Author Archives: J D Jung

An UnderratedRead Revisited : Great Again – Bill Day

Posted on May 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Ex-Marine Jack O’Mally is divorced and estranged from his adult daughter. He just can’t accept that she is married to a black musician and living in California. Jack is captain of his New Jersey neighborhood watch, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | Tagged immigration, racism, undocumented | Comments Off

The Royal We – Roddy Bottum

Posted on May 15, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s the early 1980’s and San Francisco is a city of non-conformity, tolerance, and acceptance in contrast to Los Angeles, where most try to conform. That along with the abundance of drugs is part of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged LGBTQ, memoirs | Comments Off

KOSTYA – Scott Zimmerman

Posted on May 8, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) This powerful World War II novel delivers a deeply personal and harrowing account of survival, resilience, and the human spirit under unimaginable conditions. Based on a true story, it follows Kostya, a seventeen-year-old Ukrainian boy captured … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks | Tagged WWII | Comments Off

Good News – Alexa Yasemin Brahme

Posted on May 5, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy character-driven fiction about identity, ambition, and messy personal growth, Good News delivers a captivating and relatable story. Maggie, a woman in her late twenties pursuing her MFA, feels caught between her artistic dreams … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, More fiction, Romance | Tagged artists., emotion, immigration | Comments Off

The Shy Assassin – Clara Usón, translated by Lily Meyer

Posted on May 1, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading The Shy Assassin by Clara Usón, but it completely surprised me. What begins as a curiosity about the mysterious death of Spanish “erotic” actress Sandra Mozarowsky … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, More fiction, Spanish Literature | Tagged philosophy, suicide | Comments Off

Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef – Brigid Washington

Posted on April 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This heartfelt culinary memoir follows Brigid Ransome, a Trinidad-born writer and cooking aficionado, as she rebuilds her life after heartbreak. Set against the backdrop of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged memoir | Comments Off

Another UnderratedRead Revisited: Affections: A Novel – Rodrigo Hasbún , Translated by Sophie Hughes

Posted on April 23, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Affections is an intriguing work of historical fiction based on true events following the once- close Ertl family. Hans, the patriarch, was a Nazi propaganda cinematographer, and the family fled Munich and arrived in La Paz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature | Tagged Historical fiction, Latin American Lit | Comments Off

The Presence of Men – Francesca Marciano

Posted on April 20, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This novella immediately drew me in with its quiet emotional depth and evocative Italian setting. Starting over after divorce captures what it really means to rebuild a life. —messy, uncertain, and deeply personal. . Lara used … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Italian Literature, World Literature | Tagged emotional, short books | Comments Off