Learning to Fly

by Audrey Chin

Swee Lian and John - a young woman in an emerging post-colonial city, a man from the old order in love with the rain forests . Can they share a life together?

Separated by race, station and a marriage, the Chinatown student Swee Lian and the Australian professor John find a way to come together in a world of towering tropical hardwoods and wandering forest tribes.

But the forests are dying and so is John. Is this the price Swee Lian must pay for stealing someone's husband?

An elegiacal celebration of the rainforests and tribes of South East Asia.

For those who 
Karen Blixen's "Out of Africa"
Beryl Markham's "West with the Wind"
Jamie Zeppa's "Beyond the Sky and A Journey into Bhutan"

Unknown Binding

First published July 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jeff Elkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a smooth and enjoyable read. I'm not usually into Romance stories. I picked it up because I had enjoyed some of Audrey Chin's short fiction work. I was immediately engaged in the story and the setting. It takes place in Singapore. Reading the book allowed me to encounter the culture in fantastic ways. It is a good read you should check out.

[Bao Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always remember this as one of my favourite books.

[Peter Sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant and heartwarming. Audrey Chin is a literary maestro and master storyteller who engages the reader to the point of empathy. The story also includes interesting details on plants and the mangrove habitat. A very rewarding read.

[Kath Unsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this novel, the heart breaking love story. Audrey is a poetic genius I love her work.