Category Archives: Fiction

The Old Man – The Old Man

Posted on October 24, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   “Do all the lovely memories fade first? Do all the faces of the people you held dearest disappear…and all the horrible ones stay nailed into your skull?” When I was asked to review The Old … Continue reading →

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One of Us Must Die – Zelly Ruskin

Posted on October 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Sterling has always been rebellious and strong-willed, so her mother doubted anyone would ever want to marry her. To ensure her daughter settles down, she imposes an unusual condition on Sterling’s massive trust fund: she must … Continue reading →

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Morel’s Invention – Adolfo Bioy Casares, Margaret Jull Costa (Translator), Jorge Luis Borges (Foreword), Tom McCarthy (Afterword)

Posted on October 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Originally published in Spanish in 1940, Morel’s Invention by Adolfo Bioy Casares is a short literary classic that kept me guessing until the end. Our narrator, a man from Caracas, Venezuela, has been sentenced to life … Continue reading →

Posted in Latin American Literature, Lost and almost forgotten | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Tristan 4 America – Bruce Overby

Posted on October 2, 2026 by J D Jung

(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 →

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Burn Everything …. Then Forget It – Boston Teran

Posted on September 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(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 →

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Eden at Dawn – Karim Kattan (Author), Jeffrey Zuckerman (Translator)

Posted on September 22, 2026 by J D Jung

(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 →

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The Imaginary Life of a Laurel Tree – Mario Fortunato (Author), Michael F. Moore (Translator)

Posted on September 8, 2026 by J D Jung

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 →

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Good Lookin’ – T L Bequette

Posted on September 4, 2026 by J D Jung

(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 →

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The Eye of Goliath – Diego Muzzio (Author), Rahul Bery (Translator)

Posted on August 31, 2026 by J D Jung

(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 →

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Within the Walls: A Dark Romance – V. S. Maxon

Posted on August 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(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 →

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