New book show on ABC with Jennifer Byrne

I must admit that I’ve always fancied the idea of joining a book club. I love books and I love chatting about them. But I’ll also admit that I’m secretly intimidated by the idea of a group of intellectuals discussing themes, imagery and subtexts. What if it all went over my head?

Now, there’s a solution to this and I don’t even have to leave my lounge room. First Tuesday Book Club starts on Tuesday 1 August at 10pm on the ABC. It will screen the first Tuesday of every month and is hosted by award-winning broadcaster Jennifer Byrne, discussing all sorts of books including thriller, biography, romance, history, fiction and non-fiction.

"I love nothing better than to chat about books so I can't wait for First Tuesday Book Club. Ours is a club absolutely any one can join, no matter where they're from or what else they're into,” says Jennifer.

With new guests chatting with Jennifer every month, it’s bound to be fabulous conversation. And now you can say you have people like Jennifer in your book club!

Comments

[Alexander Vassilieff]

Dear Jennifer,

I have recently published my first book -- ODYSSEYA -- An Epic Journey from Russia to Australia ISBN 978-0-646-48901-8. It is a biography of Historical value. A fascinating and moving Australian immigrant saga set against the backdrop of ancient and modern Russian history. It has received eight rousing International Reviews. Perhaps you would be
interested in doing an iterview with me. To provide you with further information, at your request I can send you my book-cover jacket/back-cover blurb a recent local paper article about the book and two or three sample chapters.

I look forward to hearing from you to your response.

Sincerely Yours

Alexander Vassilieff

Telephone: 02 96599005

[Alexander Vassilieff]

ODYSSEYA -- An Epic Journey from Russia to Australia ISBN 978-0-646-48901-8 has just been reduced in price to $29.95 plus P& H within Australia, even better than on Amazon.com and is available from alex.vass@bigpond.com or by ph (02)96599005

[Alexander Vassilieff]

ODYSSEYA PRESS RELEASE
Synopsis: A family of Russian colonists settle and develop new extremities of
Russia. Their journey spans over two hundred years and takes them southward, close to the Black Sea.
Eventually they cross the vast land and resettle in the untamed Russian Far East. Their involvement with the Far Eastern Railroad and the goldfields leads them to
a new Russian City, Harbin, along the Sungari River in the Manchurian Hills of China.
By 1920, like Shangri-La, Harbin provides sanctuary for countless refugees seeking freedom from the clutches of the Soviet regime who has taken over their homeland. Their reprieve is disturbed by a new invader from the Empire of the Rising
Sun – Japan. Just as the aggressors are rebuked, the evil claw again extends from beyond their homeland wooing them to return. Some of the remaining descendants flee once more, this time across the ocean to Australia. They were men and women with wills of steel, tempered by their long journey. This strength helped them to adapt and succeed in the Land Down Under.
Alex Vassilieff vividly recounts the extraordinary journey of his ancestors. He not only provides a compelling account of survival against the odds, he also gives a personal insight into what it is like to be born a Russian, with all the complexities that entails.
Key message: A Family’s courageous struggle to survive against the odds of adversity over two centuries and two continents and leave a legacy of their Diaspora for future generations.
My inspiration: Thirst for my family history was inspired by an event, when a few years prior to my early retirement I was asked to give a talk at a Lions Club about my family’s past. The presentation resulted in a taped copy which was transcribed into a 15 page print. It was headed – From the Far North via the Middle Kingdom to the Land Down Under. The name suggests that my ancestors came from the far north of Russia – St Petersburg than moved south towards the Black Sea, much later to the Russian Far East, after that to Harbin and Shanghai China and eventually Sydney Australia. The name that I eventually chose for publication is – ODYSSEYA – An Epic Journey from Russia to Australia.
That summarized presentation lay in my office desk drawer until I retired. Very soon after retirement I decided to expand the 15 pages into a biographical novel. Bur first I needed more factual data starting with genealogical analysis. That alone was a lengthy exercise, but it helped to streamline the thinking process. From there I researched the internet with small results. However, the Russian libraries in the local Russian Community gave better results. I found out things about my paternal grandfather that I did not know, about his schooling and university career in Harbin China, about his participation in the Russian mini Olympics in St Petersburg in 1912 for young Sokols – high school
sporting hopefuls. He was one of four young, school staffers who accompanied the Harbin delegation to St Petersburg where they scored a second place. Among other things I was able to deduct what led to
his early marriage and its failure and finally the month and year of his death and burial place at the age of 39 after torture by the Japanese occupying forces.
The research of the KGB files in Moscow by an intermediary, explained things to me about my father’s first incarceration in a GULAG in Siberia shortly before the death of his father caused by the occupying Japanese army, as well as my father’s second incarceration after WWII when I was a child of three. But most of my information came by word of mouth from my relatives, many older friends and
particularly my mother to whom I dedicated the book, as she dedicated her life to us, so that my sister and I could have a better home here in Australia.
About the Author Alexander Vassilieff is a descendent of the colonists who are personified in his first epic novel – a biography of his family. Alex was born in Shanghai, China. At the age of three, he was taken to Harbin and at nine, in 1951, to Sydney, Australia. After an active career as a Professional Engineer and a long record of civic and community involvement, he retired and lives
with his wife Alexandra in Castle Hill. They have two children and four grandchildren. In Nov 2008 he was awarded as Laureate-grand-finalists in a Sydney Book Festival.

[Alex Vassilieff]

“In this family memoir, anecdotes of hope and courage enliven the bleak backdrop of war
and deprivation… the family’s belief in one another and their promising future, despite
volatile political events and the necessity of starting over—again and again.”
— Kirkus Discoveries New York

[Alex Vassilieff]

“This was truly an Odyssey lived through by many but told by very few, which makes the
book not only interesting but also valuable as a documentary.”
— Dr Paul A Urtiew, ORUR Snr Scm (Chief Sct ret’d), San Francisco

[Alex Vassilieff]

“From Russia to China, around the world and back again – share the author’s well researched
family story and how he came to call Australia home.”
— John Morrow’s Pick of the Week Armidale