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The Songs We Hide
In 1951, a grim hush has settled over Hungary. After a lost war and a brutal transition to communism, the people live under constant threat of blacklisting, property confiscation, arrest, imprisonment, and worse. In this milieu of dread, the best land of Péter Benedek’s peasant family is seized and his life upended. Moving to Budapest for a manual labor job, Péter meets Katalin Varga, an unwed mother whose baby’s father has vanished, most likely at the hands of the secret police. Both Péter and Katalin keep their heads down and their mouths clamped shut, because silence is the only safety they know.
The two have something in common besides fear: they are singers whose very natures make the silence unbearable. When Katalin starts giving Péter voice lessons, they take an intrepid step out of hiding by making music together. Little by little they tell each other what they cannot tell others. In their bond of trust, they find relief and unexpected happiness.
Yet the hurts and threats in their lives remain, waiting. As harsh reality assaults them again, is hope even possible? Facing their hardest trials yet, Péter and Katalin learn to carve dignity and beauty out of pain.
The two have something in common besides fear: they are singers whose very natures make the silence unbearable. When Katalin starts giving Péter voice lessons, they take an intrepid step out of hiding by making music together. Little by little they tell each other what they cannot tell others. In their bond of trust, they find relief and unexpected happiness.
Yet the hurts and threats in their lives remain, waiting. As harsh reality assaults them again, is hope even possible? Facing their hardest trials yet, Péter and Katalin learn to carve dignity and beauty out of pain.
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2018
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239 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 8, 2018
A suspenseful story sent in 1951 post-war Hungary, with citizens forced to adjust to communist rule. As people lose land and property and earlier dreams, Peter's father resists, bringing danger and poverty to his family. Peter is forced to seek work in Budapest, where frequent, mysterious disappearances of friends, co-workers, and lovers add to a climate of uncertainty and fear. In author Connie Connally's beautifully written first novel, the relationships and touching moments and healing power of music emerge and find voice even in the midst of times of oppression. This book captivated me and kept me reading--I did not want to put it down.
April 7, 2020
Set in a land I've never seen in a time I know little about, author Connie Connally renders Hungary in turmoil during the aftermath of World War II. Through her characters we occupy rural and urban homelands that bear the scars of war and political strife. Sociopolitical transitions tinge every interaction--between neighbors and among families, on the factory floor and in the fields. Connolly binds the narrative together with music. And such beautiful music it is. The Songs We Hide is a remarkable read, beautifully rendered by a gifted writer.
January 10, 2023
The Songs We Hide is a deeply moving story about the power of music and song lifting hearts through difficult challenges of oppression and suffering. Well written and well researched, it’s set in post-World War II Hungary in 1951 under a socialist totalitarian regime with a strong embrace of Stalinism. Tight control and restricted freedoms make everyday life for ordinary people a struggle for survival. A slipped tongue, single whisper, and a simple whim could cost someone the loss of property and possessions or send them to a work camp. Through it all, a tender love story emerges in this book, brought together by music. Author Connie Connally builds the romance slowly and carefully amid chaos and uncertainty. Her characters are compelling and complex. She effectively advances the story at a disciplined pace, giving readers an opportunity to absorb the fearful, unpredictable lives of these characters. It’s a story betrayal and heartbreak, but also courage and the perseverance of love. I highly recommend it.
March 18, 2018
What we play for the world are the songs that the world wants to hear from us. The music that shapes the soul and reveals who we really are, those are The Songs We Hide, lovingly written about by Connie Hampton Connally.
Evoking stunning emotions, this author conducts a magnum opus of incredibly beautiful historical fiction. Her writing brings to life the people of stark, brutal, 1951 Hungary. Katalin and Peter are young adults and upon their shoulders they bear the brunt of post World War II, where survival is made so much more difficult by the brutal regime suffocating freedoms. As Katalin realizes, “during the war she had held out hope, because some day the war would end. Now the war was over, but what was there to hope for?”
Katalin was singing a wonderful duet with vibrant Robert, ‘Caro Mio Ben’, ‘My Dear Beloved’. Now the same notes pained her to the core, as a loving single mother of her one year old daughter, whose father had suddenly disappeared. The government and secret police made terrifying disappearances common place. Robert hadn’t even known he was going to be a father, and she had no idea which one of the too many horrifying places he was held. That’s if he was still alive.
Peter’s family had been rocked by the travesties of war, and then “The Collective” had confiscated what little their hard work had been able to achieve. They lived under the constant threat not only of starvation, but of their family’s separation and loneliness. Peter and his brothers had lost their mother, and their weary father had to try and carry on with his broken heart. Peter shyly sings his songs quietly to the beloved horse who works with them on what’s left of their beloved family farm. But they can’t make a living any longer on the farm alone. Peter must go to work in the city, where he meets Katalin who is waiting, for her beloved Robert. The lives of Katalin, Peter, and the people around them in this story will deepen the reverberating drum beat of your heart.
The author, Connie Hampton Connally, became interested in Hungary’s turbulent history from her love of music. Through music she was inspired by the story of Zoltán Kodály, a twentieth-century Hungarian composer who spread music in his nation despite totalitarianism and two world wars. This author writes such memorable turns to a phrase, and such noteworthy descriptions that range the full spectrum of human emotions from despair through hope. In The Songs We Hide she’s composed a stirring tribute to the incredible strength of people, in a brutal time in Hungarian history, and the desperate need to create hope. As the crescendo builds, the reader will wonder, and hope – Can people withstand, can they be stronger than the hatred and betrayal surrounding them?
Evoking stunning emotions, this author conducts a magnum opus of incredibly beautiful historical fiction. Her writing brings to life the people of stark, brutal, 1951 Hungary. Katalin and Peter are young adults and upon their shoulders they bear the brunt of post World War II, where survival is made so much more difficult by the brutal regime suffocating freedoms. As Katalin realizes, “during the war she had held out hope, because some day the war would end. Now the war was over, but what was there to hope for?”
Katalin was singing a wonderful duet with vibrant Robert, ‘Caro Mio Ben’, ‘My Dear Beloved’. Now the same notes pained her to the core, as a loving single mother of her one year old daughter, whose father had suddenly disappeared. The government and secret police made terrifying disappearances common place. Robert hadn’t even known he was going to be a father, and she had no idea which one of the too many horrifying places he was held. That’s if he was still alive.
Peter’s family had been rocked by the travesties of war, and then “The Collective” had confiscated what little their hard work had been able to achieve. They lived under the constant threat not only of starvation, but of their family’s separation and loneliness. Peter and his brothers had lost their mother, and their weary father had to try and carry on with his broken heart. Peter shyly sings his songs quietly to the beloved horse who works with them on what’s left of their beloved family farm. But they can’t make a living any longer on the farm alone. Peter must go to work in the city, where he meets Katalin who is waiting, for her beloved Robert. The lives of Katalin, Peter, and the people around them in this story will deepen the reverberating drum beat of your heart.
The author, Connie Hampton Connally, became interested in Hungary’s turbulent history from her love of music. Through music she was inspired by the story of Zoltán Kodály, a twentieth-century Hungarian composer who spread music in his nation despite totalitarianism and two world wars. This author writes such memorable turns to a phrase, and such noteworthy descriptions that range the full spectrum of human emotions from despair through hope. In The Songs We Hide she’s composed a stirring tribute to the incredible strength of people, in a brutal time in Hungarian history, and the desperate need to create hope. As the crescendo builds, the reader will wonder, and hope – Can people withstand, can they be stronger than the hatred and betrayal surrounding them?
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June 18, 2018The Songs We Hide felt realistic and the characters life-like. The oppressive communist state reminded me of what I've heard about eastern Europe, and it was fascinating to read a book set in that time and place. The image of hiding or temporarily "losing" one's voice was well-played.
This is a very engaging book for 12 and up.
This is a very engaging book for 12 and up.
May 14, 2018
I love finding historical fiction novels that discuss history that isn’t often explored by novelists. This novel was heart-breaking and hopeful all at once.
April 3, 2024
The Songs We Hide by Connie Hampton Connally is a powerful, heart wrenching historical novel that I read mainly in one sitting.
The novel is set in Hungary in 1951. It is a time of great heartache and difficulty. Communism, under Stalin, had taken over the country following the second World War.
Farming is now organized into collectives. Those who did not join were heavily penalized. There was much cruelty. Just as in Ukraine during the 1920’s, people are killed, persecuted or just disappear.
Life is equally hard in towns. People inform on others. People who are loyal to the state are rewarded. People who are not, are punished.
Throughout the novel, there is the air of fear. No one must openly criticize the state, not even children.
We see the power of music. Music can lift us from our circumstances and transport us to happier times. It raises our spirits.
There is much loss within the tale. Some of it is natural, but much is state-induced.
We see there are those who share what little they have with others – material goods, time or encouragement. There are still good hearts in dark times.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The author has clearly thoroughly researched a dark time period, and constructed a powerful novel.
Although it was a harsh regime and a time of unbelievable cruelty, the novel has a quiet, ethereal beauty to it. The songs hang over the story, giving an air of calm and a feeling of serenity. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The novel is set in Hungary in 1951. It is a time of great heartache and difficulty. Communism, under Stalin, had taken over the country following the second World War.
Farming is now organized into collectives. Those who did not join were heavily penalized. There was much cruelty. Just as in Ukraine during the 1920’s, people are killed, persecuted or just disappear.
Life is equally hard in towns. People inform on others. People who are loyal to the state are rewarded. People who are not, are punished.
Throughout the novel, there is the air of fear. No one must openly criticize the state, not even children.
We see the power of music. Music can lift us from our circumstances and transport us to happier times. It raises our spirits.
There is much loss within the tale. Some of it is natural, but much is state-induced.
We see there are those who share what little they have with others – material goods, time or encouragement. There are still good hearts in dark times.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The author has clearly thoroughly researched a dark time period, and constructed a powerful novel.
Although it was a harsh regime and a time of unbelievable cruelty, the novel has a quiet, ethereal beauty to it. The songs hang over the story, giving an air of calm and a feeling of serenity. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
November 24, 2024
Set in post-WWII Hungary, this book took me to an unfamiliar setting and time. The story is bittersweet, full of the frustrations of living under an authoritarian regime that takes what it wants and punishes any sign of individuality or resistance. The main characters, Peter and Katalin, meet when Peter must go find work in the city. He lives under the stairs in Katalin's apartment building, since housing is hard to find in the city. Eventually, she begins teaching him singing lessons. Katalin has a beautiful voice, but has been unable to sing much since her child's father vanished, probably because of his communist leanings. As the story unfolds, music draws the two characters together. The book is beautifully written and deals tenderly with difficult choices that may not have a perfect answer.
November 26, 2019
This beautiful novel gives us an intricately drawn and intriguing setting, absorbing characters, and a window into the multifaceted pain inflicted on the Hungarian people—physical, economic, and emotional—in the early years of communist rule after World War II. It forces us to wonder, yet again, what causes us humans to inflict such inhumanity on others. But it also provides lessons in the power of courage, art, and, yes, love (at heart, this is a multilayered—or maybe I should say contrapuntal) love story. And it's a good story, a good read. If you liked "A Gentleman in Moscow" (who didn't?) you'll like "The Songs We Hide."
January 24, 2019
We have read a few books set in Hungary during World War Two and one during the 1956 revolution, but this is the first that takes place between the two. Such a rich portrayal of life in Budapest and in the eastern plains at a time when your overheard words or your refusal to join the collective could result in having to spend years in a labor camp. This book brought back many memories of our two visits to the Terror Museum.
February 24, 2020
What a remarkable first novel! It introduced me to a piece of history of which I had been completely ignorant -- Hungary post WWII. The theme of music as a connector between people and as a path to healing the wounds of war is beautifully portrayed. These characters will stay with you and this book will open your eyes (and your ears) to a part of the world and to a history too often ignored. This author is one to watch!
September 24, 2018
I've read the novel twice during the editing phase and I still find it captivating. The author is a sensitive writer, paying attention to the smallest details, so her historical story, placed in the Cold War years of Hungary is relevant and believable. Well done, Connie Connally!
Marta Boros Horvath
Amature writer, amature photographer and a Hungarian
Marta Boros Horvath
Amature writer, amature photographer and a Hungarian
January 6, 2019
Well done!
A well crafted love triangle story set against post WWII. Characters are real, multidimensional, complex and loveable all the more because of their humaness and frailty. A must read for all those who love historical fiction.
A well crafted love triangle story set against post WWII. Characters are real, multidimensional, complex and loveable all the more because of their humaness and frailty. A must read for all those who love historical fiction.
January 28, 2021
Great novel - I couldn't put it down!
Historical fiction is my favorite way to gain insight into other times, and this books makes it a pleasure to learn about a difficult time in history by telling it from the perspective of good people with a positive outlook -- musicians!
Historical fiction is my favorite way to gain insight into other times, and this books makes it a pleasure to learn about a difficult time in history by telling it from the perspective of good people with a positive outlook -- musicians!
July 19, 2023
This book was very good and gave me an idea of what Hungary was like after WWII. I read it before my trip to Budapest, which helped give my trip flavor. It was a little predictable, but a lovely story.
January 20, 2026
Very interesting, and I learned a lot about life behind the Iron Curtain.
April 20, 2021
Undoubtedly one of the most impactful historical novels I've read in recent years. The Songs We Hide is a unique story of music, connection, and hope drawn against the oppressive backdrop of 1950s communist Hungary. Being of Hungarian descent, this novel not only brought back memories from a frigid trip I'd made to Budapest while an undergraduate, but made me feel a tie to the resilient people of that country and to my ancestors.
April 18, 2019
The setting in post-war Hungary sounded like this would make a good story, but the stiff writing (at times it felt "staccato"), slow plot and 2 main characters - a shy, creepy country boy and a self-centered city girl in their early 20's - made it an awkward and dull read. And as much as I expected to see Hungarian words dropped here and there, it got rather tiresome to see the same italicized terms over and over and over. I think the YA crowd might appreciate this better.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews