25 Mar / Border Crossings: A Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway by Emma Fick [in Booklist]
Artist Emma Fick’s illustrated travelogue combines intricate art and intimate observations – vibrantly colored and distinctly hand-lettered – of a Beijing-to-Moscow expedition on the Trans-Siberian Railway. In May 2015, while in Finland with her then-boyfriend-now-husband, the pair found a used book, Trans-Siberian Handbook, that had “already taken the journey in the hands of several travelers.” Eighteen months later, their railway itinerary commenced in Beijing – a minor disconnection: the dates don’t quite compute on Fick’s time line. But such details aside, the pair chose “cold & snowy” March for their journey, which offered less crowding.
They become expert berth-sharers, savvy hot-water-enabled snackers, and reverent witnesses to diverse landscapes across China, Mongolia, and Russia. They experience home stays and guesthouses; they tour churches, temples, and markets, imbibing local fare. Genghis Khan and Lenin loom large.
“I was charmed & entranced by this mythic journey – & ultimately moved to translate the experience into my own visual language.” Lucky readers get to adventure along in cozy comfort.
Review: “Nonfiction,” Booklist, March 15, 2022
Readers: Adult
Published: 2022