The Curve of the World: A Novel

By Marcus Stevens

Book Overview

After New York businessman Lewis Burke's plane makes an emergency landing in a remote area in Congo basin, armed rebels seize the aircraft, forcing Lewis to flee into the rainforest. As he struggles to survive the unrelenting heat, battling thirst and hunger, he confronts his darkest fears and greatest disappointments: his crumbling marriage; his distant relationship with his seven-year-old son, Shane; and the lack of meaning in his life.
When Lewis's wife, Helen, discovers that he has disappeared, she dares to search for him herself. As she and Shane trek upriver into the forbidding forest, thwarded at every turn by the military conflict raging around them, the boy's visions and dreams of his father give Helen hope. Meanwhile, Lewis is rescued -- and ushered deeper into the jungle -- by a young Congolese boy, who helps him find a side of himself he thought he'd lost.
A stirring adventure, The Curve of the World is a riveting story about crossing barriers and regaining love, and about the resilience and tenacity of the human spirit.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743470826
• ISBN13: 9780743470827
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book

This is honestly one of the best books I've enjoyed in a long, long time. I listened to the audio version, and it was a well told story with an excellent plot and really touched me. Great book- give it a read.

Very enjoyable book

I thouroughly enjoyed this tale of a man's struggle to stay alive. I have personally lived in africa for over a decade and have found this book to be very accurate. Stevens has obviously spent time there. I would disagree with another reviewer who said that the story was far fetched in that the african would drop everything to help her. This is not far-fetched, the people in africa are incredibly giving and kind. If you want a book you can't put down and one that tells a nice story and a nice window into the way the conflict is in the congo and how african life is, then read this book, you won't regret it.

An exceptional first novel

Being a novelist, I read a lot of novels and this first time novel by Marcus Stevens is excellent. His vivid descriptions of the jungle, the chaos of the refugees, the personal set against the background of the impersonality of war, and the way he ended the novel - all of it left me feeling very satisfied. He avoided the error of so many first time novelists -of tying everything up into a neat little package at the end. Instead, you are left with the sense that there is more to the journey. Perhaps there will be a sequel?

Couldn't Put It Down

Once you begin Marcus Stevens debut novel you will be so attracted to the central figures of Lewis, Helen and their blindson Shane. We have nightmares of the frighteningjungle and are on edge about the natives and others met in thisjourney. Against the advice of family, friends and officialsHelen decides to take Shane and search for Lewis who was on boarda plane that crashed in the jungle. Shane is an inspiration toall of us, sick or well. Can't wait for Mr. Stevens next book

I loved this book!

I bought and read this book after hearing Marcus Stevens present at a Book/Author Dinner in Richmond, Virginia. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down. This book was two stories in one. One was the ultimate quest for survival after Lewis Burke's plane was required to make a forced landing in the remote Congo. His stories of survival, and subsequent befriending and rescue by a young Congolese boy, were fascinating. I felt like I was in the Congo trying to survive with him! This was intermingled with a love story, and ultimately renewed love between Lewis and his wife Helen. Their relationship had greatly suffered after the birth of their blind son Shane. Their relationship deteriorated for seven years while Helen gave her complete attention to raising a blind child, and Lewis withdrew more and more. Lewis' disappearance in the Congo renewed their temporarily lost love and brought them all back together. I greatly enjoyed this first work by Marcus Stevens and look forward to more from him!