Embark on a captivating journey across the vast Russian steppe aboard the iconic Trans-Siberian Railway in this modern tale of self-discovery and introspection. The narrator, known only as D, begins his westward voyage in Vladivostok, traversing the ever-changing landscapes that unfold before him. As time moves inexorably onward, the everyday lives of the passengers intertwine with the rhythmic churning of the train’s propellers, contrasting sharply with the raw silence of the natural world beyond the windows.As the journey progresses, D’s physical expedition takes an unexpected turn, delving into the depths of his own psyche. A haunting presence, N, permeates the narrative, her essence imbued in the natural world, particularly at the breathtaking Lake Baikal in Siberia. N represents the one who got away, leaving a void and a profound fragility within D’s soul, scattering her ghostly influence across the many places his footsteps tread.Immersed in the tranquil vistas of the external world, D finds himself enamoured by the everyday characters he encounters along the way. As he navigates the complexities of his inner turmoil and the beauty of his surroundings, the narrator embarks on a transformative odyssey. The D who began his journey in Vladivostok will inevitably be different from the one who arrives in Moscow at journey’s end, but what will this transformation entail? Join D on this introspective voyage as he unravels the mysteries of his past, present, and future on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
He is a man of solitude. His world is that of the quiet and distilled. Each night, he sits at his desk as the clock strikes midnight. He journeys inward to that bottomless pit of conflict, prompted by memory, in search of an image fused with the imagination in order to reveal truth through character and the creative narrative process. The words become sentences and they are formed. And so it all begins. This was his first attempt and successful completion of a full-length book. His name is Daniel C.A. Christianson.
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This is a book that was written by a man who has a deep understanding of Russia, its long and tragic history, its diverse culture and its fabled literature. The entire book is a love letter to Old Rus and his longing for Russia to return to that old way of life that brought it so much happiness and flourishing as a people and culture. It is very clear from my close reading of this book that I can tell that the author has a close relationship with Russia and who obviously has visited its land on many occasions. He is also a man that is steeped in Russian history and literature and can easily move from one to the other to depict his many narratives. I do not go along with the many other reviews who see the character N as a real person and a former lover of the protagonist. The author inserts the character N into his narrative to use her as a metaphor for Old Rus and the love that Russia once knew and longs for again. Every time the character N comes to the mind and to the heart of the protagonist she is used to show Old Rus and this former love for Russia and for all its people. N cannot be a real person because the author depicts her as something sacred and not of this world. She never utters one word; we never get to know her name. She is a memory and a permanent reminder for the Russian culture that maybe, just maybe, the spirit and culture of Old Rus can return one day if the people truly change their ways.
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I really enjoyed this book and it was my favourite book of 2024. I am going to read it a second time to try and find out if I can answer the many questions that occupy my mind after I had finished reading it. The ending, although so wonderfully written has left me with many questions. I am trying to figure out if the love interest N is a real person or a fictional heroine. I just cannot be sure about this. Is it possible for a man to love a woman so much so that she becomes the epitome of his precious dreams? N only appears once in the book although the memory of her and what she means to the author is all over this narrative. The protagonist is possessed by N and pines for her along the waters of lake Baikal. I never heard of this lake before but now I understand how sacred it is for the author and how he imagines rowing N across the lake in a boat so that they can be together once again. The scene at Kirova park is so heartbreaking as the protagonist continues to wait for N but she never comes. The love letter scene at a park in Omsk hints to me that N could be a real person but if she is real then what happened to this couple to create such a break and allow such a brilliant book to be created?
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I was recommended to read this book by a friend of mine a few months ago and although I had bought a copy I only finally got to read it over the Christmas holidays and into this new year. My first impression is that I don't feel it is a travel book at all as there are so many layers that the author weaves into his narrative to subtly reveal his ideas. There were moments when I was reading it that I felt I was unsure as to where the author was going with the story but then very quickly the thoughts, ideas and philosophy of the author burst forth and onto the pages through the movement of the protagonist. The essence of the book is the love story between the protagonist D and his great love N. The strange thing is that I cannot be sure if N is a real or imaginary figure used to enhance the narrative. There were moments when I felt that N is a real person but then at other moments I felt that she is a fictional figure who remains nameless but who has a thousand questions hanging over her. The ending is beautifully written and allows the reader to witness such a sad parting but because it ends in such a way without any sort of resolution the reader is left with wonder to whether N is real and living in this world or simply a figment of the author's imagination. Who knows, really?
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The author is clearly a man who loves Russia but it is the Russia that was depicted by their great writers such as Chekhov, Dostoevysky, Gogol, Pushkin and Tolstoy. The author is very critical of Russia and the Soviet Union's former leaders who, in his opinion have caused so much damage to the Russian soul. The author feels that the true spirit of Russia resides in Old Rus and he longs for a return to such a traditional way of life when Russia flourished with high artistic endeavour and a genuine respect for its people and their lands and many cultures. The author despises the modern evils of nationalism whom he blames for such a divisive element within world politics and directly responsible for the many conflicts and wars that continue to be fought within our own 21st century. I think the reader following completion of this book will have more of an understanding of what it feels like to travel through the largest country in the world. The natural beauty is always there and this is what the protagonist deeply connects with as he tries in vain to get over the great love of his life. The love letter scene in Omsk at the bench beside the lovers is heartbreaking and I cried when reading it. This scene in particular hit me very hard. There is something so profound about in and when reading it I felt like I was right there at the beside beside the protagonist as he penned such words to his immortal love.
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This is a very deep and thought provoking book. I feel that the author has poured out his philosophical beliefs through his protagonist onto the page. It takes a while before anything really happens and I feel that this was deliberately planned and executed by the author for maximum effect. The narrative hinges on the events that take place along lake baikal in Siberia. It is a place of mystery but also one of natural beauty that often feels not from this everyday world that we live in. The protagonist calls out and searches in vain for N, his lost love but she does not respond. D is reminded of N in every place his feet thread upon. He will never see her again but that does not stop him in searching for a miracle. The reader is a witness to each moment along this journey with the protagonist. We can empathise with D because we know what love loss feels like due to the universal human condition. It is not all sadness as the reader gets to enjoy the raw and natural beauty of the world's largest country. We get to experience a country and land that few of us will ever visit.
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Katerina Tesar (https://traumapsychologyhelp.com)
As a psychotherapist, I can say that this book is beautifully written, vividly describing various parts of Russia, its everyday life, as well as the author's personal experiences, insights, thoughts, and key moments in his life—just as mentioned in the book's description. I am confident that anyone who finds these topics interesting will enjoy reading it as much as I did, and I highly recommend it.
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Spanning the vastness and natural diversity of the Eurasian continent from the Pacific outpost of Vladivostok in the east, Lake Baikal in Siberia to the Russian capital, Moscow, west of the Ural Mountains, Christianson's first novel takes the reader on a deeply introspective and revealing journey on the Trans-Siberian railway in the late spring and early summer of 2018. Christianson very skillfully juxtaposes the oriental and occidental cultural richness of its peoples, customs and history through numerous observant and moving anecdotes of his daily encounters with his own quest to understand life and all its complexities through the lens of literature, nationalism, philosophy and religion. Traversing westwards each day against the passage of time and surrounded by images and figures of Russia's glorious and tragic past, this journey slowly reveals itself through the protagonist's reminiscences as a quest for a love lost, a love that dare not mention its name. This novel is a very enjoyable and thought-provoking read. I am looking forward to Daniel's next offering.
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Book Review: East to West Across Russia: A Long Journey Home by Daniel C.A. Christianson
A good memory of me as I got this book on my birthday this year. This is my precious birthday gift.
I began tearing up at the preface, and I can’t quite explain why. It felt as if Daniel C.A. Christianson gently took my hand and led me into his journey without hesitation. From the very first words, I was no longer sitting where I was, but already traversing the boundless landscapes of Russia alongside him. His writing has that kind of power—effortless yet profound, making you feel as though you’re part of something far bigger than yourself.
As Christianson moves from the far reaches of Russia’s East to its Western edges, I didn’t merely follow him; instead, I found myself on a journey of my own. With every turn of the page, I felt transported—not just to the stark beauty of Siberia or the soulful quiet of forgotten towns—but into places in my heart I hadn’t visited in a long time. It was strange and beautiful at the same time. Christianson shares encounters with strangers and their simple yet powerful stories, and somehow, I felt the same emotions he described, as though they mirrored moments in my own life.
There were times when it was impossible to express what I was feeling, even to myself. It wasn’t about seeing Russia through his eyes; it was about seeing my own journey in his reflections. And I know I’m not alone in this—any reader who picks up this book will feel it, too. Christianson writes not only with eloquence but with an honesty that connects deeply with something universal within us all: the longing for meaning, the beauty of human connection, and the ache of searching for home.
And then came the end of the book. I didn’t want it to end. The closer I got to the final chapter, the more I wished I could stretch the pages just a little further. I wanted to stay on this journey, immersing myself in its emotional richness. Even when I closed the book, it felt as though Christianson’s words lingered in the air around me, like echoes from a dream I wasn’t ready to wake up from. It’s about a life sharing and also I was experiencing my version of life reflecting via the book. Many times make me realized how simplicity and complexity inside us are. We have some concealing indeed even ourselves sometimes never realize them.
I can’t wait for his next journey. Because this one wasn’t just a book—it was a passage into something unspoken yet deeply understood. And I know I’ll carry it with me for a very long time. Thank you Daniel.
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