-
-
About
UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Author Archives: J D Jung
An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Media
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We were a family of emigrants, on the move from generation to generation. Forced to flee our homes because of intolerable situations imposed on us by those in power. The United States was meant to be … Continue reading
Lisette – Clare Castleberry
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ll be honest — erotic horror isn’t usually my genre. But after enjoying Clare Castleberry’s Bound by Blood, I gave Lisette a chance, and I’m glad I did. Set against the gritty backdrop of New Orleans … Continue reading
Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Horror
Tagged horror, murder, New Orleans, sex, short books
Leave a comment
An Excellent UnderratedRead Revisited:The Riddle of the Sphinx – Alexandre Montagu
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Eric (Keyvan) fled Iran as a child during the Islamic revolution and grew up in Paris. He later studied Comparative Literature at Princeton. That is one scenario. What would have happened if he was forced … Continue reading
Precious Friends: Murder in Sag Harbor – Frank Spinelli
(Reviewed by JD Jung) This suspenseful mystery pulls you into the glamorous world of New York’s gay elite. Forty-eight-year-old JB Pulaski, a Columbia professor, has been married to Mike for seventeen years, and together they are raising their adopted son, … Continue reading
Goodbye Chinatown – Kit Fan
(Reviewed by JD Jung) This emotionally layered novel blends food, family, politics, and identity into a powerful story. Set between London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, it follows Amber Fan, a talented young chef determined to build her dream London restaurant, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged food, immigration, multiculture
Leave a comment
An UnderratedRead Revisited and Tribute to Sonny Rollins
JD Jung) Last week, tenor saxophonist and jazz great Sonny Rollins passed away at the age of ninety-five. In 1959, twenty-eight-year-old Rollins disappeared for two years with the purpose of practicing and improving his craft. He wrote down his thoughts … Continue reading
Final Transaction: Murder, Money & Real Estate – Diane Dickinson
(Reviewed by JD Jung) This fast-paced real estate murder mystery pulls readers deep into Houston’s world of wealth, ambition, and secrets. When successful realtor Todd Drake — co-owner of Drake Properties and one of Houston’s top boutique real estate agents … Continue reading
Inspiration Porn: Essays – Ryan O’Connell
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Inspirational Porn is one of the most honest, funny, and emotional memoir collections I’ve read in a long time. Known for the Netflix series “Special” and his television writing career, Ryan O’Connell infuses these essays with … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction
Tagged LGBTQ, memoirs
Comments Off on Inspiration Porn: Essays – Ryan O’Connell
A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Shameless – Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy – Brian Tyler Cohen
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “You can’t understand the Trump phenomenon unless you understand the role that independent media on the right has played in terms of social media, in terms of amplification of his message, in terms of getting … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged American politics, democracy
Comments Off on A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Shameless – Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy – Brian Tyler Cohen