-
-
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
Blood and Mascara – Colin Krainin
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…all the women he had known and loved, the idea of them was there in front of him…and once he had come to love then, had he not carried them about within him forever after, like … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged crime fiction, noir, obsession
Comments Off on Blood and Mascara – Colin Krainin
The Coin – Yasmin Zaher
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…in my family, America was both the key and the curse.” Our narrator, who is from a wealthy Palestinian family moved to New York after her parents died. She was left with an inheritance of which … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Middle Eastern Literature, World Literature
Tagged immigration, New York, obsession
Comments Off on The Coin – Yasmin Zaher
The Blind Devotion of Imogene: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor – David Putnam
(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s 1973, and seventy-five-year-old Imogene Taylor has just been released from the Chino Institute for Women after serving time for second-degree murder. As she returns to her home in California’s Inland Empire, readers are immediately … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Humor & Satire
Tagged humor
Comments Off on The Blind Devotion of Imogene: The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor – David Putnam
Bad Tourists – Caro Carver
(Reviewed by JD Jung) In this riveting novel, three friends in their forties—Darcy, Camilla, and Kate—embark on an extravagant trip to the Maldives to celebrate Darcy’s lucrative divorce. Since their backgrounds and personalities are very different, we wonder how and … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged crime fiction, divorce, friendship, Maldives, suspense
Comments Off on Bad Tourists – Caro Carver
An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen
(reviewed by JD Jung) “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. But what did the “pursuit of Happiness” mean to the founding fathers? American legal scholar, Jeffrey Rosen uncovers … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged American History, happiness, philosophy, racism, slavery
Comments Off on An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen
An UnderratedRead Revisited: Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul – Michael Fanone and John Shiffman
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “What sort of American tries to overthrow democracy? What kind of man becomes so consumed by a false belief that he drives across the country, storms the Capitol, and assaults police officers?” Those are pressing questions … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged American politics, Crime, January 6, law enforcement, memoirs, police, PTSD
Comments Off on An UnderratedRead Revisited: Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul – Michael Fanone and John Shiffman
An UnderratedRead Revisited: Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You – Keir Giles
(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You, I thought “I know all of this.”, as I considered myself relatively informed on the subject. However, I am so glad that … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged cyber-crime, disinformation, espionage, history, media, murder, politics, Putin, Russia, Soviet Union
Comments Off on An UnderratedRead Revisited: Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You – Keir Giles
One of our best 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
Posted in Revisited
Tagged Historical fiction, Iran, Islamic revolution, LGBTQ, Shah
Comments Off on One of our best revisited:The Riddle of the Sphinx – Alexandre Montagu
An Exceptional UnderratedRead Revisited: Visualize Yourself: Designing the Outcome of Your Life, One Issue at a Time – Aileen Nealie
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) “This is you breaking free from your current reality. Dare to expand. Dare to grow. Design your path. You have a say in everything.” Reading Visualize Yourself by Aileen Nealie is like giving your mind a … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged depression, love, mental health issues, relationships, spirituality, visualization
Comments Off on An Exceptional UnderratedRead Revisited: Visualize Yourself: Designing the Outcome of Your Life, One Issue at a Time – Aileen Nealie