Author(s): Siew Siang Tay

Fiction

Laila is desperate to escape life in the longhouse in her Malaysian village. Desperate enough to travel alone to Australia to marry Jim, a fruit-picker living in Renmark, South Australia. Jim hasn't had much luck with women - they're always giving him a hard time. He pins his hopes on Laila changing all that. Marital bliss, a new life. But when Laila and Jim finally meet, they each discover the reality of the other, and things don't go as planned. Handpicked is a subtle and sensitive exploration of the world of the mail-order bride. It is also a compelling observation of words and actions, expectations and consequences, truth and happiness.