Customer Reviews

Chequer Board

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Nevil Shute is best known for "On the Beach," his novelabout nuclear war, and, more recently, "A Town Like Alice,"which was made into a TV miniseries. At least half a dozen of his other novels are equally wonderful. My paperback copy of "The Chequer Board" is worn out from reading, rereading, and lending, and it is time for me to replace it with a hardback. His account of relations between black American soldiers and the English during World War II is particularly touching, and is a bit of history that was unfamiliar to me.

What would you do if you had but one more year to live? Battle-wounded Capt. John Turner decided to use his year seaching out three buddies what had been in the military hospital with him -- each in a terrible jam -- and perhaps give them a helping hand. You'll meet snobbish Phil Morgan, the pilot who hated foreigners, yet deserted his wife to live with a Burmese maiden; Duggie Brent, a young commando, who had to unlearn the horrible teachings that made him an unintentional killer; and Dave Lasurier, the shy Negro G. I. who got into bad trouble -- and found his way out with the help of an understanding woman. John Turner's search for these three takes him to the far corners of the earth and into one strange experience after another until, in the end, he has changed from a petty opportunist into a man with truly great understanding, a man without fear of death. Only the author of PIED PIPER and PASTORAL could have written this powerful and touching novel, a story the critics have recommended "heartily and without reservation!" Don't miss it.

Nevil Shute's Chequer Board is just what it's title indicates: a checkerboard of characters, places and lives. All are sought out by one man who knew them all only briefly and now, that he is close to death, he wants to "see how they are doing." The novel came out in the late 1940's and refers back to World War II and how four men who survived the crashing of a plane returning from North Africa get on with their lives. Mr. Shute's writing is crisp and lively, his characters come off as very real and each of them touches the reader in his own special way. If you can ever find it, definitely pick up this book and let Nevil Shute take you on a wonderful ride tha you won't soon forget.

I read this book 15 years ago and I still feel nostalgic when I think about it. A great read which leaves you with that nice quiet feeling at the end, in spite of an active story line.

I would also recommend "Round The Bend" by Shute.

It's a gloomy, rainy day and I am home alone. I recently bought a book from Amazon because several years ago I had enjoyed other books by this author. He is dead now but I had somehow missed reading this book. I made a cup of tea, cozied up with my favorite throw in an easy chair, and entered into War time England. I was immediately transported into the lives of the characters. I laughed and cried with them as they struggled with life and death in World War II. The totaly unexpected trip to Burma by a main character was a thrilling and suspenseful endind to a completely enjoyable book. Hours had passed but I couldn't put it down. I certainly had a crying good time!

John Turner has a health condition that will end his life. How will he spend his last days? Working? Spending time with his wife despite his troubled marriage? It's easy to empathize with Turner as he ponders his options while plugging along. Ultimately, in the limited time that remains before his death, Turner decides to locate and assist three servicemen who befriended him while he was laid up in a hospital during the war. He feels the need to do something positive with his last months of life and relishes the opportunity to repay the kindnesses they showed him.

Turner's account of the servicemen's stories is enriching and frequently moving. Although Turner's quest leads him to the three men, the story focuses on two of them: Phillip Morgan, who married a Burmese woman and adapted to her culture; and Dave Lesurier, a black American soldier who was persecuted and unjustly accused of rape by white members of the American military. Morgan's story gives Shute a chance to compare British and Burmese cultures, philosophies, and political organizations. While Morgan's story is fascinating, Lesurier's is more powerful. Some American readers might think Shute went too far in painting members of the American military as racist (although, to his credit, he introduces an American character who is not) while portraying the white residents of a British village as accepting, and indeed embracing, the wronged soldier. I thought the story had the ring of truth but I'm not an expert in the racial attitudes that prevailed in small English villages during World War II.

In each of these situations, Shute addresses dynamic issues of culture and bigotry with sensitivity and insight. Unsurprisingly, Turner learns as much about himself as he does about his old friends, ultimately making his journey one of self-discovery. To some extent, the novel is about clearing the path for death. He returns to his wife a better man than the one who left on his journey.

In prose that is characteristically quiet and graceful, Shute tells an end-of-life story that is sad but uplifting. The Chequer Board is a very impressive work.

This is a very satisfying novel, one of Shute's best. John Turner has a health condition that will end his life. How will he spend his last days? Working? Yes, for a short while. Spending time with his wife despite his troubled marriage? Yes, at the very end. It's easy to empathize with Turner as he ponders his options while plugging along. Ultimately, in the limited time that remains before his death, Turner decides to locate and assist the soldiers who befriended him while he was laid up in a hospital during the war.

Turner's account of the soldiers' stories is enriching and frequently moving. A British soldier has married a Burmese woman and adapted to her culture; a black American soldier was persecuted by white members of the military while being defended and embraced by the white residents of a British village. In each of these situations, Shute addresses dynamic issues of culture and bigotry with sensitivity and insight. Unsurprisingly, Turner learns as much about himself as he does about his old friends, ultimately making his journey one of self-discovery. In prose that is characteristically quiet and graceful, Shute tells an end-of-life story that is sad but uplifting. A very impressive work.

this is the second time i have listened to this book. i have also read it and all the other stories by this author and i am a member of the nevil shute society. he is my favorite author. trustee from the toolroom is my favorite and i also love round the bend and the pied piper. i plan on listening to or re reading this one many more times along with on the beach which he also wrote

he has long been noted for being a mystic and when one reads the books one finds out why.

mary u. andrews

Nevil Shute has done it again. He writes wonderful books about ordinary people responding to difficult circumstances. I read this one about 30 years ago, and decided I wanted to own it, so I could read it again and again.

I have read two of this author's books and they are very well written. I am excited to look for more books by this author, his books leave me with a desire to seek out more of his captivating stories. I like the way he can tell more than one story in this book and have them all fall together masterfully.

This author was born in London in 1899 and died in Australia in 1960. He was an aeronautical engineer. He served in both WWI and WWII. He left the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander.

In 1948 he became disillusioned with the UK and moved his family to Australia. In the 50's and 60's he was one of the world's best-selling novelist.