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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
The Hideout – Egon Hostovsky (Translated from the Czech by Fern Long)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I keep having the feeling that a good half of the human race got drunk in a kind of gigantic space where the air is all breathed out. The born fighters and brawlers started to … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Lost and almost forgotten, Slavic Literature
Tagged adultery, Czech, France, introspection, loyalty, short books, WWII
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Dreams of Heaven – Elizabeth M. Herrera
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) Savannah waited to see if her sister would notice Jesus standing beside her, but Denise simply walked over and hugged her. However, she did notice the throng of doves covering the deck. … Continue reading
Posted in More fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged Jesus, short books, spirituality
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The Butcher’s Daughter: A Memoir – Florence Grende
(Reviewed by Judy Deutsch) The Butcher’s Daughter is a personal story of a young girl in Poland during The Holocaust and how she and her family survived. The book reads like a diary and is filled with descriptions during the … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged Holocaust, memoirs, short books, survivors, WWII
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The End – Fernanda Torres (Translated from the Portuguese by Alison Entrekin)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “There’s something a bit queer in every male friendship. Fucking the same women is a roundabout way of fucking each other. And in the same physical space, it’s a fine line. But there’s no way—not joking, … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, World Literature
Tagged aging, Brazil, Copacabana, hedonism, orgies, Rio de Janeiro, sex
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Second Coming: Elvis. Extraterrestrials. Dogs. – D. B. Borton
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) #CommissionsEarned Second Coming is a humorous science fiction story about Lawrence and Elvis, two aliens who have traveled to earth for the second time. Their mission is to bring a message and that is, if Earth … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology
Tagged aliens, Elvis, humor, outer-space, science fiction
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Size Zero – AC Moyer
(Reviewed by Don Jung) Size Zero is a bizarre and crazy murder mystery that revolves around the dark side of the fashion industry. LeClaire Model Management focuses on keeping their young models skinny by strange, unusual methods and then spinning … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged Crime, modeling industry, mystery
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The LoveSpell Experiment: My Year Exploring Love & Discovering a Secret to Happiness – I. J. Weinstock
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) While celebrating New Year’s Eve, I.J. Weinstock heard his late wife, Joy, ask him… ‘What do you love?’ I liked The Secret Sex Life of Angels by this author, so I was interested in reading this … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophical reads, Your Best Self
Tagged happiness, self-help
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Autopsy of a Father- Pascale Kramer (translated from the French by Robert Bononno)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “A kind of bottomless fear wrapped her in herself, and she wished she had never set foot in her father’s world again.” Ania and her son Théo came by train to her childhood home of Les … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, World Literature
Tagged family dysfunction, immigration, racism, Xenophobia
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The Least Among Us: Waging the Battle for the Vulnerable – Rosa DeLauro
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Morally speaking, the social safety net acknowledges that we are accountable to one another. It originated from our recognition that the vulnerable and the poor are not alien populations; they are us, in certain times and … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks, Social Justice
Tagged ACA, congress, healthcare, NAFTA, Obamacare, poverty, Religion, women's rights
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