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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
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
Posted in More fiction
Tagged American politics, Silicon Valley
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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
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged civil rights, racism, thriller
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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
Posted in Revisited
Tagged crime fiction, family dysfunction, psychological drama
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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
Posted in Middle Eastern Literature, Romance
Tagged LGBTQ, Palestine
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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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Good Lookin’ – T L Bequette
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’m always drawn to crime thrillers that combine a captivating murder case with characters who feel like real people, and Good Lookin’ certainly kept me turning the pages. Oakland attorney Joe Turner has never lost a … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Fiction
Tagged abuse, crime fiction
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The Eye of Goliath – Diego Muzzio (Author), Rahul Bery (Translator)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading The Eye of Goliath, I was immediately intrigued by Dr. Edward Pierce, a physician running a sanatorium outside Edinburgh who uses hypnosis and other controversial methods to treat soldiers suffering from the … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature
Tagged insanity, psychological thriller, WWI
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Within the Walls: A Dark Romance – V. S. Maxon
(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading Within the Walls, I expected a story about a kidnapping, but it turned out to be much more psychologically complex. Actress Sophie Hartnet is abducted on her way back to her Paris … Continue reading
Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Romance
Tagged dark fiction
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