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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
A Relevant Poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Pity The Nation (2007)- Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021) (inspired by Khalil Gibran) Pity the nation whose people are sheep, and whose shepherds mislead them. Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced and whose bigots haunt the airwaves. … Continue reading
A Must Read Now! -On Heroism: McCain, Milley, Mattis, and the Cowardice of Donald Trump – Jeffrey Goldberg
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Why do so many politicians and public servants continue to support a man who has little regard for the military, no regard for the Constitution, and holds dictators in such high regard? Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged American History, American politics, Donald Trump, heroism, military
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Low-Hanging Fruit: Sparkling Whines, Champagne Problems, and Pressing Issues from My Gay Agenda – Randy Rainbow
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Who would write a Dear John letter to social media in order to get control over his attention span and basically his entire life? And how do you even navigate the damn thing? Or how about … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Humor & Satire, Non-fiction
Tagged comedy, essays, social media, Social satire
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Still a Grim Favorite! Revisited: Mygale – Thierry Jonquet (translated by Donald Nicolson Smith)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Ah, revenge can be so sweet. Now mix it with obsession and a touch of madness, and it turns utterly twisted and bizarre. Such is the case with the intense and fascinating novel, Mygale, written by … Continue reading
That Librarian – Amanda Jones
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We are just collateral damage to them in their quest, and so are the students who do not fit into the mold of what they deem acceptable which is white, straight Christians. I pray for the … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction, Social Justice
Tagged book banning, censorship, Christian, homophobia, racism
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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Medina
(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
Posted in Revisited
Tagged addiction, crime fiction, family, immigration, Judaism, LGBTQ, San Francisco
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The Propagandist – Cécile Desprairies, translated by Natasha Lehrer
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Our protagonist had to navigate between truth and lies, reality and denial for her entire childhood. Now as an adult and a historian, she must face these truths and the role her mother played in Fance … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, Historical Fiction
Tagged anti-antisemitism, France, Nazism, propaganda, WWII
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Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World – Anne Applebaum
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “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 … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Social Justice, World Issues
Tagged autocracy, China, democracy, dictatorship, Iran, murder, politics, Russia, Venezuela
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White Robes and Broken Badges: Infiltrating the KKK and Exposing the Evil Among Us – Joe Moore
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) I’ll admit that as a crime writer, I’m a sucker for ‘under the radar – dual life’ narratives, and Joe Moore’s, White Robes And Broken Badges, certainly hit the mark for me. An ex-Army sniper … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction
Tagged FBI, Ku Klux Klan
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