Product Description

Never before has Yin Ling appeared in such splendour. Perched in the bridal car with her mother-in-law to be, in layers o unaccustomed make-up, bedecked with the jewels of her fiance's family, she is about to marry into one of the richest and most influential clans in Singapore. But on the way to the ceremony the car passes through a destitute area of the city and Ling catches sight of a scene of death - a terrible omen for a bride. Instead of looking away, Ling stops the car and goes to look. It is a dead baby, abandoned. Despite her finery Ling picks it up. So begins Catherine Lim's new novel. Ling - poor, beautiful, an outstanding student and a poet - is to marry Vincent Chee, a rich PhD student from a very traditional, upper-class family. She will become a dutiful wife, not the existence of her dreams, but the Chees' money and influence is essential, for her mother has cancer and they cannot abandon a faithful old servant, Ah Heng Cheh. However, the mapping out of Ling's future doesn't proceed smoothly. Almost against her will, and through her poetry, she meets outspoken American professor, Ben Gallagher, who threatens to overturn everything. Ling must make her choice: east or west, head or heart. The birth of a son makes her moral predicament even more agonizing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1427887 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 328 pages

About the Author
Catherine Lim grew up in Malaysia but lives and works in Singapore where she lectured in Applied Linguistics before turning to writing full time. She has published seven collections of short stories (two of which have been used as GCSE texts by Cambridge University), three novels, a book of poems and hundreds of articles.

Customer Reviews

Repeat the same theme one too often
The writing is fine and the story about interracial love is interesting. However, the author has explored this before. The story actually betrays the author background. Those who live in Singapore and Malaysia especially the Chinese are used to watching movies mass produced in Taiwan and Hong Kong in which the heroine is maltreated by all until the day a handsome hero arrived. I suppose to appeal to non-Chinese the hero is now changed to a non-Chinese. Interesting read to remain the stale movie stories one use to see in one childhood.

Will appeal to occidental males seeking docile oriental girl
I am tired of this author's writing which always run along the lines of miserable oriental women ill-treated by evil oriental males or mother-in-laws and then rescued by some 'white horse' prince. Have we not been here before? I think the authors read too much Babara Cartland novels and at the same time dreaming of the 'wonderful life' that may come with marrying some white guys. Let me tell you the truths, marrying a white foreigner does not always guarantee happiness. Half of my Chinese friends who marry different races are now divorced! Please find something interesting to read instead of repeating the same old story line.

One of the best novels I've read in a long while
This is first class writing with a wide range of fascinating characters very vividly drawn. There are also many colourful insights into modern day Singapore. Furthermore the novel accurately portrays the tensions that exist between the old Asian traditions and the newer progressive approach of the young professionals. The plot sweeps you along with unusual turns, strange incidents and is also interwoven with some heart-tugging romance. A great book