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Mark’s Overland is one book after reading which I felt like picking up my backpack and heading to the hills for an adventurous journey. The saying that the journey matters more than the destination cannot be truer than in the story narrated by him.
http://www.indianbookreviews.com/2012/01/28/love-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/
http://wanderer-onestep.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-overland.html
Love adventure? Travelling?
Have the courage to leave behind all the strings of the material world and go for an unknown path that may lead you to more uncertainty than you can ever think of?
Love your partner enough to chase him/her all across the world to win him/her?
If most of the replies are positives, ‘Overland’ may be the book you should grab, forget the world and what all are happening all around you, sit in the most favorite corner of your house and go through the book.
If you are really the type of person who really is ready to follow his heart for what all he loves, ‘Overland’ may end up being the dream read you have been waiting for.
‘Overland’ by Mark Stephen Levy is the story of a young American named Danny who follows his heart for the person he loves. He loves his girl Heather so much that he follows her all across the world to win her, to make her forget all the nuisances and darkness of the materialistic side of this world. Circumstances make them meet each other, only to let Danny lose her again, this time for good. The reason is as grave as a war breaking between the Russians and the Afghans, and in the midst of it, Danny loses his most precious person in his life, Heather. Though life has been much unfair to Danny before, this time what all happens, happens for his own good. In the war torn country, which is otherwise the heaven for travelers from across the world, Danny makes friends, and in the process, gets back Emily, his childhood crush, back in his life.
Mark has been a true storyteller who portrays characters and settings in a way as practical as much it can be. The best part of ‘Overland’, undoubtedly, is after Emily and Danny met each other. The escape from Kabul, the chase by the Russians, the incidents in the village where they took refuge, and at the end of all, the way Danny gets back true love in his life – proves how much of a realist Mark as a person can be. And that has been totally reflected in ‘Overland’.
Writing: This is a story from a true storyteller. Mark has been a bit conspicuous in his approach to make this story make a mark in the earlier parts of the book. But as the plot moves on, his ability to create intensity instills life, as a result of which, at the end ‘Overland’ impresses the reader more than he, the reader could have ever thought the storyline can do. Though questions, regarding why the flashback was put through in such a way at the very opening of the book, may exist in many readers’ minds, but it can be assured that no lag in the smoothness of the storyline has been affected by that. Overall, good words about ‘Overland’, a story of travelling by a traveler, are here to stay for quite some time. And obviously, all the credit goes straight to its creator, Mark Stephen Levy.
-Bastab Chakraborty, Between the Lines, Kolkata, India http://betweentl.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/book-review-overland-by-mark-stephen-levy/
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Levy has done an excellent job of transporting the reader from the U.S. through Europe, India, Nepal, and Tibet. You experience romance, unrequited love, dreams, fear, and true love within an action packed, page turning romantic novel. The sensitivity and expressiveness Levy displays are exceptional. You can feel the fear and apprehension with the bombs and enemy troops and share the passion and excitement of romance.”
-From Maralyn Hill’s review of Overland, President, International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association:, USA
Mark Stephen Levy takes his traveling adventures and his personal love story as he creates an incredible Masterpiece of war, history, and romance. The main character, Danny Benson is a man who makes the reader turn the pages as fast as the speed of lightning, and has the type of personality that would make your heart melt. As he rides the Magic Bus to Afghanistan in desperate search to find the woman he loves, along with answers to many questions about their relationship, unexpected circumstances changes his life forever. I highly recommend this novel to all fiction, historical fiction, and adventure lovers. The sweet scent of sizzling romance blossoms like a rose as the reader is taken on an interesting journey through the culture and beauty of different countries. Challenges are taken through many twists-and-turns, while war is looming as the pages become covered in drama. The plot is captivating, the story is delightful and the fascinating characters come to life in this unique, emotional roller-coaster ride. The author paints each page with excitement, danger, sorrow, and happiness.
-Posted by Author Geri Ahearn USA
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Overland is a fun, exciting and wonderful book to read that integrates historical romance, with an adventurous love story. Captivating, an emotional journey on the “magic bus” to find love, amidst war and turmoil in foreign lands.
-Posted by April L, USA
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“I may not know how to describe the novel ” OVERLAND” concisely to convey its successes, but I can say that I’m in love with this ” love story”.
It’s a stunning accomplishment as a whole..
One of my Favorite Books of the year.. 
easily ” OVERLAND” is a mesmerizing tale.. Important and entertaining, I was ” super… sad” to finish this story….(and I would like to see what happens next).
-Posted by Monia Al-Hobishy , Saudi Arabia
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“Your story was so intoxicating…your writing so picturesque without being wordy, the locales were postcard perfect, you really not just painted the image with your words, but I could hear the sounds and smell the scents of each scene that you described…I really felt as though I was there, as though I was Danny. I adore Emily, even the briefly introduced Anna. That’s what I mean, you described each character, that they became people in my world. I even found myself weeping at the Tea Garden when they embrace at the end. And although you realistically described the horrific personal tradgies of war, I loved the way the doctors and towns folks were united and had the intimate relationships that this environment created. And you made it realistic but not gory where you want to skip thru it, I wanted to read every word because even with the bad you worked in a bit of compassion/good over evil/humanity at it’s best a the time when it was it’s worst. And the village story where Emily and Danny have their hut was such a romantic and perfectly time respite from the realistic war. From the birth then it went to the war and threat of death but ended in the escape…I just didn’t want to put it down but at the same time I didn’t want to read it too fast because each section was so wonderful I didn’t want it to end. Your story has everything…one minute I was laughing, then teary-eyed. This would make one heck of a movie, like “The Notebook” quality movie.
-Posted by Jennifer Foust, USA
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“Mark, I just finished your book! What a page-turner! You did a fantastic job!”
-Posted by Lindsey Landis, USA
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What a magical story! Mark not only gives us a story about love, he also provides action, adventure, and suspense. I found this book to flow as I turned each page and was taken away to far away places by Mark’s vivid descriptions and incorporation of historical events. I would highly recommend this book to fans of all genres for its appeal to entertain the reader and keep you hooked all the way to the end.
-Posted by Sara Stevens, USA
Engaging, entertaining and thrilling.
Sometimes all you expect out of a book is to have fun reading it. You want
it to pulsate, hold your attention, make sense and have an element of surprise-
this book has it all.
On the last day of med school exam, Danny Benson receives a letter from his
fiancée Heather. The girl he wants to marry informs him that the engagement is
off. Danny isn’t satisfied and your home bird sets off on an adventure to find
Heather. He takes the Magic Bus and though he finds his fiancée, he suddenly is
caught in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and loses her again. Helping treat
the injured in a make shift hospital, he discovers true love in the form of
Emily- the girl he met during a childhood trip to Ireland.
The writing is simple and easy to read. Initially I expected the book to
deal in detail with each and every destination the Magic Bus stopped at, i.e.
more like a travel book(the blurb does say the author was inspired by his
travels), but the book doesn’t. It is fast paced thriller.
The book is tightly packed and at no time do you feel that the author has
taken liberty to make it easy(or difficult) for the protagonist- the story
progresses naturally. Initially you get the impression of passing through too
many places rather too quickly, which we do. The book first takes us to London
and from there we transverse across Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and the
book concludes rather romantically and fate-slapped in Kathmandu.
The characters are easy to understand and relate to. The book does not seem
boring or a drag at any point. You might have guessed the ending, but it is
still exciting. You can see where the inspiration from traveling comes in.
Unlike other authors, Levy does not try to paint the Orient in bright romantic
hues, he stays grounded.
A paperback which you can read while traveling(took me about a couple of
hours to finish it), it is worth it. There are enough twists and turns to keep
you guessing and immersed.
Review by Vishesh Unni, Chennai, India
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