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davidaguilarrodriguez 's review for:
Eastbound
by Maylis de Kerangal
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read for Women in Translation Month (August, 2025)
This short, taut novel unfolds almost entirely aboard a train, where a young Russian soldier, Aliocha, deserts the army and seeks help from a stranger. As a fan of The Lady Vanishes, Strangers on a Train, and Murder on the Orient Express, I enjoyed the setup: confined space, constant motion, and high stakes. The book isn’t a pulse-pounding thriller—it’s more reflective, with as much interest in the characters’ inner landscapes as in the mechanics of the escape. The train itself is the star: a cinematic, shifting backdrop that carries us through both the vast Siberian wilderness and the intimate, tense moments between passengers.
This short, taut novel unfolds almost entirely aboard a train, where a young Russian soldier, Aliocha, deserts the army and seeks help from a stranger. As a fan of The Lady Vanishes, Strangers on a Train, and Murder on the Orient Express, I enjoyed the setup: confined space, constant motion, and high stakes. The book isn’t a pulse-pounding thriller—it’s more reflective, with as much interest in the characters’ inner landscapes as in the mechanics of the escape. The train itself is the star: a cinematic, shifting backdrop that carries us through both the vast Siberian wilderness and the intimate, tense moments between passengers.
The prose has a lyrical, almost cascading quality that elevates the story without slowing it down. Themes of freedom, self-determination, and the moral compromises of survival emerge gradually, as both the soldier and the woman helping him are escaping different forms of entrapment. The most gripping sequence comes when Aliocha hides in a bathroom and must silence a child who could betray him—a moment that distills the book’s mixture of fear, intimacy, and moral grayness. While it’s not groundbreaking, it’s elegant and balanced, a satisfying read for anyone who likes their train stories with a touch of poetry as well as suspense.