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.

Customer Reviews

4.7

97 reviews

Anneliese Bauer

I finished reading this book recently and came here to see what the reviews are like. The majority of the reviews question whether the character N is a real or fictional person. I cannot add anything to this debate as I am unsure if N is a real life person or simply a symbolic representation of idealised. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between. What has become fascinating for me is how copies of Christianson's book is turning up at various locations in Europe and more specifically at European literary sights like Weimar and the grave of James Joyce in Zurich. According to Christianson the copy of his book was left on a bench in Weimar as a gift to whoever might find it. Christianson wrote a note addressed to the reader expressing his desire to share his book and words with someone in Weimar. I think finding the book on a bench evokes a sense of serendipity in which it connects the finder with the author's words and thoughts in an unexpected way. I think Christianson deliberately chose Weimar to place the copy of his words as it is a city with a rich and cultural history and Christianson in placing his words at Weimar cemetery is honouring the lives of Goethe and Schiller who are buried there close to that bench. Both Goethe and Schiller are icons of Weimar's cultural heritage. I think that Christianson in leaving his book in such a location could imply a desire to connect with others who appreciate literature, spirituality and cultural history. I was not one of those lucky people who found this book resting on a bench or on the grave of James Joyce but I am so happy that I have found this book as I really enjoyed it.
Karina Dahl

I found this quite a bleak but at the same time quite an inspiring story. The protagonist D seems to have reached a crossroads in his life and seems to be tired of the modern world and its excesses. He decides to go to the largest country in the world and delve specifically in the remote and natural beauty of siberia where his metamorphosis begins. I don't think he is pining for a lost love. There is nothing tangible about the character N. She only exists in the mind and memories of D. Instead, he longs for a new way of living and that centres around a life of morality and love for one's fellow human beings along with an inner attachment to the soul within nature. D knows that his time is finite and that he must return to the real world but he can do so in the knowledge that he has chosen to dedicate his life to art and that of a writer. N is symbolic of his old life but he must leave that old life behind to become a man of words.
Andrea Eriksson

I want to join the debate of many other reviewers in discussing the mysterious N from Christianson's novel. I don't see her as a real life person either. If she was real then it does not make sense not to give her a voice. I thought at first N is symbolic of lost love but I changed my mind after the final scene when N fades away from D's existence. I feel N is connected to the sublime vastness and utter beauty from the natural world. N is not something tangible that we can feel in this world. Instead, she is something beyond our reach but when we retreat into nature we are connected to such rare beauty and therein we get to experience whom D simply refers to as N or his great love. Christianson's character D is going through an existential crisis and an inner turmoil particularly at Lake Baikal. It is there that N has her birth and she does not depart from D's life until the sun sets on Red Square in Moscow at journeys end. The essence and energy and complex beauty of N drive's D's introspection helping him navigate from fear to creativity and authenticity. N is not portrayed as a fully fleshed out character but as a symbol of D's emotional state and past relationships. N's influence permeates D's thoughts, emotions and interactions with the Russian landscape. It is a marvelous way of telling a modern love story by connecting it to loss of love. I enjoyed it very much.
Camile Ashanty

I read that other reviewers have mentioned that N is a female figure or simply symbolic of something beautiful and precious but I have read her character as a male figure and that the character D loves this male N but he can never speak his name as he cannot allow such love to become a reality in his life. The mystery that runs throughout this novel is that D loves this man named N and it adds a deep layer of complexity to D's story. The novel essentially is a theme of of love, identity and self-discovery that are woven throughout the narrative. D searches for his N throughout the pristine, raw and uncensored beauty of siberia but he can never find him. The vast, wild and natural beauty of the setting seems to mirror the characters' emotional journeys. The harsh yet majestic landscapes of siberia , lake baikal and other locations serve as a backdrop for D's introspection and emotional struggles. The setting also adds to the sense of isolation and solitude that pervades the narrative which could be fitting for a story that explores themes of love, loss and self-discovery. The Russian landscape becomes a character in its own right, shaping the narrative and influencing the characters' experiences
Francine Lopez

For me, the meaning of this book is the contrast between the natural world and the human being. This is very evident in the scene at lake baikal in siberia where the character D dips his toes in the water of this scared lake it is like a religious experience. Christianson in this scene is showing how the frail and weak human being is when it stands next to the magnificence an timeless splendor of nature. D feels out of place and knows that he truly does not belong next to such a wonder but is compelled to do so as he feels that just maybe he will become a stronger and more rounded being following such an immersion. I really loved this book. It was slow moving at the beginning but once siberia comes into view it takes on a whole new energy.
John Mitchell

This book was recommended to me during the summer. I initially thought that it might be a book of propaganda especially with the ongoing war and I also thought that it might be a travelogue but to my surprise this book is neither of those. However, in saying that, I am mot sure how to identify and class this book. Is it fiction? Somewhat maybe. Is it non-fiction? This is difficult to know as there are many layers and unanswered questions to this book. Perhaps it is a modern tale of love loss which to me is at the core of this book. This mysterious lady named only as N is mentioned throughout the narrative but we know so little about her and we never get to hear her speak. I think she is probably a figment of his imagination, the desire love of this character named D which one can surmise is the author Christianson. I liked it very much and I will give it 5* here.
Birna Rosenthal

What a delightful read this was. Sometimes I found that there was nothing happening in the story when suddenly we are brought into the mind of the protagonist D and then everything becomes real and important. In a novel I am always aware that the story is a piece of fiction but this novel was very different. It contains scenes of fiction and non fiction. It is like the author has created a puzzle and asks the reader can they figure out which scenes are real and ones that the author experienced and which scenes are fictional and came from the imagination of D and his creator. The one great mystery of the novel is the character N. She is so mysterious and elusive. She never had a voice of he own. We only see her through the mind and thoughts of D. Whether or not D did indeed love a woman named N is a mystery that I feel the author delights in. The scenes at lake baikal and in kirova part are so heartbreakingly poignant. D longs for N and begs for her return but she never arrives. Could the failure of N to arrive be a symbolic representation of all the times in life when a sense of failure and nothingness exist in our lives? If N was there then D would feel alive and the whole world would seem brighter and with meaning but when N is invisible we often see the world like D does. We see and feel such emptiness. Our world becomes smaller and full of despair. Congratulations Mr. Christianson. When will we see Book 2?
Orla Coughlin

I was informed that this book was written by a Scandinavian man who lives in Ireland and writes about Russia. It was quite bizarre in parts and because the author stated in his preface that it contained both fictional and non fictional scenes I found it difficult to decipher what was real and unreal. The story about the memory of N is the one that holds the full narrative together. Christianson said that she was the one who got away. I was convinced when completing the book that N is very much a real life person but now upon further reflection I don't think she is real. I feel this was a deliberate attempt by the author to have her as such a pivotal figure and one whom D loved so very much but the end scene shows that N cannot be a real person as she simply fades away from existence. This shows that she never really existed but such a stylistic tactic used by Christianson makes the reader feel that she could be a real person by how much pain the protagonist goes through and how he feels lost without his N. Ultimately, this novel is a most human one and full of empathy and love. It tugs at the heart of the reader as it hold up a mirror to our own soul. I really loved this book. It was so different than anything I have read before.