Border crossings

Artist 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.