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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
The Fall of a Sparrow – Robert Hellenga
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) After reading one of my favorite books, The Italian Lover, I just wanted to grab anything related to it and its characters. Author Robert Hellenga wrote a book about the protagonist’s lover, classics professor Alan “Woody” … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged Italy
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The Hanging Tree – Michael Phillip Cash
Another Halloween pick! (Reviewed by JD Jung) “If she couldn’t move the girl, she would do her best to preserve her innocence, or what was left of it.” Summer of 2013 – Oyster Bay – Seventeen year old Arielle was angry at … Continue reading
Posted in More fiction
Tagged horror, short books
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Golf Sayings: wit & wisdom of a good walk spoiled – Bradford G. Wheler
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) I’m not a golfer, but I have a very dear friend who is one. I was interested in this book as a gift to her. But before I gave it to her, I read it. What … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Non-fiction
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The Black Spider – Jeremias Gotthelf (Translated from the German by Susan Bernofsky)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “And now the people where gripped by the ancient fear that the spider might carry off an unbaptized infant, the pledge of their old pact. The woman was beside herself, she had no trust in God, … Continue reading
Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Lost and almost forgotten, World Literature
Tagged German literature, horror, short books
1 Comment
My Father, Humming – Jonathan Gillman
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) I first opened My Father, Humming randomly to page 24, and read “Down the Stairs”. Then I wept, a deep long weeping. I was home for a quick stop of showering and gathering things before returning … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Poetry
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The Female Veteran – Ty Will
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I expected a sense of honor and a sense of adventure with my first mission. What I got was not what I expected or would wish on any young female soldier. “ Ty Will served in … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs
1 Comment
Kudos to Julie L. Kessler
Julie L. Kessler,the author of Fifty-Fifty, The Clarity of Hindsight, has been nominated to participate in the 2013-14 contest “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading”. Underrated Reads reviewed Fifty-Fifty several months ago just prior to the book winning an … Continue reading
Posted in Let's talk
1 Comment
Philosophy Made Simple – Robert Hellenga
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Rudy Harrington, a sixty-year-old widower, is trying to find the meaning of life…his life. Is there any purpose left? To try and answer this question, he takes up the study of philosophy. Since his wife, Helen, … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
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Effed Up!: Story of a Family – Russ Woody
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Mom is proud of her forty-six year old son, Lenny. After all, the music community pays tribute to his band, Pink Lloyd. As you can tell, she doesn’t realize what a tribute band actually is. She … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Humor & Satire
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Return of the Heroine—Kaye Michelle
(Reviewed by Melanie Hamilton) In Kaye Michelle’s provocative and inspiring novel, Return of the Heroine, West Point Cadet Jane Archer has a problem: Should she do what’s right or save her career? The daughter of senior counsel to Providence Rhode … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Modern Literary Fiction
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