Thursday, March 28, 2013

Advance praise for Klara;s Journey, A Novel

Advance praise for Klara's Journay: A Novel by Ben G. Frank:

Available in June. Pre-order today:

http://bit.ly/WyVSWq

"Klara's Journey, with its passion, images, location, time frame and narrative 
drive seems like a reprise of Doctor Zivago. It is the heart wrenching story of 
a Jewish teenager's search for her father in the vast Siberian tundra during the 
chaotic days of the Russian Civil War. 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 and The Serpent's Bite

"Klara's Journey is an epic tale of courage and conviction, love and betrayal.  
An affecting, involving adventure."
--Judith Kelman, author of Summer of Storms

"What a fascinating character Ben G. Frank has created in Klara. She shows 
extraordinary courage in learning how to survive during revolution, two world 
wars and terror. Searching for her father, she wanders through half the world 
and learns the truth about who she is. The author, a skilled travel writer, 
weaves into his story what many Jews suffered and overcame during the turbulent 
20th Century."
--Ruth Gruber, author of Raquela: A Woman of Israel; Exodus: 1947, The Ship that 
Launched the Nation; and Rescue: The Exodus of the Ethiopian Jews

"Amazing novel by a skilled writer.  Ben Frank is a gifted person who takes the 
reader on a  roller coaster of an adventure  through Jewish and Russian History. 
One of the best books I have ever come across!!  I could not put it down!
--Danny Levine, 4th generation owner, J Levine Judaica, NYC

“With a name like Rasputnis, Klara would have to be a remarkable person to 
survive the almost impossible circumstances and adventures she encounters in her 
escape from the infamous Bolshevik Revolution and horrific Russian Civil War 
some 90 years ago. Frank, a well-known travel-writer brings to life not only the 
compelling storyline of his first novel but the frigid and barren wasteland that 
Klara had to traverse as she flees Odessa, through the icy Siberian cities of 
Cheliabinsk, Irkutsk, Chita, Harbin, and Vladivostok. An indomitable soul, Klara 
ultimately finds her destiny in a surprise rapproachment with her libertine 
father who had abandoned her and her family many years ago, in Vancouver Canada. 
“
--Lewis Burke Frumkes, director of the Hunter College Writing Center, New York 
City  and author of Favorite Words of Famous People.

"Ben Frank has made skillful use of his longtime expertise in researching the 
cultural and religious history of the far-flung diaspora of the Jewish people 
throughout the world and creating this credible and compelling novel about a 
passionate young woman. Caught in the maelstrom of the Russian Revolution of 
1917 and the ensuing years of civil war, Klara's Odyssey from Odessa eastward 
through Siberia in hope of reuniting with her father in Canada is more than a 
suspenseful personal story. It is a microcosm of the determination and courage 
of hundreds of thousands of Jews and non-Jews determined to escape the 
oppressive rule of the Russian tsars and find freedom in America and other 
welcoming countries. Kudos to a gifted travel writer for his new genre as 
novelist."
--Gene Sosin, Ph.D., former senior executive of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

"In vivid, compelling style, Ben Frank takes us on the remarkable odyssey of an 
intrepid Jewish girl through the chaotic social and political kaleidoscope of 
Russia on the eve of World War I. One is swept up in the powerful narrative flow 
and poignant story of displacement, first love and the challenge of forging a 
new life in a daunting new land."
--Raphael Rothstein, 15Minutesmagazine.com and author of The Silent Warriors, 
Fedayeen, The Mystery of Masada, and “The Hand of Fatima.”

  Preorder now: http://bit.ly/WyVSWq

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Cyprus, let's keep everything in perspective!


While many of us are watching the financial crisis re Cyprus and the Eurozone, let’s keep everything in perspective. Having visited this majestic island a few months ago, I can attest to the fact that not every inch of land is occupied by a bank. Wherever we went, the similarities between Cyprus and Israel, for example,  were present: the blue Mediterranean, the hills, the beaches, the sea-side restaurants, the solar installation on roofs, the warm weather.  As Lawrence Durrell wrote in his travel masterpiece, “Bitter Lemons,”  ‘Cyprus is in our hearts.’  Or put another way, as a driver told me, “welcome to the island of love.” Check out my article here in the Jerusalem Post, re Cyprus and “The Scattered Tribe.” (Globe Pequot Press). http://amzn.to/J3Z47T, "The Scattered Tribe" can be obtained wherever books are sold.

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Mornings in Havana are beautiful! | JPost | Israel News , check "The Scattered Tribe,"






Blog     

·          

 

Check out my blog at www.bengfrank.blogspot.com “I Travel the World.”

Follow me on twitter @bengfrank :  http://amzn.to/J3Z47T
Happy Passover, speaking of Passover, here's an idea for a gift to hosts at the Passover Seder:

"The Scattered Tribe: traveling the diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond," (Globe Pequot Press)

Thursday, March 14, 2013

My take on changing U.S. Relations with Cuba?? Article in Long Island Jewish World, 3/14/13

Check out my article on page 4 of the Long Island Jewish World, Changing U.S. Relations with Cuba? check it out. zoom in an enlarge.
thanks,
 
Happy Passover, speaking of Passover, here's an idea for a gift to hosts at the Passover Seder:
 
"The Scattered Tribe: traveling the diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond," (Globe Pequot Press)