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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: World Literature
Eve Out of Her Ruins – Ananda Devi (translated from the French by Jeffrey Zuckerman)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Night makes its way into our bodies and refuses to leave. Night and our hormones gone wild. We boys are bundles of frustration. We start following girls to the shuttered factory that devoured our mothers’ … Continue reading
Posted in African Literature, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre
Tagged book reviews, poverty, teenagers, translated literature
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Men – Marie Darrieussecq (Translated from the French by Penny Hueston)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…waiting began again, waiting as a chronic disease. A sticky fever, a torpor. And, between the times she saw him, the reinfections, she slowly immersed herself in the paradox that she was waiting for a man … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, World Literature
Tagged book reviews, desire, French literature, Romance
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The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules- Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) If I needed to sum up this book in one word, it would be “delightful!” The setting is a retirement home in Sweden. The main characters are five elderly residents in their 70s and 80s. They … Continue reading
Outsider in Amsterdam (Amsterdam Cops) – Janwillem Van De Wetering
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “ “Papuans…He saw the wild men from the early ages who once populated the swamp that, now, today, was called Holland.” Today in 1970’s Amsterdam, most have learned about these people from the Dutch colony of … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Culture, Lost and almost forgotten, World Literature
Tagged crime fiction, Dutch literature
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The Little Book of Sham: More secrets than “The Secret” Funnier than “The Tibetan Book of the dead” More urgent than the “Power of Now” – Keith Martin
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Trolls use to live under bridges. Then they migrated to Twitter. Now they run for President.” Or how about this one? “Swearing is caring. Swearing shows passion, can help reduce the sensation of pain and is … Continue reading
The Complete Review Guide to Contemporary World Fiction – M. A. Orthofer
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) As an aficionado of contemporary world fiction, I’m always on a quest to discover more works translated into English. The internet is a great resource, but I spend too much time desperately trying to find authors … Continue reading
Posted in Reviewers' Top Picks, World Literature
Tagged book reviews, reference, world literature
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Reader for Hire – Raymond Jean , (Translated from the French by Adriana Hunter)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I was absolutely right to accept and harden my heart. A model reader should be a perfectly neutral and biddable instrument. Purely a tool. Purely a voice. Purely transparent. That may well be her limitation, but … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, Modern Literary Fiction, World Literature
Tagged book review, French literature
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In the Café of Lost Youth – Patrick Modiano (Translated from the French by Chris Clarke)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I’ve always believed that certain places are like magnets and draw you towards them should you happen to walk within their radius. And this happens imperceptibly, without you even suspecting… It seems to me that because … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, World Literature
Tagged French, noir
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The Cowboy Bible and Other Stories – Carlos Velázquez (Translated from the Spanish by Achy Obejas )
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The sacrilege I’d committed two hours earlier of breaking dozens of records proved irrelevant. The Cowboy Bible didn’t respond either. I tore at it, implored it, cursed it, and still failed.” These are the words of … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Latin American Literature, World Literature
Tagged Mexican literature
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Hope We Never Meet Again – Srinath Krishnamoorthy
(Reviewed by Darshith Badiyani ) I must admit that I’m not an avid reader anymore but there are a few books that hold my interest right from the prologue until the very end. Hope We Never Meet Again is one … Continue reading