'''Winner of the [http://www.wavertongoodread.org.uk/ Waverton Good Read Award 2009/2010]'''
1983: Michael Lacey, a consultant surgeon is flying into Uganda to attend a medical conference. On the plane he struggles against his memories of a child buried in Africa, against his claustrophobia, and against the unwelcome conversation of his neighbouring passenger: a passenger apparently afflicted by a native curse.
For a completely different take on a childhood impinging into adulthood, this time with Cyprus as the backdrop, try the book alluded to in this review: [[Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne]].