Radio Underground

by Alison Littman

With swift, bold and powerful writing, debut author Alison Littman tells the story of a family ripped apart by revolution, illuminating a time when news, rock ‘n’ roll and underground journalism forever changed the lives of those living behind the Iron Curtain.

Eszter Turján is a mother—and a fanatical underground journalist—living in Budapest at the height of the Cold War. After years of suffering under the communist regime, she’d sacrifice anything, and anyone, to see the government fall. When she manipulates news broadcasts on Radio Free Europe, she ignites the vicious revolution, commits a calamitous murder, and is dragged away screaming to a secret underground prison.

Her daughter Dora, then a teenager, cowers in her bedroom as the secret police arrest her mother. Haunted and hurt, Dora vows to work against everything Eszter believes in. But, it’s not that simple. After nine years, Dora is unwittingly drawn back into Eszter’s circle when she falls in love with a Radio Free Europe fan. She finds Eszter, driven mad by years of torture, is headed toward a death sentence. To save her mother, Dora will have to defy a vindictive and lethal regime, and confront family ties she’s spent years denying. On the brink of losing Eszter again, Dora must decide if she should risk her life for the mother who discarded her—or leave it to fate.

Genres: Historical Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2018

About the author

Alison Littman lives in San Francisco where she’s a writer by day and standup comedian by night. A former journalist in New Mexico, she covered politics and education while also contributing articles on John F. Kennedy and The Beatles to various specialty magazines. Her feature stories focus on listening to rock 'n' roll behind the Iron Curtain and Cold War politics. Radio Underground is her first novel.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the story builds, I couldn’t find any point of interest and didn’t feel any connection with any of the characters. I gave up on this story.

[Julia Cabral · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook last week and loved it! My grandparents are from Budapest and were part of the '56 revolution so getting immersed in the historical elements of this book and what life was like under the communist regime was particularly visceral for me as I could relate alot of this to stories I heard from them growing up about their lives and country. The author does a great job putting the reader into the inner thoughts of the characters to transport you to what it was like for people in Hungary in the 50's and 60's trying to hide their true feelings from family, friends, and coworkers in a constant state of fear and reprisal.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn more about life in the Soviet Union or under dictatorships. Unfortunately, it's very timely now as many countries throughout the world are seeing populist rises of strong-arm leaders who seek to dismember our democratic institutions and freedom of the independent press.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's cliched but I couldn't put this book down. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning. Well told and well written, it really transported me to a different time and place and helped me understand and feel what the characters were going through. It kept my attention with a quickly unfolding plot and lots of twists and turns that always left me wanting to know what happened next. Very excited to read what this author writes in the future.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Although, I must admit that the story started out slowly. It did take some time to pick up speed but once it did, it was easy reading. Right from the beginning even before I really became familiar with Dora's mother, Eszter; I liked her. She stood for something and was not afraid to die for her beliefs. Being so young, I could understand Dora's resentment towards her mother. However, as the story progressed, Dora became just as strong as her mother; if maybe not stronger. This mixed with a good storyline made reading this book a nice treat.

There were sections in the story that featured letters. These were fine but I felt like these parts were not as good. In fact, I personally didn't find them as interesting and would skip these parts of the story. The latter half of the story is where everything just came into place with the pacing of the story and the characters. It was my favorite part of the whole story. Author, Alison Littman does pen a good story with this book.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of historical fiction throughout the years, but I've found that the same time periods are represented over and over (US Civil War or Revolution, Britain in the 1880s, medieval Europe, etc). I had never before read a novel that takes place in Hungary in the Cold War, so it was refreshing to take a deep dive into that particular time and place.

The themes of government control and freedom of speech also really resonated with me. It is said that George Santayana wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." One of the reasons historical fiction has always resonated with me is that you can take the lessons from past times and apply them to the modern era. In America today, we are dealing with a attack on the media and questions about what legitimate free speech entails. This novel made me reinterpret current events in a different light.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a thrilling peek into Eastern Europe during the Cold War. It is a super engaging read that is difficult to put down!

[Paul Swithers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly love this book. The story is engaging and compelling. The main characters have fully developed complex well ruonded personalities. The flips in perspective and time are easy enough to follow, although, admittedly require a bit more attention than a more linear narrative would. Each chapter is generally written in a different character's voice and, here is my criticism, some are just better expressed than others. There are authors using a similar trope that are able to inhabit each and every character and flawlessly bring you inside each one's personal experience. Littman mostly does this. As a result, I highly recommend the book, but knock off one star for this one flaw.

[Luisa Isbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel, and that is coming from someone who admittedly isn't very into historical fiction (I'm more of a humorous essays gal). I found the characters charming and interesting and respect the tremendous amount of research Alison performed to paint such a compelling, true-to-life story. Looking forward to reading her next work!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Was a great read from start to finish!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How refreshing to find historical fiction that is not WWII based. I had never heard of the Hungarian uprising before. I am afraid my knowledge of world events is spotty and not as well rounded as I would like. I thought the author did an amazing job of giving us a good understanding of how the Hungarians were betrayed by their country. I did have some trouble with the writing. I had trouble distinguishing the voices of the 2 women. They were not distinctive enough to each carry their own voice through their narrative. I had a visceral reaction to the prose, however and I think Littman is a writer to watch.

[Thea Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio Underground was a captivating read! The characters were easy to get attached to and it was tough to put down! Would highly recommend.

[Danielle Hacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel throughly enthralling and fun to read! The characters were relatable and interesting and the story's structure captivating right from the start. It's told from various perspectives and creatively incorporates letters written from the character's point of view. It's full of plot twists to surprise you along the way - makeing this book hard to put down!
In addition, I liked how much I learned about Hungarian modern history and the Hungarian Revolution. This book brought me back to my experience traveling Budapest and gave me a deeper understanding of the city and its history.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radio Underground is a historical novel about a revolution in Hungary against a repressive communist regime in the 1950s and the consequences of those actions. The book has three points of view; Eszter, her daughter Dora, and a man going by the pseudonym of “Mike.”

While the pacing was quick, I had two issues with this book. The first is that the blurb gives away too much of the plot. I would advise reading the book but ignoring the description on the back. The second issue I had was the writing. The perspective of “Mike” is a man who writes in broken English to a German rock and roll DJ. I believe the author was choosing words that might imitate broken English but it often felt clunky and hard to read. I’ll give you some examples.

“I will try, so read strong….I reminisced that someone had stepped on my head.”
“It forwarded me to anger since he escaped seeing what I saw.”
“The code will not go forward if the jamming makes continuous.”

Additionally, the word choice of his young sister seems incredibly formal and inauthentic of how a 12 year old would speak.

However, these two issues do not take away from the incredible story of people rebelling against their Communist government. I was on the edge of my seat for much of the story. The characters were well developed and their relationships seemed real. I gave this book 4 stars.

Trigger warnings for rape, torture, and violence

[LOUISE M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio Underground is a passionate novel of ordinary citizens fighting against oppression from a controlling government. My response to Ms. Littman's writing style was visceral. The story unfolds logically, written in clear concise language, without distracting vulgarity. The characters are credible and their pain is palpable. This story illuminates the treachery of dictatorial regimes, and the gift of democracy. Radio Underground is relevant. It reminded me that every citizen should be vigilant in protecting freedom from tyranny. Additionally, the novel unwittingly highlights the criticality of freedom of the media, in order to maintain public communication and discourse.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this fantastic novel, I knew zilch about the Hungarian Uprising. It was wonderful to learn about this period of time in the form of a riveting story. I was completely glued to the book, not only because I was rooting for the characters, but also because I felt an immense desire to know the details of the Revolution and how it all unfolded. The writing sucked me in and I felt like I was right there with the characters, fighting for our humanity. This is a book you won't regret diving into.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. A MUST READ. This book paints a vivid and visceral picture of history many Americans don't quite understand or fully realize. It does so through a griping and wild tale of family betrayal, love, and forgiveness. This book magically transports the reader to a time and era or torture and survival in Budapest post WW11 and tells a deeply human story that must not be missed. The strong female characters make it the perfect give for all and I've given it to both the young men and women in my family.An incredible way to learn history and humanity...

[Dan-Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison Littman is an emerging talent to watch. From the first word you can sense a verve and energy from the page that throws you right into the struggle of the Hungarian Revolution. Sometimes I feel that in historical fiction the actual history being fictionalized is often foregrounded at the expense of character, but that's not the case here--Eszter and Dora's relationship is complex, fraught, and incredibly engaging. In short I could NOT put this book down!!

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells an imaginative and compelling story that takes you back to a different time and place with impressive historical detail. The author seamlessly pulls back the curtain on the mystery one character at a time - even though this is a work of fiction, it feels like a relevant reminder of the risks people have taken throughout history to stand up for what they believed in. Really enjoying it so far!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison Littman is someone we'll continue to hear from after the debut of her spectacular first novel. The characters were created with empathy and vivid detail. The gripping story will keep any reader enthralled from the first page. Set against the backdrop of the Hungarian revolution during the Cold War, the author does a masterful job of weaving captivating story and history. A must read! Recommend it for book clubs, travel over the holidays or an escape for any time!

[Brooke Heinichen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling illustration of living in a time of censorship and repression

This book takes a world that seems unimaginable to most modern readers, and makes it accessible and relatable through young adult eyes. Captivating from the start, and a vivid depiction of a country and era I knew little about. A memorable way to dive into this period in history.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Alison Littmans debut novel an engrossing story a story that brings us to Hungary during the Cold War a time a place I knew little about.A repressive government characters whose multi layered stories of life during that time drew me right in.I Highky recommend this novel and I am looking forward to her next novel thanks Edelweiss for mybadvance copy,

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story immediately grabbed my attention and held it throughout the book. As the story progressed, the character development felt natural and realistic- I felt an attachment to many of the characters. This book creates a successful balance between a historical narrative and a captivating story. Looking forward to the next book by this author!

[Lindasp · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having just visited the beautiful city of Budapest, Hungary, this was an eye-opening book focused on life in Hungary in the 1950, 60s under Communist rule. Quite a contrast! That led me to researching more about those years as young people particularly craved a better life while secretly listening to Radio Free Europe with its American rock and roll.

[Elisabeth Shovers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio Underground is a riveting read. Told through multiple perspectives and storylines, it explores the the lives of various individuals living under a repressive regime, yearning for freedom. A timely novel, and worthwhile read!

[Marisa Serrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It taught me about Hungary and the Cold War through several characters who were each so relatable and compelling. A perfect example of historical fiction, and so relevant in today’s world. Highly recommend to anyone!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have stated, I couldn’t put this book down. I like the background of Budapest and hearing the voices of 1956-1965. Knowing that it was written through letters found at the time made it even better. I look forward to hearing what Littman does next!

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely OK. I don't recommend it. Tedious.

[Tori Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was that good I finished it in two days. One of those books you don’t want to end.

[Cathyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling story with interesting characters. Lots of history about the aftermath of the Hungarian revolution.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, Adventurous novel. Great read, great debut, can't wait for her next book!

[Rachel Bourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. I especially liked the letters that were written and the way that they were written. About Budapest and how difficult life was behind the Iron Curtain. Kindle