Monday, September 30, 2013

New Review of Klara's Journey,A Novel,"



Review:
‘Klara’s Journey’ captures drama of woman’s perilous trek
Jewish Chronicle, Pittsburgh, Pa. reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch.
 
 
Part history lesson, part novel, “Klara’s Journey” by Ben Frank chronicles a young Jewish girl’s travels from her home in Odessa, Russia to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the midst of the Russian Civil War.  It is a compelling story of an intelligent and brave young woman’s fight for survival amidst hardship and dangerous conditions.
Frank, a Pittsburgh native, based the character of Klara on his aunt, who lived in Greenfield, and traveled a similar journey from Russia to Canada.

Klara Rasputnis is 17 and the oldest child of five.  Her father, Gershon, is a cantor who seeks a better life for his family.  He leaves them, but after much time passes without word, Klara’s mother sends her to find him.  Klara’s chaperones fail to show up at the train station, so she makes an impulsive decision to jump on the train alone, much to the consternation of her younger brother, Mischa, who had accompanied her to the station.

Riding thousands of miles on the Trans-Siberian railroad alone, Klara embarks upon a life-changing adventure.

Each chapter begins with historical information about the political situation in Russia during the timeframe in which Klara was traveling, beginning in 1917. The book would have been more effective if the history were incorporated into the storyline, as the chapter headers interrupted the flow of the story. However, the synopses did serve to provide context.
There is very little that is soft about Klara. She swears; she steals; she’s opinionated. But her brash personality becomes her best weapon on her journey as she encounters danger around every corner. Facing would-be rapists and kidnappers, rampant anti-Semitism, violence, lack of money and food, and volatile soldiers, Klara is forced to use both her wits and her sharp tongue to survive.
With limited resources, Klara gets on and off the train in different Siberian towns. At times, she is unable to travel for months because of severe weather.

Klara catches up with her brother, Mischa, during her travels. Mischa has become a spy with the Red Army.  His on-and-off presence throughout her journey is initially a source of security, but then becomes a danger to her, particularly after he switches loyalties.

More than historical fiction, though, Klara’s is a star-crossed love story.  Along the way, she meets and falls in love with Vladimir, a non-Jewish member of the Red Cross.  Their relationship delays her on her quest to find her father, but it also gives her the courage to continue her arduous journey when fate intervenes to separate the couple.

Klara journeys throughout Russia, China, Japan, Seattle, Vancouver, and finally, Winnipeg, where she experiences an unfulfilling reunion with the father who, for all intents and purposes, abandoned his family.

The author, a travel writer who has written several Jewish travel guides, effectively captures the political upheaval in Russia at that time while shedding light on why so many Jews fled Russia during this time period.


 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

A Point f View re "pivot to Asia,"

A Point of View by Robert Kaplan, author, and national correspondent for the Atlantic,  “…Russia is increasing its influence in CentraA Point of View by Robert Kaplan, author, and national correspondent for the Atlantic,  “…Russia is increasing its influence in Central and Eastern Europe and China's military growth threatens to upset the regional power balance. These are more important phenomena about which America can do more to help.”…. Kaplan strongly supports the “pivot” to Asia, a continent covered in part in The Scattered Tribe, Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond.” (Globe Pequot Press).  Available wherever books are sold. http://amzn.to/J3Z47Tl and Eastern Europe and China's military growth threatens to upset the regional power balance. These are more important phenomena about which America can do more to help.”…. Kaplan strongly supports the “pivot” to Asia, a continent covered in part in The Scattered Tribe, Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond.” (Globe Pequot Press).  Available wherever books are sold. http://amzn.to/J3Z47T

Sunday, September 22, 2013

 


To:  All Valencia Pointe Men's Club Members

Please register for this month's Breakfast meeting!

Sunday - Sept 22nd at 9:45 am (doors open at 9:15 am)

Our Speaker: Ben Frank

Valencia Pointe resident and Men’s Club member, Ben G. Frank, travel writer, journalist and  author of “Klara’s Journey, A Novel,” andThe Scattered Tribe, Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond,”  will discuss his travels throughout the world, and  how he managed to visit 89 countries and turn out travel books and guides, as well as a novel about Siberia and the Trans-Siberian railway.  Ben is considered one of the most distinguished commentators on far-flung and exotic Jewish communities, such as in North Africa and Asia.  He has also been a reporter for Radio Liberty which broadcasts to the former Soviet Union.


News Alert! "Klara's Journey," on all e book formats!

NEWS ALERT: “Klara’s Journey, A Novel,” available on all e book formats, on
October 1. Pre-order on kindle this week! http://amzn.to/13Sp769. 
Also, nook, ipad, Kobo, etc.--- all on October 1st. “A human struggle of epic proportions, “Klara's Journey,” will linger in the mind long after the story unfolds."-
-Warren Adler, author of  “The War of the Roses.” ---


 “Klara’s Journey,”(Marion Street Press). ISBN 9781936863471, is available wherever books are sold!

>  
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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Lest We Forget, 9/17/39

Lest we forget: 9/17/39, Russia invaded Poland as part of  the perfidious secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact dividing Poland between the two new allies Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Check out “The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond” (Globe Pequot Press)  http://amzn.to/J3Z47T "I Travel the World.” Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :  

My Trip on the Trans Siberian



RE JEWS IN SIBERIA

My trip on the Trans-Siberian re "Klara's Journey,"

Florida Jewish Journal

I thought you'd like this link

http://fw.to/MKmaffF

Local author recounts aunt's 1917 trip from Russia
Travel writer Ben Frank has made several trips to Russia. But the trip the Boynton Beach author took almost 10 years ago was very different from the others. Frank, then 70 years old, traveled from Odessa on the Trans-Siberia Railroad as he traced part of the main character's route for his recently published first novel "Klara's Journey."

"Klara's Journey, A Novel," Available wherever books are sold. Amazon and Marion Street Press,

http://amzn.to/13Sp769

http://bit.ly/WyVSWq
 

Review, Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh

Klara’s Journey’ captures drama of woman’s perilous trek
2 months ago | 1772 views | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Klara Journey
Part history lesson, part novel, “Klara’s Journey” by Ben Frank chronicles a young Jewish girl’s travels from her home in Odessa, Russia to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the midst of the Russian Civil War.  It is a compelling story of an intelligent and brave young woman’s fight for survival amidst hardship and dangerous conditions.

Frank, a Pittsburgh native, based the character of Klara on his aunt, who lived in Greenfield, and traveled a similar journey from Russia to Canada.

Klara Rasputnis is 17 and the oldest child of five.  Her father, Gershon, is a cantor who seeks a better life for his family.  He leaves them, but after much time passes without word, Klara’s mother sends her to find him.  Klara’s chaperones fail to show up at the train station, so she makes an impulsive decision to jump on the train alone, much to the consternation of her younger brother, Mischa, who had accompanied her to the station.

Riding thousands of miles on the Trans-Siberian railroad alone, Klara embarks upon a life-changing adventure.

Each chapter begins with historical information about the political situation in Russia during the timeframe in which Klara was traveling, beginning in 1917. The book would have been more effective if the history were incorporated into the storyline, as the chapter headers interrupted the flow of the story. However, the synopses did serve to provide context.

There is very little that is soft about Klara. She swears; she steals; she’s opinionated. But her brash personality becomes her best weapon on her journey as she encounters danger around every corner. Facing would-be rapists and kidnappers, rampant anti-Semitism, violence, lack of money and food, and volatile soldiers, Klara is forced to use both her wits and her sharp tongue to survive.

With limited resources, Klara gets on and off the train in different Siberian towns. At times, she is unable to travel for months because of severe weather.

Klara catches up with her brother, Mischa, during her travels. Mischa has become a spy with the Red Army.  His on-and-off presence throughout her journey is initially a source of security, but then becomes a danger to her, particularly after he switches loyalties.

More than historical fiction, though, Klara’s is a star-crossed love story.  Along the way, she meets and falls in love with Vladimir, a non-Jewish member of the Red Cross.  Their relationship delays her on her quest to find her father, but it also gives her the courage to continue her arduous journey when fate intervenes to separate the couple.

Klara journeys throughout Russia, China, Japan, Seattle, Vancouver, and finally, Winnipeg, where she experiences an unfulfilling reunion with the father who, for all intents and purposes, abandoned his family.

The author, a travel writer who has written several Jewish travel guides, effectively captures the political upheaval in Russia at that time while shedding light on why so many Jews fled Russia during this time period.

Read more: The Jewish Chronicle - Klara s Journey captures drama of woman s perilous trek

"the drama of a woman's perilous trek.

Klara’s Journey’ captures drama of woman’s perilous trek
2 months ago | 0 0 comments | 13 13 recommendations | email to a friend
Part history lesson, part novel, “Klara’s Journey” by Ben Frank chronicles a young Jewish girl’s travels from her home in Odessa, Russia to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the midst of the Russian Civil War....

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

HISTORY BUFFS: Real Clear History column in Real Clear Politics today, notes that the U.S. , along with other nations, sent troops to Russia after WWI, the Bolshevik seizure of power, and the Russian Civil War. “These efforts are not mentioned in most history survey courses, and few texts even mention that U.S. troops, or those of any other nation fought against the Bolsheviks during this period,” noted the column.

My historical novel, "Klara’s Journey," (Marion Street Press), a “gripping account of the Russian Civil War (1918-22) and its consequences” as well as a story of “betrayal, drama and love,” takes up the American role in Russia after the fall of the Czar.

Wherever books are sold:
http://amzn.to/13Sp769, http://bit.ly/WyVSWq

I blog at www.bengfrank.blogspot.com “I Travel the World.” Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :