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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.
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
Affections: A Novel – Rodrigo Hasbún , Translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes
(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 … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature
Tagged Bolivia, book reviews, Historical fiction, Latin American Lit, short books
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Plato Wyngard and the Valley of the Immortals – Marc and James Lindsay
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) Plato Wyngard and the Valley of the Immortals is a thriller fiction story, written about Plato Wyngard. He is in search of answers to his father’s death; instead, he becomes stuck in the Vietnam War trying … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction
Tagged book reviews, thrillers, Vietnam War
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Death of a Busybody (British Library Crime Classics) – George Bellairs
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Fifty year old Miss Ethel Tither has made a lot of enemies in her years in the English village of Hilary Magna. She is a major financial donor to the Home Gospel Alliance for Bringing Sinners … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Lost and almost forgotten
Tagged book reviews, British crime, classic fiction, detective fiction, fiction
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Harkworth Hall – L.S. Johnson
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) Harkworth Hall is a late Georgian historical adventure novel that has hints of goth, romance, and thrill embedded into its story. The tale focuses on the lead heroine, Caroline who is very smart, adventurous, and likable. … Continue reading
Posted in Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance
Tagged book reviews, Historical fiction, Romance
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Sex and Rage: A Novel – Eve Babitz
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Years and years and years were pocked with holes of things Jacaranda simple didn’t remember, with people Jacaranda didn’t remember meeting, conversations she didn’t remember having, promises and parties and great ideas and projects Jacaranda didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Lost and almost forgotten, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged 1970, Los Angeles, New York, publishing, Santa Monica, self-destruction, sex
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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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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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Adua – Igiaba Scego (Translated from the Italian by Jamie Richards)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “In Somalia I was a young girl who was full of dreams and wanted to see the world. In just a few months they’ve manipulated, abused, used, transformed me. It feels like years, not months, have … Continue reading
Posted in African Literature, Historical Fiction, Immigration, Italian Literature, Reviewers' Top Picks, World Literature
Tagged Africa, colonialism, Ethiopia, fiction, Somalia
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Time Travel for Love and Profit – Jeff Abugov
(Reviewed by Don Jung) If given the opportunity to go back in time to change the decisions you made in life, would you take it? Growing up in foster homes and in an environment where crime is the only way … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Humor & Satire
Tagged American History, Historical fiction, time travel
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The Fire in the Rock – Charles Norman
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) The fire in the rock is written about the time of Moses (Kisil) before he became the prophet. It is set at the time of the plagues on Egypt, the Ten Commandments and when Moses was … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged Bible, book reviews. fiction, Moses, Religion
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