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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
I Did Not Survive. I Just Refused To Stop.: The Extraordinarily Abnormal Life of an Average Desi Muslim Girl – MissFit Writes
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “There is one unforgivable sin in any society: to be different. Be different and be damned. And yet—whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Middle Eastern Literature, Poetry, World Literature
Tagged culture, Muslim, Pakistan, poetry
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The Art of Mingling, (4th Ed.): Fun and Proven Techniques for Socializing in Person – Jeanne Martinet
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Do you ever walk into a party where you hardly know anyone and immediately wonder, “Who am I supposed to talk to?”, and then, ”What do I say?” If so, The Art of Mingling is the … Continue reading
Posted in How do I do that?, Non-fiction, Your Best Self
Tagged self-discovery, self-help
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All That Dies in April – Mariana Travacio (Author), Will Morningstar and Samantha Schnee (Translator)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Lina wants to leave her Argentinian quebrada, where the soil is dry and the land barren, no longer offering them anything for sustenance. Her only son left years earlier with her younger brother. She is … Continue reading
Posted in Latin American Literature, World Literature
Tagged Argentina, family, migration
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Tristan 4 America – Bruce Overby
(Reviewed by JD Jung) At 62, Tristan Heller finds himself unemployed after spending fifteen years at Mammon, Inc., a Silicon Valley tech company. Like many people in the industry, he has been laid off before, but this time, with his … Continue reading
Burn Everything …. Then Forget It – Boston Teran
(Reviewed by JD Jung) America v. America Outcome Uncertain Set in the Bronx in August 1965, Burn Everything …. Then Forget It drops the reader into a turbulent period in American history. The Voting Rights Act has just been signed, … Continue reading
An UnderratedRead Revisited: All Who Wander – Joe Clifford
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I’ve spent years in therapy pushing dark memories into a black corner where, without light, I though the wild things could not grow. I was wrong. Left alone and ignored, I’ve provided ideal conditions for them to … Continue reading
Eden at Dawn – Karim Kattan (Author), Jeffrey Zuckerman (Translator)
(Reviewed by John Heilman) Eden at Dawn is the mesmerizing tale of two Palestinian men, Isaac and Gabriel who meet in Jerusalem and slowly captivate one another, only to back away and later reunite. Their love inspires them to embark … Continue reading
American Caesar How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy – Bradley B. Onishi
(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I finished reading American Caesar, I found myself thinking that this book is about much more than the possibility of an American Caesar. Bradley B. Onishi examines a movement that is working to fundamentally reshape … Continue reading
Posted in Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice
Tagged American politics, Christian Nationalism, democracy
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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Adua – Igiaba Scego (Author), Jamie Richards (Translator)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “In Somalia I was a young girl who was full of dreams and wanted to see the world. In just a few months they’ve manipulated, abused, used, transformed me. It feels like years, not months, have … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged African literature, Italian literature, translated world literature
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The Imaginary Life of a Laurel Tree – Mario Fortunato (Author), Michael F. Moore (Translator)
When I was visiting Genoa, Italy, I popped into Feltrinelli Librerie and picked up a book with an intriguing and original plot: The Imaginary Life of a Laurel Tree by Mario Fortunato. Our unnamed narrator, a writer in his forties, … Continue reading
Posted in Italian Literature, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged LGBTQ, obsession
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