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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: Modern Literary Fiction
Former First Lady – Ebony Edwards-Ellis
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Barry and I were the anti-Obamas” “That means that I have the dubious honor of being the first First Lady to leave her husband after he left office. And all the mail I got after I … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged First Lady, President, women's fiction
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Exile On Second Avenue – James P. Walsh
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “What was I waiting for, it would be so freeing to slide so gently from the pain of this place, into the quiet comfort of the unknown, just like him. With every passing moment my grip … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged depression, mental illness, short books, suicide
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Hôtel Inspiré – Douglas Warren
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Without realizing it at the time he would be unable to crawl back into his former ‘safe’ life. He had emerged like a butterfly, le papillon. Now he would learn to fly, in fact soar.” Though … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged France, Paris, short books
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Corkscrew: The highly improbable, but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer – Peter Stafford-Bow
(Reviewed by Don Jung) Prep school failure Felix Hart got his first job as an inventory clerk at a wine shop. Little did he realize that this would set the stage for his career as a premier wine buyer in … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged book review, dark humor, wine
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Torment: A Novella – H.D. Hunter
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I wish I could tell them how hard it was. How hard it still is. I wish I could tell them that just because a person doesn’t understand what it means to be broken doesn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged coming-of-age, mental illness, short books
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Everybody Wins (Except for the Losers): A Record Store Day Story – Steve Murphy
(Reviewed by Don Jung) In this digital age, you would think that record stores are a thing of the past. But this particular record store is full of passionate employees who love what they do. After all, their world revolves … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged dark humor, music, short books
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The Third Hotel: A Novel – Laura van den Berg
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The foundation of horror is a dislocation of reality, a dislocation designed to reveal the reality that has been there all along, and such dislocations happen all the time. “ That was according to the fictional … Continue reading
Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Horror, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged cinema, Cuba, death, grief, Havana, Latin America, noir, surrealism
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The Pursuit of Ordinary – Nigel Jay Cooper
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “With me inside him, he didn’t feel dislocated like he used to. It was like he was back in tune with the world, experiencing real, solid emotions for the first time in years.” Joe was … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged ADULT FICTION, book reviews, British literature, fiction, mental illness
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Gables Court – Alan S. Kessler
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) Samuel Baas is a hopeless romantic. He wants to remain a virgin until he falls in love and marries his soulmate. Moving from New England opens him to wonders and questions his thinking process, like the … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged book reviews, fiction
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Sugar Skulls – M.R. Tapia
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Celestial authorities have coordinated with the Emergency Alert System to issue this warning: Your soul is now properly fucked…” Micah DeAtta, a young drug and alcohol addicted, depressed, deadbeat dad is faced with finality—death itself. Death … Continue reading
Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged book reviews, death, fiction, memories, regrets
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