{Character Interview} Eszter from Alison Littman's Radio Underground
We’re thrilled to be talking to Eszter from Alison Littman’s
Radio Underground. It is a
pleasure to have her with us today at Pimp That Character!
Thank you for your interview, Eszter. How old are you and
what do you do for a living?
Age? Please, that doesn't matter. What matters is what I do
– so thank you for asking, though you have to promise this will not get back to
officials in my home country, Hungary.
You promise? Okay, great. I am an underground journalist who relays
intelligence to Radio Free Europe. I also run my own covert newspaper, Realitás. I really think this is going
to make a difference – this news – in breaking us out of Soviet control. You
wait.
What would I hate the most about you?
You should ask my husband Ivan that question. He’d say I’m
risking the life of our family by doing what I do and fighting the Soviets, but
I think it’s the only way to save us.
Where do you go when you are angry?
I go to my office to write.
What makes you laugh out loud?
Probably when Laszlo falls asleep on top of the newspaper
he’s been editing for hours. His drool will drip onto the words and make them
run down the page and onto his cheek. That’s funny, but so is seeing his face
when he realizes all his hard work was for naught.
What is in your refrigerator right now?
Who knows? Maybe some jam. You’d have to ask Ivan.
What is your greatest fear?
That we won’t beat the Soviets.
Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
She did the best she could. Some days, I’m not even sure who
or what I am. If someone can get close, well, that’s better than I can do.
Are you a loner or do you prefer to surround yourself with
friends?
I’m not a loner, but my friendship circle is small because
of what I do. I spend all night writing Realitás,
and I work during the day, so I just don’t have that much time to socialize.
Who is your best friend?
Her name is Zsuska, but the secret police took her away in
the middle of the night—just like that, can you believe it?—and I haven’t heard
from her since. That’s why I’m doing something about this. For her, and for
others who wanted something more than living, well more like dying, under the
communist regime, and were punished for it.
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you
do today?
Exactly what I’m doing now—giving people hope that they
could have something better. We have to fight for our freedom and I will pursue
that to no end, even if means my end.
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.
Website Address: https://www.readalisonlittman.com/
Twitter Address: https://twitter.com/AliMcShpiel
Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/readalisonlittman/
About the Book:
After years of suffering under the communist regime in Cold War Hungary, Eszter Turján—fanatical underground journalist—would
sacrifice anything, and anyone, to see the government fall. When she
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 meets a strapping young fan of Radio
Free Europe and is unwittingly drawn back into Eszter’s circle.
She finds her mother, driven mad by years of torture, is headed for
death.
On the brink of losing Eszter again, Dora must decide if she
should risk her life to save the mother who discarded her—or leave it to fate.
“A propulsive read and a timely reminder that maintaining
our humanity requires courage as much as love.”- Kim van Alkemade, New York Times best-selling author
of Orphan #8 and Bachelor Girl
“Littman’s debut novel is a delectable blend of history and
heartstrings, sure to please the palates of literature lovers everywhere.”-
Selene Castrovilla, award-winning author of Melt and Luna
Rising
5 out of 5 star review from Readers’ Favorite
“Radio Underground reads like a movie…A
revolutionary tale written with style.”- Readers’ Favorite
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