Our November program featured a presentation by Ms. Connie Hampton Connally, whose book, The Songs We Hide, is set in 1951 Stalinist Hungary. Beautifully written, the book’s plot and the two main characters, Péter and Katalin, serve as the vehicle through which we can catch a glimpse into the everyday experiences of Hungarians living through these brutal times. Yet the book has a gentleness that only a love story can offer amidst the backdrop of Stalinist Hungary, and Ms. Connally was able to weave that thread into her book. She shared her methods of research and her approach to writing a book set in 1951 Hungary with our audience; and not being of Hungarian heritage herself, she related how this project helped her to become familiar with our history after World War II. The audience had a chance to ask questions, and some guests were able to relate to the descriptions in the book from their own personal experiences in pre-1956 Hungary. Books were available for sale and were signed by the author.
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