Violets – Kyung-Sook Shin, translated by Anton Hur

Posted on December 4, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned

“San’s attraction did not originate this summer. But rather it has lain in wait for millennia before bursting forth all at once. “

San was no stranger to abandonment. Her father left right after she was born, which made her mother the first divorcee in the village. In turn, her mother left before San was an adult. San was also abandoned by her only friend when she was of school age.

Now at twenty-three, she is navigating a new life in her own apartment in Seoul, working in a flower shop. San has always felt insignificant, and the bustling capital in 1990’s Korea doesn’t change that. Though a co-worker befriends her, the loneliness of the past still haunts her, and it is difficult for her to get close to anyone, or should I say to the people who truly care about her.

San’s attraction mentioned above, becomes an all-consuming obsession with a womanizing magazine photographer. Thoughts about him flood her mind whether she is asleep or awake. She even hallucinates that he is constantly with her. Unfortunately, when she is forced to face the truth, she engages in self-destructive behavior to try and erase her insecurities.

We, the readers, wonder if she will try and face the origination of her insecurities and feelings of abandonment. Will she find the courage for self-reflection?

As the story unfolds, we meet engaging and often quirky supporting characters. However, there is so much more to this skillfully written story. Violets unveils not only personal struggles but a broader exploration of societal themes such as loneliness, misogyny, and beauty standards. This is all in the context of a country’s evolving societal norms.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: My Part of Her – Javad Djavahery, Preface by Dina Nayeri, Translated by Emma Ramadan

Posted on December 1, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional

“For what reason did the people take to the streets to demand the Shah’s departure? I assure you that if we asked the question today, the majority of Iranians wouldn’t know how to respond. For liberty? I don’t think so. For a better life? I don’t think that’s it either. Because starting in 1979, they have been far less free, their lives more difficult than before, and yet they don’t rise up. So why was this country handed over to mullahs? In exchange for what? No one knows.”

Our narrator fondly remembers life in his seaside village the summer he was thirteen years old. He always awaited the arrival of his older distant cousin, with whom he was quite infatuated with. We enjoy the summer along with him, as he describes his youthful scheming, friends, family, and the colorful scenery along the Caspian coast. Though he was from a working-class family, life was good.

He is later tormented by his decision to become a left-wing activist, trying to free his country from the Shah and Western imperialism. “We wanted to defend the country against an enemy that we had invented ourselves. We were persisting in a revolution that was leading the country to chaos. “

He became a political fugitive, constantly on the run, as many of his friends had already died. He felt like a fraud. The once vibrant seaside town became empty, dark, and dreary.

Through this fictional story, My Part of Her sheds light on many questions I had regarding the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. The author, who has been in exile since the age of twenty, explains this conundrum in a very personal way with captivating characters, graphic events and a spellbinding story. This is all enhanced with his (and the translator’s) artistry of language.

Do not skip over the book’s preface as it gives insight to the events, characters, and their motivations. Dina Nayeri, who was a small child during that time and subsequently fled the country with her family, gives her perspective on the errors students and activists made in their protests against the Shah.

My Part of Her is an engrossing story along with essential lessons from the past that we must not forget. Studying History enables us to learn from our mistakes as to n

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Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience – Raj Tawney

Posted on November 23, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned


In Raj Tawney’s captivating memoir, Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience, readers are treated to a poignant exploration of identity, family, and cultural diversity. Set against the backdrop of suburban New York, Raj’s narrative paints a vivid picture of his coming-of-age journey.

Raj was envious of those who were of just one ethnicity. They seemed to know “who” they were. His father immigrated from India and his mother was from the Bronx, of Puerto Rican and Italian heritage. Even his mother had problems integrating into his father’s family.

Despite that, he realized the importance of family and the food that brings them together. Any of the cultures in his upbringing could appear at mealtimes. Through heartfelt anecdotes, he unveils the significance of family bonds and the pivotal role that food plays in connecting generations. Each chapter is followed by a recipe which plays an integral part in the story. He learned much of the family history by helping his maternal grandmother in the kitchen. She related stories of growing up in the Bronx where people were segregated by national origin. She also lost part of her cultural connection upon moving to the suburbs.

One of the most compelling aspects of the narrative is Raj’s unlikely friendship with an elderly woman navigating her own challenges in a rapidly changing world that she felt less engaged in, while he was still trying to figure out who he was.

Even though I haven’t tried any of the recipes in the book yet, I consider Colorful Palate to be a celebration of diversity and resilience that I believe readers will appreciate.

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Dogboy v Catfish – Luke Gracias

Posted on November 19, 2023 by J D Jung
Reviewed by JD Jung)
#CommissionsEarned


When I first read the title, Dogboy v Catfish, I thought that it sounded silly, and was skeptical as to whether I would enjoy the book. I hope others are not turned off by it, as this novel about crime and deception is anything but inane.

Millionaire Lindsay “Dogboy” Kramer vanishes close to the eighteen-month mark of his marriage to a former Miss Australia finalist Katherine “Catfish” Fisher. She is a popular social media influencer and owns a designer clothing and accessory shop. This is her second marriage, as her first husband supposedly committed suicide in Thailand.

First, Katherine files for divorce, but her high-priced attorney feels that something just isn’t right. Weeks after his disappearance, Katherine claims that he is dead and wants access to his bank accounts and assets. That’s when the story gets interesting.

A Melbourne detective and inspector investigating the disappearance also feel something is shady. When Katherine finds that she can’t get her hands on the money, she uses her social media influence to try and change the legal system.

The two officers find more than what they bargained for, which takes them to Bangkok. What ensues is a whirlwind of drug smuggling, gun running, money laundering and murder.

In addition to the family law attorney with a conscience, there are a host of other fascinating characters that add depth to the story.

It is important that you read the “Author’s Note” following the story. Author Luke Gracias discloses his motivation for writing the book, and how a friend’s divorce and attempted suicide provided the basis for the book. The author also claims that the Australian family court system usually favors the women, some of whom are unscrupulous and set out to abuse the system. He believes that there is a connection to why seven out of nine suicide victims in Australia are men.

As I am unfamiliar with Australian family law and legal system, I can only attest that this fast-paced story will keep you engaged until the last page.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited:The Words That Remain – Stênio Gardel (Translated by Bruna Dantas Lobato)

Posted on November 16, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned


“The river calmly flowed and cried its eternal murmur. Raimundo got up and looked at the empty sky. The shadows had taken over the blue as well. The stars must have fallen and become the seeds of reality at his feet.”

Raimundo could never forget his first love, Cicero. They both knew they were risking everything by being together. If their families found out they could be ostracized, beaten, or worse, killed.

Raimundo is in his seventies now and has lived life in the margins of Brazilian society. It’s been fifty years since he’s seen Cicero, and he is still holding on to an unopened letter from him. Growing up poor, Raimundo is illiterate, but he decides to finally learn to read in order to decipher the letter. Then again, should he destroy it instead? After all, Cicero knew he couldn’t read, so why would he even write to him?

Though poetic, the author also writes with haunting clarity. He structures the story with such skill, going back and forth between their early days and Raimundo’s present. Though we anxiously anticipate what he decides to do and possibly learn what ever happened to Cicero, it’s Raimundo’s life in between that keeps the reader captivated. We learn about a life of pain and longing, but also one of survival, family secrets, and how fear leads to violence. At only around 150 pages, the plot and characters are still fully developed.

The Words That Remain is a heart-wrenching story that I highly recommend.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Vulture Fund – Jeff Buick

Posted on November 12, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung)


#CommissionsEarned


Two unlikely murders that don’t appear to be related become the focus of Boston detective Curtis Westcoast and his team as they try to unravel one mystery after another. This is a murder mystery series that is fast-paced, suspenseful and full of twists and turns.

First, a woman with an India passport falls victim in a fatal drive-by shooting. The detectives uncovered a fake passport with very little information on her real identity. They found no cell phone but discovered that she worked in a building where she was the only occupant. The details are so obscure that fellow detective Aislinn must go to India to find out her next of kin and discover the nature of the secret job that she was working.

The second murder involves Mason Kalley, a hedge fund manager, who dies in his home from carbon monoxide poisoning. Ruled first as an accident, the case is reopened when Aislinn discovers that he was meeting frequently with the Indian national prior to her death.

The book is titled The Vulture Fund as the hedge fund was known for acquiring insolvent companies, reinventing their business model, and then selling them for huge profits. Mason Kalley was highly successful, but the detectives soon find his wife, his mistress, and his two kids all have possible motives on his premature death.

Slowly each motive and clue must be solved before it can lead to an exciting conclusion. I was mesmerized the entire time as each chapter led to more questions that need answers. I couldn’t put the book down.

Though I rated the others in the Curtis Westcott series: A Killing Game, and The Wrong Side of Murder, as well as the The Krubera Conspiracy, “A Must Read Now!” (5 bookmarks), I think the Vulture Fund is Jeff Buick’s best novel to date!

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Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: Lessons We Can All Learn from an Unexpected Leader – Jessie Asya Kanzer

Posted on November 7, 2023 by J D Jung
Reviewed by JD Jung)
#CommissionsEarned

As a great admirer of the Ukrainian president, I was intrigued when I discovered the book, Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: Lessons We Can All Learn from an Unexpected Leader. I didn’t know what to expect but I am happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed.

Author Jessie Asya Kanzer immigrated to the United States from Soviet Latvia and has crossed paths with Zelenskyy*. She shares her personal experiences and how they relate to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She believes that he is a “profound philosophical leader of our generation”.

However, it is her analysis of his personality and how we can harness his strengths in our own lives that is the focus of the book. She goes into detail how Zelenskyy reveals authenticity, truth and honesty, and acts according to his core values. He is clear on his objectives and has overcome indecisiveness. Kanzer then details how we can do the same. She also explains his effective methods of communication and how we can develop these skills.

Even though Kanzer maintains that individuals must develop a particular strength or characteristic in their own lives in order to be able to project it to the world, I believe that some analogies are a stretch, relating the global to the individual. One example is comparing the act of choosing your own identity, (not the one predetermined for you) to that of how Zelenskyy is seeking to do that for Ukraine.

I also feel that the structure of the book could have been more consistent. Kanzer jumps around multiple topics. However, I found her study of different aspects of the Ukrainian war quite interesting.

Still, there’s a lot one can get out of Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky. As we look deep into ourselves, there’s much we can learn from the Ukrainian president and former comedian.

*The author uses the Ukrainian spelling of Zelenskyy with the double ”yy”, instead of the Russian spelling using the single” y”, in deference to what she says the Ukrainian president prefers.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Confessions of a Gentleman Killer – Johnny Payne

Posted on October 31, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

“If I didn’t kill them afterward, you’d say I was the perfect client, boyfriend, husband, or lover. And believe me, that’s the man I want to be, the man I tried to be. And failed.”

It’s 1849 London and after two years and fourteen killings, Kilcairn is reevaluating his life. The newspapers refer to him as “The Gentleman Killer” based on his method of killing his victims. But these murders are only part of the story.

Kilcairn was from a family of Irish sheep farmers, but highly educated in London. He was the son-in-law of a powerful businessman and eventually became the assistant to the future British Prime Minister.

So, what would drive such as successful man to commit such depraved acts of violence?

Confessions of a Gentleman Killer takes us through the life of Kilcairn from his own perspective. The story grabs the reader from the beginning and doesn’t let go. I found some of the events from Kilcairn’s professional life so remarkable, that I forgot (though only briefly) that he was a serial killer. This is not to say that I sympathized with him or understood his actions, but I gained a larger picture of him.

This dark story itself is fascinating enough. It explores issues of class within nineteenth century British society. However, if you’re like me, you’ll wonder what drove him to commit these murders. The author explores the killer’s psychology and presents enough background information for readers to come up with their own conclusions. In fact, I think that was done on purpose. I have my own ideas, but I don’t want to give anything away.

I highly recommend Confessions of a Gentleman Killer for fans of historical crime fiction that blends both psychology and sociology within the story.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited:Blind Dates: Weird Stories – Harambee K. Grey-Sun

Posted on October 29, 2023 by J D Jung
Reviewed by JD Jung)
#CommissionsEarned


Being close to Halloween, I was in search for a good horror read. So, when I started reading these stories, I was expecting them to center on blind dates gone tragically wrong. Or maybe the traditional “woman gets picked up by sociopathic man who then strangles her”. I was wrong on both counts.

Blind Dates – Weird Stories is a collection of nine works of speculative fiction focusing on flawed individuals where often the supposed victim isn’t as apparent as it seems. And not always female. These diverse stories combine horror and the supernatural, along with psychological and ethical issues. Love is defined in different ways, by those with varying motives and weaknesses.

My favorite is “Love Among the Ultramoderns”, where the twists will shock you. In “Silver Green”, revenge takes on a twist. I feel that not all are keepers though. However, the good ones overshadow the not-so-good ones.

What they all have in common though, is that they’re well written and multifaceted. All the senses are engaged, especially by way of scent and aroma.

As you start to read these tales,  throw away your expectations. If you’re like me and are looking for an enjoyable, eclectic read, Blind Dates – Weird Stories is the one for you.

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January – Sara Gallardo, translated by Frances Riddle

Posted on October 24, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional
January (Enero) first published in Spanish in 1958, follows the daily life and thoughts of sixteen-year-old Nefer, who finds she is pregnant after a rape.

Nefer works on the family farm, and lives in the shadow of her sister and the other girls in the Argentine village. There seems to be no one she can turn to. She doesn’t get along with her mother and is afraid to confide in her local priest. She contemplates visiting the infamous woman who is known to perform abortions, though they are illegal.

The late Argentinian author Sara Gallardo wrote this in a very personal tone. Though we learn the story through Nefer’s perspective, her feelings are not static. We witness her confusion, but also her anger, jealousy, and desperation. Why couldn’t this “secret” inside her be from the man she loves, though he never notices her? For this, she despises the pretty wealthier girls from the village. However, through all of this, Nefer refuses to be a victim.

What is so fascinating about January is that the story is not only very human and genuine, but also significant in a historical, cultural, and sociological sense.

January was Gallardo’s first novel and remains a very significant work of literary fiction. We are fortunate that it has just been translated into English.

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