Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly – Hannah Selinger

Posted on March 25, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional

Hannah Selinger graduated from Columbia University but found herself working as a server at a hometown dive. She eventually moved back to New York and found employment at some of the most trendy, high-end restaurants. First working as a server, then “cellar rat” (stocking the wine cellar) and eventually as a sommelier. Envious? Well, you shouldn’t be.

Selinger exposes the toxic culture of the industry in her memoir Cellar Rat. She maintains that she changed many of the names of the people and establishments. Since I was not familiar with the New York dining scene, I googled the head chefs and restaurants that she mentioned. I found that she didn’t conceal their identities and what I discovered was shocking.

She never knew what the next day would bring. She thrived on the unpredictability of the restaurant business and found it thrilling and intoxicating. As a cellar rat and sommelier, she loved wines but hated the erratic personalities of management. On the romantic front, since her work was non-stop, her only relationships were at work. She now realizes that she was naïve and susceptive to the advances of unavailable, predatory men. Misogyny was prevalent, which didn’t surprise me in the early 2000’s but the rest she endured certainly did.

Why did she stay in the restaurant business for so long, enduring such emotional abuse and random dismissals without notice? This is essential information, and you’ll find out when you read the book.

Cellar Rat is a page-turner that is difficult to put down. An original recipe related to the story is included at the end of each chapter. That’s just a plus. More importantly this opened my eyes to a life and subculture I was totally unaware of.

What I also appreciate is that she admits that a few of the dismissals were of her own doing and mistakes. She also admits that she grew up financially stable and had a financial support system when she needed it. She acknowledges that most restaurant workers aren’t afforded that luxury.

Cellar Rat will force you to look at the high-end restaurant industry differently. Selinger maintains that these abuses still occur today, and it is her mission to expose them. I think she succeeds in that.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Wishing Pool and Other Stories – Tananarive Due

Posted on March 22, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

 


You’ll keep looking over your shoulder as you read these eerie stories of horror, with a little science fiction sprinkled in, in The Wishing Pool and Other Stories.

The title piece, “The Wishing Pool” features Joy, a woman returning home to North Florida to visit her father who is suffering from dementia. She reminisces about her childhood there and the small pond, where one must be careful what they wish for.

Author Tananarive Due not only tackles childhood fears but also aging and the fear of mortality. Throughout this collection of fourteen chilling stories, she also explores issues of race, family, and society. Such is the case with “Haint in the Window”, where Darryl, who runs a bookstore, is faced with a security guard who is racially profiling him. That is, in addition to dealing with the ghosts provoking him in the shop.

While these two superb stories are just examples of the haunting tales in “Part I: Wishing”, my favorites are those in “Part II: The Gracetown Stories”. As mentioned in the section title, the setting for these is Gracetown, a swamp-filled rural town in North Florida. From getting lost on Route 9 to working as a housekeeper for an elderly white man hiding damning secrets, readers will identify with many of the characters as it will bring up some of their deepest fears. In “Migration”, Jazmine cannot make sense of her actions nor remember all her secrets and transgressions as she may be suffering from schizophrenia on the one hand or possessed by a demon on the other.

In “Part III: The Nayima Stories”, we witness a grim, dystopian future where decades of plague lead to totalitarianism and shortages of every kind.

These stories feel hauntingly real and invoke such powerful images that the reader is completely invested in the characters and their dire situations. It is also amazing how Due is able to develop her unique characters in such a short amount of time.

The Wishing Pool and Other Stories will provide a unique experience in the horror genre. Highly recommended!

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An UnderratedRead Revisited:Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World – Anne Applebaum

Posted on March 18, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional

“The autocracies want to create a global system that benefits thieves, criminals, dictators, and the perpetrators of mass murder. We can stop them.”

Historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, suggests what democracies can do to save their political systems and why we should fear these present-day autocracies in her latest book, Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World.

Totalitarian governments have changed since the last century. The world economy is so much more complex now. Today’s dictators have become allies regardless of ideology –both communist and fascist – with the quest to destabilize democracies throughout the world.  These kleptocracies realize that by working together they can gain constant wealth for their leaders. They don’t care how they are perceived throughout the world; the goal is self-enrichment. Many countries have governments that are not complete democracies or autocracies, but their leaders are not immune from this behavior. Look at Erdogan of Turkey and Orbán of Hungry, and specifically Erdogan’s involvement with Maduro of Venezuela.

Though I have just summarized this, Applebaum provides in-depth, well-researched history with specific examples. She explains how countries, such as Russia, China, Venezuela, and Iran collaborate to achieve their goals. She reveals the tactics used such as money laundering, smear campaign. Also, she provides proof of how these often-legal acts continue to negatively affect countries such as the United States and Britain. Her proposed solutions are solid and make sense.

No one is unaffected by these dictatorships, Autocracy, Inc. We must resist any politician who praises autocrats or believes that they can do business with them. This book is a must-read for all who care about their neighborhood, country and the world they live in. A real eye-opener!

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My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift – Harold Phifer

Posted on March 11, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

 

 

Hal endured a tumultuous upbringing under the cruel hand of his Aunt Kathy. While his mother suffered from severe mental illness, it was Aunt Kathy who had to step in to raise him and his two brothers—though “raise” might be too generous a term. Her favoritism toward Hal’s older brother was blatant, and her treatment of Hal was nothing short of abusive, both physically and emotionally.

A devout figure in the Zion Gate Union Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi, Aunt Kathy’s life outside the church was anything but holy. Even her fellow parishioners were well aware of her evil nature, but they continued to appease her. That included Pastor Keith, but the reason was probably due to her substantial financial donations.

As an adult, Hal escaped his painful past by working as a contractor in Afghanistan, only to be drawn back when he received news from Pastor Keith of Aunt Kathy’s death. Since his estranged brothers were quite irresponsible, he requested that Hal help deliver the eulogy. The narrative skillfully weaves between the present-day funeral arrangements and pivotal moments from Hal’s past, painting a vivid picture of his upbringing and painful relationship with Aunt Kathy. What the reader doesn’t expect is the satisfying ending.

Author Harold Phifer openly acknowledges taking creative liberties, but the essence of the story remains rooted in truth. What I don’t understand though, is despite enduring years of mistreatment, he emerges as someone relatively emotionally balanced.

This book is hard to put down. The combination of raw personal history and sharp storytelling makes for a fascinating read. Readers can relate to the fact that we all know those who claim to be religious and godly, but in private, are nothing like that. My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift is highly recommended for those drawn to memoirs of survival and resilience, complex family dynamics, and hidden personas.

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Ugliness – Moshtari Hilal, Translated from the German by Elisabeth Lauffer

Posted on March 6, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

 

In this deeply personal book, author Moshtari Hilal interweaves memoir, history, and sociology to explore the painful realities of feeling “ugly” in a world that prioritizes symmetry and Eurocentric beauty standards.

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan and later moving to Germany she relates her lifelong insecurities about her “crooked” nose and excessive facial hair, offering an account of the emotional toll of not fitting conventional ideals.

What I found the most fascinating though, was her exhaustive research into the history and sociology of the perception of “ugliness”. Imitation and assimilation are a means of social mobility for some and survival for others. This is especially true of immigrants. However, western imperialism also plays a role as she provides examples of how women currently living in the Middle East seek to become attractive by European standards. She examines the history of plastic surgery, specifically rhinoplasty, the goal being for patients to feel better about themselves by trying to attain the ideal appearance and to be accepted in society.

Through her comprehensive historical research, she discovered that not until the twentieth century did scientists consider asymmetry to be standard. Hairiness was often linked to insanity until the late 1800s, and individuals with unconventional appearances were often labeled as “monstrous” and exploited in circus sideshows.

She conducts a comprehensive study of eugenics in the twentieth century and how this concept of symmetry fed into fascist ideology and was weaponized against Jews and other minorities. This examination of symmetry’s dark role in history is both thought-provoking and unsettling.

Written with poetic introspection and meticulous research, Ugliness offers a fascinating study of how culture, politics, and history define beauty and ugliness. It is an essential read for anyone interested in identity, and the societal forces that shape our perceptions of self-worth.

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Dying For Gold: The True Story of the Giant Mine Murders – Lee Selleck & Francis Thompson

Posted on March 2, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch)

Exceptional

This is an exhaustive book…but it needs to be to properly tell the story of one of the worst labor disputes in Canadian history.

In the early 1990s, the remote town of Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, was thrust into a labor dispute – and into the national spotlight, when mineworkers at the Giant Mine went on strike for better wages and working conditions. The new owners of the mine stood firm and refused to agree to any of the striker’s demands and before long, a rancorous, bitter battle raged that would pit management against workers, worker against worker, and neighbor against neighbor. The conflict quickly escalated into incidents of violence, sabotage, harassment, and finally murder, when a IED was placed inside the mine and nine replacement workers were killed.

Authors Selleck and Thompson do a great job of documenting all of the twists and turns of this amazing story, but what I liked most was the human element that they did such a wonderful job of illustrating. Equally as vivid was the nearly poetic depiction of life for the men toiling in one of the most dangerous professions in the world nearly a quarter mile beneath the earth.

A definite good read that will leave you enlightened, educated, and entertained.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited – They Got Daddy: One Family’s Reckoning with Racism and Faith – Sharon Tubbs

Posted on February 27, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional
“This story would reveal parts of who I am, as a Black woman in America, by discovering who my grandfather was.”

This was not her original intention though. She wanted to learn more about her grandfather’s legal battles and his subsequent kidnapping, that all started in 1954. Initially this research was to be strictly historical. However, it did prompt her to connect what happened then to what she and others are going through today. From this research, she learned more about herself.

Author Sharon Tubbs obtained her information from interviews, newspaper articles and filings at government offices. She met some relatives for the first time and others she hadn’t seen in years.

This absorbing account not only reveals to us of the racial incidents that happened to her family in Alabama in the mid-twentieth century, but how this past affects people today, no matter where they live. For example, she interviewed her grandfather’s brother, who at eighty-nine years old and living in Indiana felt unsafe based of what happened decades ago in Alabama. The people who could serve retribution were already dead. This fear also affects subsequent generations. This leads to the question; how can we repair “cultural trauma”?

This fear is not unfounded. For example, she describes what happened to her brother in a 1984 McDonald’s parking lot in Indiana. Just as disturbing, her nephew explained to her the continual racist attacks that he experiences during online gaming parties. Unfortunately, he says he has learned to live with it.

Tubbs structures the book going back and forth between what happened to her grandfather, her past, the role of the Church and life today. This is engaging to the reader as we learn about life from her perspective while we eagerly await to find out what finally happens to her grandfather.

They Got Daddy is a must- read for all people so that we can appreciate those who have experienced life differently than we have as individuals. Though we will never completely comprehend what others go through, this will give us a glimpse and a better understanding.

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We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders – Linda Sarsour

Posted on February 23, 2025 by J D Jung

(reviewed by Ann Onymous )

Exceptional

The title of this book calls each of us, doesn’t it?

“What does it mean when we say we are social justice activists, and organizers committed to justice and equality for all people?“ I asked the graduates that afternoon. “It means we have made the decision that we will never be bystanders. “And I added: “In an age of alternative facts, fake news, and emboldened racism, and xenophobia, we cannot be silent. We cannot allow the voices of hate and divisiveness to be louder than the voices of solidarity and love.”

Linda Sarsour is a daughter, sister, mother, wife and leader – working on behalf of marginalized people across America. This book is more than a memoir, this is an account of Linda’s journey as she grows into her role as a community organizer, activist, and co-organizer of the Women’s March on January 21, 2016. She served as the Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York at the age of twenty-five. She began translating Arabic to English after 9/11, always representing her faith bravely and inspiring change. She stood up against the Muslim travel ban, she marched with Black Lives Matter protesters and helped the NY School system recognize all religious holidays. She has gone from being the local daughter of a Bodega owner in Brooklyn to a nationally recognized speaker. She has had both admirers and death threats made against herself and her family. Yet, through it all, she continues to be a proud Palestinian and Muslim woman.

I was not familiar with Linda’s life’s work until I read this book. She is not without her critics, but I appreciated her sincere honesty in writing this book and sharing her thoughts aloud with the reader. In the eighth grade her fellow students doubted she was from Palestine, because it wasn’t on the map.

How timely to dive into this book as the US faces another Trump presidency. Published at the beginning of Biden’s years, we are now again faced with increased Islamophobia and hatred.

I recommend this book as we move forward in community – finding beauty and unity in our differences.

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The Sable Cloak – by Gail Milissa Grant

Posted on February 20, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South, readers are first taken to Greenston, South Carolina, in 1934. We meet Big Will who upon turning eighteen, must join the neighborhood’s vigilante group to keep justice in an area of town that is ignored by white police. Big Will cannot reconcile his conscience with what he has been tasked to do, so the inner turmoil leads him on a journey away from home, ultimately landing him in St. Louis to live with his cousin and her husband, successful undertaker and politically powerful Jordan Sable.

But to fully understand the family history and dynamics, we’re taken back to Greenston in 1911 and move forward. As the reader is immersed in the riveting events of each of the characters, we keep Big Will’s situation in the back of our minds.

One of the novel’s most compelling strengths is its portrayal of the strong family and community bonds through the segregated South and Midwest. It sheds light on issues of class within the Black community along with the open opportunities for advancement. The characters are richly developed, each with a distinct voice and a history that shapes their motivations. Their struggles and triumphs feel authentic, making for an emotionally resonant read. Though citizens ae not immune to family secrets, we learn how a community can rally behind its neighbors.

The Sable Cloak is based on real-life accounts. Author Gail Milissa Grant’s mission was to show the achievements of overlooked African Americans, and this story serves as a tribute to perseverance and success against systemic oppression. These precursors launched a social movement that continues today. Sadly, Grant passed away in 2024 before this book was published, but her work and storytelling live on.

A mesmerizing and eye-opening read, The Sable Cloak cherishes those who demonstrated resilience and compassion. It captivates from the first page and refuses to let go.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You: Stories – by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Posted on February 14, 2025 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional
“In New Orleans, culture doesn’t come down from on high, it bubbles up from the street.” –  Jazz Pianist Ellis Marsalis (1934-2020)

This quote that opens the book epitomizes these stories, as we meet New Orleans residents of all ages and gender identifications just trying to make it day by day.

I was grabbed immediately while reading the first and title story, “The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You”. We meet a male teenage prostitute who is just hoping for something more. I didn’t think that this one could be outdone. I was wrong.

New Orleans Author Maurice Carlos Ruffin relates these poignant tales with honest, cutting language, using the vernacular of his characters. Though the stories are often ill-fated, he manages to skillfully intersperse humor in many of them.

Such is the case of my favorite, “Ghetto University”. Here, an English professor who specializes in the works of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, resorts to mugging tourists in the French Quarter. He justifies his actions with absurd reasons, such as that he is doing a service to his victims.

I wish some of the shorter stories were longer. As I became immersed in the plot and characters, they would end, even though the conclusions made sense.

I couldn’t get the final story out of my head though. “Before I let Go”, features a woman whose house is about to be foreclosed. Though the house has been in her family for generations, she incurred debt while making repairs on it after Katrina. Through no fault of her own, every time she tries to get ahead, she seems to take giant steps backwards. This is happening as white people from other parts of the country descend like locusts to buy the house and others in the Tremé neighborhood. This story forces us to look at gentrification in an even dimmer light.

The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You is a must-read collection of short stories, and I hope to discover more from this author.

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