Author Archives: J D Jung

Joan of the Arcane – Alexandra Fleder

Posted on August 11, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) What happens when a former punk-rock singer reaches her forties, her children have left home for college, and suburban life suddenly feels like a cage? That’s where Joan finds herself in this wonderfully original and often … Continue reading →

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Almost Blue -Carlo Lucarelli (Author) , Oonagh Stransky (Translator)

Posted on August 7, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)     “That’s why I’m listening to the city tonight, with Chet Baker playing softly in the background.” Another book I picked up while visiting Bologna, Italy, was Almost Blue by Carlo Lucarelli at Feltrinelli Librerie. … Continue reading →

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Toulouse Noir – Charles Henri Lavielle (Editor), David and Nicole Ball (translators)

Posted on August 4, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ve now read thirteen books in the Akashic Noir series, and one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t need to know a city to appreciate its stories. In fact, I’ve enjoyed several collections set in … Continue reading →

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Kindred Spirits: Thomas Merton, Jack Kerouac, and Zen – Edward C Sellner

Posted on July 31, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Edward C. Sellner’s Kindred Spirits brings together two unlikely figures—Trappist monk Thomas Merton and Beat Generation icon Jack Kerouac. This well-researched biography explores how Buddhist thought influenced each man’s spiritual journey. Both men battled depression, wrote … Continue reading →

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Buyer Beware – Catherine Ryan Howard

Posted on July 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set on the outskirts of Dublin in 2025, Buyer Beware follows Ellie as she moves into the first home she’s ever owned. Unfortunately, it’s cold, filthy, and falling apart, and with little money to spare, she can … Continue reading →

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From Lompoc With Love – Haris Orkin

Posted on July 25, 2026 by J D Jung

Reviewed by Don Jung) From Lompoc With Love is the sixth in a series of spy thrillers that is fast paced with nonstop action that takes you around the world. James Flynn is a retired “secret agent” who is trying to … Continue reading →

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Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils – Sandra Jackson-Opoku

Posted on July 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I usually gravitate toward gritty thrillers rather than cozy mysteries, so I wasn’t expecting Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils to hook me the way it did. But this engaging culinary mystery quickly won me over. … Continue reading →

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We’re Here Again…An UnderratedRead Revisited: Mr. Siegel Writes to Washington – Rich Siegel

Posted on July 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung)   (Editor’s note: With the political demise of Graham Platner, the actual demise of Lindsey Graham, and the questionable demise of Mitch MConnell, the United States Senate is back in the spotlight. Though written during Trump’s … Continue reading →

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Happy Life – David Foenkinos (Author), Sam Taylor (Translator)

Posted on July 14, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Eric Kherson is forty years old, divorced, has little contact with his son, and is struggling to find meaning in his life. He makes a good living but feels disconnected from both his personal life and … Continue reading →

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Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop – Alba Donati (Author), Elena Pala (Translator)

Posted on July 10, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “People want stories; it doesn’t matter who wrote them, they need stories to take their mind off things, stories to identify with or to take them elsewhere. Stories that won’t hurt, that will heal a wound, … Continue reading →

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