-
-
About
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.
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
The Silver Book – Olivia Laing
(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s September 17, 1974, and twenty-two-year-old art student Nicolas flees London after the death of his older lover, Alan, sensing that staying would invite suspicion he cannot afford. Venice seems like the perfect place to begin … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged Italian cinema, Italy, LGBTQ
Comments Off on The Silver Book – Olivia Laing
Ham’s Heaven- Ori Gersht (Translated by Joanna Chen)
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) Ham’s Heaven was a tough book to get through – but not for the usual reasons: poor plotting, pacing, etc. It was tough because it was a very emotional story that needed to be … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Middle Eastern Literature
Tagged animal, NASA, space
Comments Off on Ham’s Heaven- Ori Gersht (Translated by Joanna Chen)
A Friend of Dorothy’s – Richard Willett
(Reviewed by John Heilman) A Friend of Dorothy’s manages to capture a young gay man’s search for belonging while simultaneously describing another young man’s decline during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. The book is a powerful reminder of … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, World Issues
Tagged AIDS, death, denial, Illness, LGBTQ
Comments Off on A Friend of Dorothy’s – Richard Willett
Willie – Rum Running Queen: Based on the true story of Willie Carter Sharpe – Louella Bryant
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Author Louella Bryant has always been fascinated with the illegal bootleg business during the Prohibition era. This has led her to bring the history to life in her captivating historical novel, Willie – Rum Running … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged betrayal, depression-era, Prohibition
Comments Off on Willie – Rum Running Queen: Based on the true story of Willie Carter Sharpe – Louella Bryant
The Sable Cloak – Gail Milissa Grant
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South, readers are first taken to Greenston, South Carolina, in 1934. We meet Big Will who upon turning eighteen, must join the neighborhood’s vigilante group to keep justice … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged African American history, family, Jim Crow, racism, segregation, St. Louis
Comments Off on The Sable Cloak – Gail Milissa Grant
The Wind on Her Tongue – Anita Kopacz
(Reviewed by JD Jung) 1872 -Yemaya, who now lives in Cuba, is well known for possessing healing powers inherited from her Nigerian Yoruba Orisha lineage. Her eighteen-year-old daughter, Oya, as the Orisha of storm, wind and weather, also possesses intense … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged African-American, class, Historical fiction, New Orleans, racism, San Francisco, voodoo
Comments Off on The Wind on Her Tongue – Anita Kopacz
California Rain – Frank McAdams
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set against the backdrop of 1950s America, California Rain delivers a gripping noir thriller that blends the intrigue of political scandal, the fight for justice, along with the glamour of old Hollywood. With an evocative sense … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction
Tagged crime fiction, Hollywood, murder, noir
Comments Off on California Rain – Frank McAdams
The Propagandist – Cécile Desprairies, translated by Natasha Lehrer
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Our protagonist had to navigate between truth and lies, reality and denial for her entire childhood. Now as an adult and a historian, she must face these truths and the role her mother played in Fance … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, Historical Fiction
Tagged anti-antisemitism, France, Nazism, propaganda, WWII
Comments Off on The Propagandist – Cécile Desprairies, translated by Natasha Lehrer
But Not for Me – Allison A. Davis
(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s August 1958 and black renters, homeowners and business owners are getting kicked out of the Fillmore district of San Francisco due to redevelopment and urban renewal. Developers are using unfair tactics to enforce eminent domain. … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged beat generation, corruption, Crime, jazz, justice, Mafia, racism, San Francisco
Comments Off on But Not for Me – Allison A. Davis