When Malika, a young orphan in rural Pakistan, is savagely attacked, her face is left disfigured and her self-esteem destroyed. Haunted by the assault, she hides from the world, finding solace in her mathematical theories. A few years later, her intellectual brilliance is discovered and she leaves conflict-stricken Pakistan for a better education in Melbourne, where she finds herself placed with Kateโa successful plastic surgeon facing emotional insecurities of her own.
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Malika and Kateโs lives slowly intertwine as they find within each other what each has lacked alone. At first, Kateโs skills appear to offer a simple solution to Malikaโs anguish, but when tragedy strikes, the price of beauty is found to be much higher than either of them could have known.
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As Swallows Fly is a poignant portrayal of survival, identity and empowerment in a culture dominated by the pursuit of perfection. In a captivating and unforgettable debut, McMahon asks what might be possible if we have the courage to be flawed.
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