A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Wait – Gabriella Burnham

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   “They threw me out of the country like I was a nothing.” Wait delves into the intricate layers of family, identity, and the harsh realities faced by undocumented immigrants in the United States. Through the lens of protagonist Elise, who is American, we are drawn into a world where the…

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A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul – Michael Fanone and John Shiffman

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “What sort of American tries to overthrow democracy? What kind of man becomes so consumed by a false belief that he drives across the country, storms the Capitol, and assaults police officers?” Those are pressing questions from Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) Officer Michael Fanone, who was almost killed by rioters as…

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A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory -Dr. Jagadish Shukla

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Meteorologist and climate scientist Dr. Jagadish Shukla was a climate-change skeptic for years. What led him to change his mind? He recalls this and his life in his autobiography, A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory. His interest in weather forecasting stemmed from a practical need. Growing up…

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: From Savagery – Alejandra Banca, Katie Brown (Translator)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Being a migrant means feeding yourself on loss, on what could have been, the infinite possible nuances of that history which will forever remain hidden but present.” Seven million Venezuelan’s left their country since the mid-2010s due to violence, scarcity and desperation. The twelve fictional stories in From Savagery, remind us…

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Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love: A Coffee Travel Guide – Steven P. Unger (Author), Ruth St. Steven (Photographer)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) For those who consider coffee more than just a morning ritual, Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love is a rich and aromatic journey through time, culture, and continents. Blending travel writing with photography, history, and a deep love for coffee, author Steven P. Unger and photographer Ruth…

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Earth Angel – Madeline Cash

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’m still trying to figure out why I enjoyed Earth Angel so much, and I suspect that might be part of my fascination with this offbeat collection. Seventeen weird, dark stories that seem to pull you in with a subtle yet undeniable grip. There’s something compelling about how these bizarre, often…

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Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook” – Matteo Lane

(Reviewed by JD Jung) "...my romance with pasta has been my longest and best relationship." What can you expect from a cookbook written by a gay Italian, Irish and Mexican American stand up comedienne from Chicago? Plenty! Matteo Lane writes about his love for pasta in a personal and humorous manner in his cookbook, Your…

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A Carnival of Atrocities – by Natalia García Freire, Translated from the Spanish by Victor Meadowcroft

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   Cocuán, a small town in Ecuador is doomed by a curse. Upon the death of Mildred Capa’s mother and the subsequent abandonment by her father, Mildred was intent on maintaining and working the farm. However, the parish priest and townspeople had other ideas, not to help sick Mildred, but to…

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The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine – Alexander Vindman

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Without Ukraine, Russia is a country; with Ukraine, it’s an empire.” Without an independent Ukraine we will see an acceleration of authoritarianism. This war is a fight between authoritarianism and democracy. So how did we get here and what do we do to ensure that democracy prevails ? Former Director of…

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Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly – Hannah Selinger

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Hannah Selinger graduated from Columbia University but found herself working as a server at a hometown dive. She eventually moved back to New York and found employment at some of the most trendy, high-end restaurants. First working as a server, then "cellar rat" (stocking the wine cellar) and eventually as a…

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