A Fish Could Love a Bird

A FISH COULD LOVE A BIRD recounts the interracial marriage between Lauren a Caucasian Canadian ar tist and Chen a Chinese Malaysian physician who met at the University of British Columbia. The newly-weds will live with his parents-Wong a rubber plantation owner and Tan who runs a beauty salon.<br><br>Lauren coming directly from a privileged life in Vancouver with her BFA degree in her suitcase faces crucial challenges entering the home and culture of a Chinese family. Feeling like an alien she is battered by superstitions treated with mysterious potions from the apothecary and pressured from the beginning to have a boy baby. As eldest son Chen is torn between the bounden duty to his parents and the expectations of his feisty energetic wife.<br><br>The novel gives a close look at many facets of Malaysian life-from hot ginger compresses to devils peeking in windows. In the face of overwhelming socio-cultural differences can the marriage of Lauren and Chen survive?