Men’s souls are naturally inclined to covetousness; but if ye be kind towards women and fear to wrong them, God is well acquainted with what ye do.” He laughed and slapped his thigh. ‘You said that to me many times when you lived here, whenever you wanted something, but I have not heard it since!’” – p 108
Anything else?
Nevil Shute also wrote the book “On the Beach” which is about the end of the world. However, he hated the movie version. Not because they changed the ending but because he felt the movie producers took too much liberty in making his characters expressive.
Personal thoughts:
I had no idea what this book was about when I checked it out of the library. And my fears weren’t assuaged when I read the back proclaiming it as a “very satisfying war romance.” My thoughts were more along the lines of “well, crap.” I wasn’t in the mood for a war story, and I definitely didn’t want to read a romance novel. Ick. But fortunately, this really could be categorized as neither one of those. The main character’s experiences with the war aren’t the usual blood and guts and violent death at the hands of the enemy. And the romance isn’t the heaving chesties and out-of-control brooding lonesome sex crazed men type of romance. It’s surprisingly clean from both sex and gore. And a wonderful story on top of that. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to almost anyone.
Down and Out in Paris and London
July 26, 2006 — sarahintheskywithWho wrote this book and when?
George Orwell wrote this book, it’s a true story, and published it in 1933.
Has there been a film version?
I don’t believe so.
Who are the important characters?
George Orwell – an author who is living in poverty; first in Paris, then in London two years later
Boris – a Russian military man living in Paris who wants to become a waiter again
Paddy – a tramp from Ireland
Bozo – a tramp who works as a street artist with chalks, also known as a screever
What’s it about?
This is the story of George Orwell’s time spent in poverty while living in Paris and London. He tried to make it in Paris by giving English lessons, but when he lost all of his clients, he was forced to turn to his friend Boris for help. Together, they explore and detail the life of a plongeur, or a dishwasher/kitchen cleaner, in the French restaurants at the turn of the century. Two years later, Orwell moves along to London and is forced to live as a tramp for the few months between his arrival and the beginning of his new position. He meets up with Paddy and Bozo and learns the life of a London tramp.
Why is this book a classic/bestseller?
Because of its honesty and revealing narrative, and plus it’s by George Orwell.
Do you recommend I read this book?
Yep.
Why did this book make your list?
It’s by George Orwell. And my sister had to read it for a class over the summer so I volunteered to read it with her.
Has it won any awards?
I don’t think so.
Favorite quotes:
“And there is another feeling that is a great consolation in poverty. I believe everyone who has been hard up has experienced it. It is a feeling of relief, almost of pleasure, at knowing yourself at last genuinely down and out. You have talked so often of going to the dogs – and well, here are the dogs, and you have reached them, and you can stand it. It takes off a lot of anxiety.” – p 20
“Work in the hotel taught me the true value of sleep, just as being hungry had taught me the true value of food. Sleep had ceased to be a mere physical necessity; it was something voluptuous, a debauch more than a relief.” – p 92
“A tramp’s clothes are bad, but they conceal far worse things; to see him as he really is, unmitigated, you must see him naked. Flat feet, pot bellies, hollow chests, sagging muscles – every kind of physical rottenness was there.” – p 147
Anything else?
Nope.
Personal thoughts:
As usual, Orwell knocks my blocks off with his writing. He is so…to the point. He doesn’t pretty things up, or paint them any other way than what they are. He also tells you straight up that he wants you to get the right idea about some things, and will spend time telling you about them in more detail. I had to keep reminding myself that this was in the early 1900’s instead of the medieval days with the way the people such as tramps and menial job workers were treated. Not to mention how food was treated and served to people.