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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: Fiction
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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She’s so Fine: A Samantha Block Novel- Jaimee Campbell
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) She’s so Fine is a thriller short story written about Samantha. She is a mother of two children and appears to be leading a normal life with ordinary routine wifely chores. However, she is nothing but … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged Crime, fiction, thrillers
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New People – Danzy Senna
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The poet is not a New Person…He doesn’t have mud-toned dreadlocks or octoroon gray eyes or butterscotch skin. …He has the body, the skin, the face that cabdrivers pretend not to see, that jewelers in midtown … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Romance, World Issues
Tagged identity, race
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Love Is Rich In Both Honey And Venom – Axel Kruze
(Reviewed by Cathy Carey) Can a Premarital Agreement really justify murder? His father, Henry, hung himself at the senior prom. His mother, Martha, was raped. Both were painfully shy and bullied throughout high school. Martha’s story of survival began after … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged bullies, geeks, murder
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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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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 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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