In As Swallows Fly by L.P. McMahon, Kate is a plastic surgeon living in Melbourne and Malika is an orphan from a remote village in Pakistan. Their lives unexpectedly converge thanks to the well meaning intentions of an uncle and priest and each of the women seem to directly - and sometimes indirectly - help one another with their struggles.

Malika's childhood upbringing in rural Pakistan was tough, yet full of love and her joy of learning and mathematics was a pleasure to read about. I learned that the author volunteered as a medic in Pakistan and his experience definitely shines through in his writing.

Malika struggles with a facial disfigurement after an horrific assault and insists on keeping her face concealed by wearing a veil and hijab. Arguably one of the most moving scenes in the entire book should have been the moment Malika reveals her face to Dr Kate for the first time. I was eagerly anticipating this moment, but the conversation between the characters is held 'off stage' so to speak. In my opinion the author missed an opportunity for these characters to experience a powerful scene and without it, I felt bereft.

Meanwhile, Kate is hardworking and overworked and she's constantly running late for things which really irked me. I know the author needed to demonstrate the demanding nature of Kate's job and how 'busy busy' she is, but it just made me roll my eyes.

I was enjoying the growing trust between Kate and Malika, but by the close of the book there were too many unanswered questions for my liking. There were unresolved character arcs and a glaring oversight right at the end. (Find me on GoodReads for more on this where I was able to hide my questions via a spoiler warning).

As Swallows Fly is the debut novel for Melbourne surgeon L.P. McMahon and will be an enjoyable contemporary read for those who don't mind an ambiguous or unresolved ending.

* Copy courtesy of Ventura Press * ( )

My experience reading this novel can best be described as quiet enthralment.

It is hard to believe As Swallows Fly is McMahon’s debut, such is the precision of his prose and his patient and nuanced character development. Even while depicting horrific events and deeply confronting subject matter, his narrative eschews ‘drama’ and instead zeroes in on the substance. By that, I mean the inner turmoil and insecurities of the perfectionist/high achiever, the outsider, the trauma survivor. The effect is haunting.

But do not for one minute think this novel lacks pace. McMahon taps into the subtle intrigue and suspense of everyday interactions so effectively. I found myself glued to As Swallows Fly‘s pages… utterly engrossed and reading for large stints at a time. In that respect, the reading experience comparable to Elliot Perlman’s 'The Street Sweeper' and Elizabeth Kostova’s 'The Historian'. Continue reading >> https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2021/04/as-swallows-fly-by-l-p-mcmahon-revi... ( )

It was serendipity at the library that led me to this debut novel... that, and blurbs from three authors whose opinions I take seriously:

'Intuitive and visceral and sharp as a scalpel. Malika will claim a chunk of your heart.' Kristina Olsson
'McMahon's rare insight and empathy make As Swallows Fly an unforgettable, compelling story of hope.' Toni Jordan
'A powerful, poignant and thought-provoking novel featuring an unforgettable character in Kate. As Swallows Fly is a remarkable achievement by a debut author!'

Yes. I agree. And I would add, that it's rare to find a story of hope that isn't sentimental or nostalgic or naïve. As Swallows Fly is firmly grounded in reality but it's perfect for all those readers who are tired of the current onslaught of depressing books.

This is a story of two worlds that intersect when Malika, a teenage girl gifted in mathematics is brutally attacked because she dares to offer education to the other girls in her Pakistani village. To protect her life and to give her educational opportunities not available in Pakistan, she is evacuated to a boarding school in Melbourne, where she is nominally under the reluctant short-term care of Dr Kate Davenport, a successful plastic surgeon.

The network of Catholic priests who set up the evacuation is sketched only lightly; they are not the focus of the story though it's important to join the dots to understand the risk to Malika—whose circumstances are not unlike those of Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by a Pakistani gunman in an attempt to curtail her activism for the education of girls. Two of these priests go missing in the badlands of north-western Pakistan, and the third risks his own life to go and look for them. Although he must have entertained hopes about it, Father Mike does not suggest to Doctor Kate that she might be able to help reconstruct Malika's ruined face, and she does not know anything about it until Malika eventually chooses to remove the veil that covers all but her eyes. Malika does not know Kate's profession until she accompanies Kate to her Saturday appointments.

'Do you fix all these people? Malika asked.

'I operate on many of them,' she said, 'to try and fix what's gone wrong.'

'That is a good thing,' Malika replied. She turned her head and gazed out of the window. 'It is different in my village.'

'What happens there?'

'In the village we must live with what happens. Even when it is very wrong.' (p.168)

It is only after some weeks when they have had terrible news from Pakistan that Malika's calm acceptance wavers:

They didn't speak in the car. At the house, Malika went to her room and closed the door. Kate waited in the lounge for a while, pacing up and down and eyeing Malika's door. She hoped she would reappear, but there was no sign of her, no sound. She decided it was better to leave her: she would emerge when she was ready, even if that wasn't until morning.

She was watching TV when she heard the door open again, quietly—like a secret whispered. It closed again and there was silence. Kate found herself listening acutely, feeling rather than hearing the presence behind her.

'You fix things, Dr Kate,' said Malika. You fix things very well.' Her inhalation was loud. 'Can you fix this?'

Kate turned. In the doorway, Malika was standing with her head raised, her veil and hijab gone. She met Kate's eyes, her face clear beneath the glare of the downlights. The remote control fell from Kate's hand. (p.184)

Readers expecting the predictable miracle of genre fiction will be disappointed. Kate is a flawed human being, overworked and harried by demands coming at her from all directions. Miracles are rare, and the surgeons in Islamabad are accorded the respect they deserve by this author: they have done the best that could be done without risking Malika's life. As one of the characters finds out, plastic surgery in pursuit of perfection is often disappointing because the desire for perfection often masks personality flaws or other underlying issues in a relationship.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/04/25/as-swallows-fly-by-l-p-mcmahon/ ( )