Our own reality, different for each one of us. Irene Rudra, Texas about Young 4 Ever by Andrei Kuzechkin

If anything, this book is thought provoking. The story, peppered with post-Soviet slang is an intimate glimpse at contemporary young people of the country I have long left. Seemingly nonchalant in places, it does touch upon such serious questions as life and death, the value of life, and reason for living, as related to so-called “kidults” – young people “refusing” to grow up, but in this novel, they mean it literally. Yes, we all know people who have remained childishly innocent, youthful at heart throughout their lives, but be ready for a sort of an eye opener to read about those who refuse to become adults and opt to end their lives instead, while young. In our day and age, we are prone to “understand” suicide due to depression, but the notion of suicide due to reluctance of growing up, growing older, might shock you. The main character, having come across this phenomenon by accident, tries to uncover the reason for such behavior and in the end, quite by chance, succeeds, while trying to untangle his own problems. The optimist in me liked the ambiguous ending, and you will see why when you read the book.Read more >

New Life in Russia’s Celebrated Literary Tradition

Russia’s celebrated literary tradition finds new life in “Unburdened by the Soviet baggage younger writers”, says Phoebe Taplin in today’s Telegraph. Pavel Kostin, one of Russia’s youngest romantic novelists offers international readers a rare opportunity to look into lives of young people in contemporary Russia. Today’s review describes Pavel’s style as “appealing particularly to the booming young-adult market, imaginative, gripping, original and lyrical”. This is the exact impression Pavel left on those who meet him during his visit to London this year. “I met Pavel Kostin on a rooftop”, says James Rann, the translator of Pavel’s latest novel It’s Time. “Bored by the party around him, he had gone off to watch the sunset over London. I went with him. Pavel likes to sit on roofs and see the city unfold beneath him. So do I. So does Max, the hero of Pavel’s new story, It’s Time.”Read more > Download PDF >

British book lovers will be among the first to get hold of Pavel Kostin’s latest romantic novel

British book stores from Waterston’s to Amazon are among the first to offer latest romantic novel from Russia’s youngest Debut prize writer Pavel Kostin, who visited London Book Fair event earlier this year. His latest novel “IT’S TIME” is scheduled for release in both Russian and English languages in the UK later this year. Leading UK book chains including W.H. Smith, Waterston’s, Blackwell’s. The Book Depository and Amazon are offering their customers to pre-order a copy of Pavel’s latest romantic adventure novel set on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in Pavel’s home city of Kaliningrad - Russia’s most western and arguably most liberal region

Pavel’s visit to England left him with a remarkable impression that British people are infused with a sense of freedom. “Brits seem to have a different genetic code”, says Pavel in his blog. “They are from a different world. I see freedom in their eyes”. British freedom-infused readers will now be the first to peek into Pavel’s own world, a different mysterious world pictured in his latest novel “IT’S TIME”. Read more > Download PDF >

Interactive Media announces plans to release new adventure novel from Pavel Kostin, Russia’s young Debut prize writer

New novel “IT’S TIME” from Russia’s young romantic writer Pavel Kostin will be published in London this year. Set on the shores of the Baltic Sea the novel features a group of young artists and offers unique opportunity to enter mysterious and strange world of modern day Russian street art scene.  The book will first be released in Russian language and followed by translated English language edition. Read More > Download PDF>

Do you know your type? The Art of Human Analysis helps to discover

Interactive Media to release ground breaking research and tutorial in the form of series of audio books about Human Nature. Latest release of Elsie Benedict’s Human Analysis is coming to bookshops, online retailers and iTunes. This release represents substantial scientific research into human nature, our evolution, physical and biological anthropology and how our physical body features determine our abilities, tendencies and predisposition to certain types of lifestyle, work and vacations we take. Elsie provided an insightful collection of psycho analysis and recommendations how each individual can take charge of his natural abilities and excel in any given direction, capitalising on the strengths of the physical and evolutionary specialism of human body. Read more>

New Release of Turgenev's Mumu to be released by Interactive Media in audio and e-book formats

An audio book adaptation of Turgenev's story set on the outskirts of Moscow, in the house of an old widow. The story was written in 1854 by Ivan Turgenev, a great Russian novelists of the nineteenth century. Read in English (unabridged).

Turgenev wrote Mumu with such vivid images and reflections of the state of the tsarist Russia that this piece together with his other stories was credited with having influenced public opinion in favour of the abolition of serfdom in 1861. Turgenev was the first of the great Russian novelists to win fame abroad. One of his great admirers was Henry James, who wrote that "Turgenev’s merit of form is of the first order" Read more>

Talent Shortage - The Greatest Opportunity Ever for Young Translators

One of key events from Academia Rossica at this year’s London Book Fair was their annual award for young translators of Russian literature.  The award includes cash prize opportunities to meet British publishers and travel to Moscow.

Robert Chandler, one of the prominent modern translators of Russian literature revels existence of acute shortage of talent in this field.  British publishers have pipeline of translation projects, cash, and great difficulty finding new translators. Read more > Download PDF >

Second audio book with Anton Chekhov Short Stories arrives as celebrations marking the 150th birthday of Russian playwright continue

“Short Stories by Anton Chekhov Bk.2: Talent and Other Stories”, narrated by Russian-born actor Max Bollinger, follows the success of first audio book “A Tragic Actor and Other Stories” which was released in November 2009 to five star reviews: “These six unabridged stories in the faithful Constance Garnett translation are presented with fine flourish by the Russian-born narrator. The poignant, everyday dramas of Imperial Russia are here, from jolting carriages across boundless taiga, to a tragic actor and a French tutor insulted by his boastful employer,” wrote Rachel Redford of The Observer.

The second audio book features the dramatic stories Anyuta; The Helpmate; Ivan Matveyitch; Polinka; and Talent. Accompanied by music from Pytor Tchaikovsky, the stories are based on the original translations by Constance Clara Garnett, a 19th century expert of Russian literature, and are produced by Interactive Media. Read more > reviews> download PDF>

Russian publisher Samokat showing their new book "Love Boat" at the London Book Fair

Russian publisher Samokat showing their new book "LOVE BOAT" (КОРАБЛИК ЛЮБВИ) at the London Book Fair. Love Boat is a story shared by a 10 year old boy about his family and how he was born. Introduction by Max Bollinger. Subtitles INTERACTIVE MEDIA, www.interactive.eu.com.  Русские книги для детей в Лондоне, Русская Литература, КОРАБЛИК ЛЮБВИ Release Tags: London Book Fair, Children's Books, Russian Books, Love Boat, Korablik Lubvi, Russian Publisher, Russian language, stories for kids, КОРАБЛИК ЛЮБВИ, Русские книги для детей в Лондоне, Русская Литература Read more>

Immortal Chekhov finds new digital stage in Apple’s iTunes Store

A unique audio adaptation of Chehov’s best stories, released earlier this year by Interactive Media under Sovereign imprint in audio CD format attracted much attention from international audiences for its innovative (even for audio books) style.  The version presented by Russian-born narrator Max Bollinger is not a simple audio book.  This is a fusion audio product offering dramatised original stories written by Anton Chekhov in English translation, with latest innovation in audio production and music recording.

“Short Stories by Anton Chekhov is a picture for me. In fact, I liken each of them to a Monet painting in which you can see the individual strokes of the brush if you stand too close, but stepping back you see the whole picture at once and not the bits that created the whole. Masterpieces!”, wrote Frayda Galass in her review of second volume in the series of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov, Bk. 2: Talent and Other stories ISBN: 9780956116550 Read more>

Learning new language as easy as listening to music album

Learning new language has become as easy as listening to new music albums on your MP3 player or searching for news on google. Interactive Media, publisher of interactive digital content, developed new language learning audio tools easily accessible through online portals such as Amazon, Alibris, Waterstones, Foyles, WHSmith, iTunes, eMusic as and many others. Travel, study or do business abroad with help of new audio tools. This is good news for business travellers wanting to learn Russian language already available in current release.

Russian language is spoken by over 300 million people worldwide. News, business and entertainment publised in Russian worldwide. A European language with more speakers than German and French combined. Reading Russian news, doing business in Russia or travelling is now easier than ever. Those wishing to learn Russian language quickly, hassle free and without heavy books or long classroom sessions, can now simply log on to their favourite music or book store and search for Easy Russian for English Speakers: Results Focused Audio Training by Max Bollinger. This is the name of new title available in both audio CD and MP3 formats. read more >

A British actor has achieved a long-held ambition to publish an audio book of short stories by one of the greatest Russian writers of the 19th century, Anton Chekhov

The CD, entitled Short Stories by Anton Chekhov, has been collated and narrated in English by Max Bollinger, a Russian-born actor, writer and producer.

It is the product of several years’ work by 34-year-old Max, who has appeared in Doctor Who and was narrator in Twentieth Century Battlefields and Space Race.

The 64-minute CD, produced by Max Bollinger Interactive Media, features six short stories by the master of Russian drama: A Tragic Actor; In A Strange Land; Oh! The Public; The Looking Glass; Her Husband; and Overdoing It. read more >