Café Unfiltered – Jean-Philippe Blondel, translated by Alison Anderson

Posted on July 11, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned

Exceptional
“Freedom of movement is what I want more than anything—particularly after eighteen months of restrictions.”

Cafes just started to reopen after the release of the Covid-19 vaccines, and José, the waiter at Le Tom’s Café is restless. Thirty-one-year-old Cloe Fournier is sure that José thinks she is a parasite, as she just sits in the corner, sketching and observing the patrons. However, there are more to people than often meets the eye.

Fifty-seven-year-old Thibault Detressant is waiting to meet the man he never got over as a teenager. Twenty-five-year-old Guillaume enters with his mother, whom he hasn’t seen for years. Unfortunately, he is about to learn about some family dynamics that he is not prepared for.

Café Unfiltered takes place in a period of twenty-four hours, as we learn the stories of those sitting in this café located outside of Paris. Author Jean-Philippe Blondel masterfully teases us with the initial account of his characters, but then revisits their stories. Our view of them shifts as we learn more, often from the perspectives of those close to them.

I couldn’t wait to turn each page in order to discover more about these complex characters and their stories and backgrounds. Each of them seems very real and Blondel approaches them with compassion and sensitivity.

Though the plots are totally different, Blondel uses similar approaches to his characters as he did in The 6:41 to Paris. Though I thoroughly enjoyed that novel, Café Unfiltered was my favorite. I hope that more of his work is translated into English.

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An Exceptional UnderratedRead Revisited:The Fall of a Sparrow – Robert Hellenga

Posted on July 8, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by J.D. Jung)


#CommissionsEarned

After reading one of my favorite books, The Italian Lover, I just wanted to grab anything related to it and its characters. Author Robert Hellenga wrote a book about the protagonist’s lover, classics professor Alan “Woody” Woodhull, in a previous novel published in 1999, The Fall of a Sparrow.

Woody’s eldest daughter, Cookie, was killed in the Bologna, Italy railway station bombing of August 1980. This destroys his family. His wife has a nervous breakdown and later joins a convent. His other two daughters are grown, so Woody has to learn to find himself and find meaning in his life.

This doesn’t start out well. He engages in an affair with a student, for which he is disciplined for.

Still flailing, he decides to go to Bologna to attend the second part of the trial of one of the remaining terrorists who killed his daughter and eighty four others.

However, his daughter Sara doesn’t understand. What will this accomplish? We learn from chapters written from her perspective as she sees this as the beginning of the end of her family and what she imagined it to be. Of course, what she doesn’t understand is that Woody is trying to find answers and make sense of this, a mass killing by a girl the same age as Cookie.

Woody rents an apartment in Bologna, writing articles to help finance this trip. In between going to the trial, he explores and experiences the beauty of Italian culture, love and in turn shares his passion of the blues guitar.

It’s not all beauty through. On the other hand, he directly faces and interacts with the terrorist’s father and the terrorist herself, still trying to understand it all.

I put off reading this book because I thought that it would be too painful and depressing. That was definitely not the case. The Fall of a Sparrow is rich with emotion, warmth and sensuality. Robert Hellenga shares his knowledge and love of Italy as well as the complexities of the human condition.

For readers who crave a read full of passion and depth, then The Fall of a Sparrow is a must read.

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Another Exceptional UnderratedRead Revisted: The Sixteen Pleasures – Robert Hellenga

Posted on July 5, 2023 by J D Jung

#CommissionsEarned

ExceptionalLast month, I reintroduced you to The Italian Lover, a sensual work of literary fiction.  After reading that wonderful book, I just had to grab Robert Hellenga’s earlier novel, The Sixteen Pleasures. This book recounts the beginning of Margo’s adventure in Italy, whereas The Italian Lover picks up the story 25 years later.

Margo Harrington, a 29-year-old from Chicago, came to Florence as a book conservator working to save and rebind the books that were damaged in the Arno Flood of 1966. She finds herself working at the Convent of Santa Caterina Nuova, restoring valuable books, when an irreplaceable work of Renaissance Erotica, the Aretino—sixteen erotic poems and sixteen erotic drawings—is discovered. Madre Badessa entrusts Margo with this book, afraid that the Church will either want to destroy it on moral grounds or sell it and keep all of the proceeds. She wants Margo to find out what it’s worth—and possibly sell it for the convent. The problem is that the legal owner isn’t the convent of Santa Caterina but the bishop of Florence. Also, the book’s most promising buyers would be outside of Italy, and it’s illegal for works of art to be taken out of the country. She confides in an art conservator, Sandro, and the book opens up a passionate love affair between the two. But can she trust him with this valuable book?

The Sixteen Pleasures not only takes us through the journey of the Aretino, but it also enters the soul of this young woman. She finally realizes that this “little book of pictures wasn’t just a valuable piece of property; it wasn’t just a unique copy of the most powerful work of erotic art produced by the Renaissance…. It was the adventure that fate had placed in my path. I couldn’t walk away from it….” “It was my story…. Without it I wouldn’t know who I was or where I was going.”

Since I read The Italian Lover first, I already knew the outcome of The Sixteen Pleasures. However, I immediately felt that I had to read this book, to learn more about the struggle for the Aretino. I wanted to read about Margo’s early life in Italy and how she evolved into the woman that she became in the latter novel. And I must say that I wasn’t disappointed. The story grabs and takes a hold of you, remaining unpredictable until the very end. Robert Hellenga delves into a woman’s mind, expressing her point of view with more depth and clarity than even most female authors do. He paints his characters with as much vivid color as he does his setting—exposing their intense emotions and insecurities.

Though The Italian Lover is still my favorite of the two—and though it stands well on its own—I would recommend reading The Sixteen Pleasures first. Then immediately proceed to The Italian Lover. Together, these two novels will take you on a magnificent journey.

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An Exceptional UnderratedRead Revisited:The Italian Lover – Robert Hellenga

Posted on June 30, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Margo Harrington, an American expatriate living in Italy, is excited to hear that her memoir, The Sixteen Pleasures, will be made into a feature film. The book details her experiences when she first came to Florence. While working in a convent, restoring irreplaceable books damaged in the flood of 1966, she discovered a book of Renaissance Erotica—sixteen erotic poems and sixteen erotic drawings. Her memoir explicitly detailed her love affair with an Italian art conservator and told how he and others desperately tried to steal her valuable book. Twenty-five years later, her current friend and lover, Woody, who was drawn to Italy by rather unfortunate circumstances, assists her in writing the screenplay.

Esther Klein, an independent filmmaker who has broken up with her husband and co-producer, obtains the rights to Margo’s story, and she’s anxious to prove that she can produce a film on her own. An unknown actress, Miranda Clark, who is obsessed with Margo’s life, has been chosen to play the title role. She’s read The Sixteen Pleasures numerous times and wants to make sure that the story is truthfully depicted in the movie. Esther and director Michael Gardiner have other plans—to make it into a romantic comedy, thus commercially successful. Conflicts ensue, but that’s only one aspect to the story.

The Italian Lover (which later becomes the name of the movie) explores the lives of these individuals, along with the rest of the cast and crew, as they film in Florence. Italy affects the Americans in ways unimaginable. Some feel that they can begin a new life, even at middle age. Their sense of morality, along with their value system, is challenged. No matter what their particular circumstance, each life is changed forever.

The Italian Lover is such a unique novel—and it’s one of the most absorbing and satisfying books that I’ve ever read. Each supporting character is fully developed, with both decent and flawed traits. Readers can actually relate to and understand them, as we share in their experiences.

In addition, author Robert Hellenga brings to life the rich Italian culture. I felt that I was back in Italy, sipping Prosecco and savoring antipasti along with the characters. He vividly portrays the people, art, and romance of Venice, Rome, Naples, Bologna, and, of course, Florence. Whether you’ve looked out from the Piazzale Michelangelo or not, The Italian Lover will take you on a sensual and captivating journey.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Rainbow Rainbow- Lydia Conklin

Posted on June 27, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned


I must admit that I am ignorant of many of the gender classifications, so I hoped that Rainbow, Rainbow would educate me. That said, I found these ten stories that center around queer, pansexuality and trans life quite thought-provoking

Many of the characters feel uncomfortable in their bodies, but question if they should surgically and/or hormonally transition. The answer isn’t always clear. Some aren’t sure of their gender identity. Does it even remain static? In this book, these issues are often dealt with in a somewhat dark, but also humorous way.

My favorite story is “Sunny Talks”. Sunny, a teenager, and his aunt attend a convention of trans YouTube contributors in Philadelphia. Sunny also speaks out for nonbinaries, but his aunt never discussed her sexual identity with him. She wasn’t even sure about it for so many years. She finds herself revisiting her own painful past and wishes these discussions on gender identity were available when she was younger. This story shows the difference on how these topics are viewed and felt between the two generations.

“Cheerful Until Next Time” will give you something to think about as members of The Queer Feminist Book Club discuss the possible contradictions between feminism and lesbianism.

Most of these stories feature the highly educated in the U.S., but the final story takes place in Poland where trans danger is more “manageable” than in neighboring Belarus, where queer people are found murdered and pride parades are outlawed.

Will Rainbow, Rainbow appeal to those who identify as gay or nonbinary? That, I don’t’ know. What I can say is that I appreciate the inner struggles that these characters go through.

In fact, these stories may be of interest to all readers who are interested in the human condition.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Riddle of the Sphinx – Alexandre Montagu

Posted on June 23, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned

How do I begin a review of a novel that kept me captive from page one and didn’t release me until the very end? I didn’t want to break for work, family, friends, or anything. How can I do this book justice? Dear readers, I will try.

Eric (Keyvan) fled Iran as a child during the Islamic revolution and grew up in Paris. He later studied Comparative Literature at Princeton. That is one scenario. What would have happened if he was forced to stay in Iran? So much of one’s life (or death) is determined by a single decision or act made by either the individual or at the hands of someone else.

As a young boy he questioned his sexuality, but at Princeton he knew what he wanted…Mark. He was so obsessed with him that he couldn’t see any of the warning signs or even the bigger picture.

“…á lifetime wasted in pursuit of meaningless love affairs and enslaved by jealousy; a brilliant but equally unfulfilling social life; and that unflappable monster time, obscure, yet deadly and inexorable, triturating the lives of the characters in the novel”.

“He recalled flashes of an insane and unspeakable love affair that had almost destroyed him and yet felt a yearning for the selfsame feelings of abandonment —the love or the madness that had led him to the edge of doom.”

Whether it was an analysis of Proust’s La Recherche, or Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, Eric could discern the flaws of the characters and the reasons for their ultimate downfall, but he was unable to see this in his own life.

Now as a high-priced New York attorney in a loveless marriage, at age forty-four he is reevaluating his life and the decisions he has made. That is another scenario.

The Riddle of the Sphinx provides several possible outcomes and we keep asking ourselves, “What if…?” Though author  Alexandre Montagu does get philosophical, he doesn’t belabor the points. That is, you can enjoy the story simply on its own.

Montagu provides an intelligent story-line without compromising the human or emotion. At all times he is completely aware of the unawareness of his characters. Each one is deftly portrayed, and the images are vivid.

We learn of the history of twentieth-century Iran and how it contributed to Eric’s identity.  Events are described in detail, but they’re never mundane, whether from a personal or historical perspective.

There are so many layers to The Riddle of the Sphinx that it would be a perfect book club read. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

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The Man in the Corduroy Suit (The Discipline Files Book 3) – James Wolff

Posted on June 20, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned


Retired British intelligence officer Willa Karlsson was rushed to the hospital due to an apparent poisoning. Though the exact toxin cannot be verified, the methods look similar to those previously executed by Russian intelligence. Why would they want her dead? Worse, could she have been a double agent?

Before retirement, her job was to vet potential employees to be hired for British intelligence. One such employee who she hired as an interrogator was Leonard Flood. Though Flood has little personality and cannot connect with people outside of work, he has a reputation for precision, speed, and surprise in his job.

Flood is reassigned as a “Gatekeeper”, a section of officers who investigate insider threats, including members of their own staff who may have been compromised by hostile foreign countries. His specific assignment is to solve the mystery about Willa, with an almost impossible deadline. There may even be more nefarious players, as Willa was responsible for hiring hundreds of employees.

What ensues is a cat and mouse game of unexpected proportions. There are surprises at every turn as the characters as well as the readers are never sure who is a double agent and who is on the up-and-up. While Flood knows that he can’t trust anyone, he also learns that situations are not all black and white. Additionally, once very confident about his intelligence skills, now he questions himself and his own motives.

The Man in the Corduroy Suit is not only a tale about espionage with non-stop action, but the story also brings in a very human element.

Highly recommended!

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A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom – Brittany K. Barnett

Posted on June 16, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Ann Onymous )


“Listening to King’s voice ringing out from the pulpit, i felt warmth begin to flow where only a wrung-out feeling had been. King’s tenor lifted me from within. His words were a balm for my wounds and his message soothed my soul. Dawn will come, the sermon promised. Even after the darkest night, dawn will come.”The title of this book comes from the Parable of the Friend at Night, which was the topic of a Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. sermon – and there IS HOPE.

This is the encouraging, uplifting true story of a young woman whose mother was in jail while she was in law school. A case she was studying in class changed the direction of her life and the life of the woman who was incarcerated. After years, Ms. Barnett helped Sharanda Jones get released from prison. As part of the “war on drugs” in the 1980’s and 90’s, Ms. Jones had been incarcerated and sentenced to “Life in prison without possibility of parole for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.”

This book has been banned from prison libraries because it can give prisoners HOPE.

Hope that yes, the dawn will come and there is LIFE after a LIFE sentence. Ms. Barnett received Dr. King’s quote from a man imprisoned for life, to cheer her and encourage her. As she writes above, it refreshed her spirit and kept her going. After her experience with her own mother being imprisoned, she started a Girls Embracing Moms” program. This allows gatherings in prisons for girls and moms to be together in person. Ms. Barnett has said “when one person goes to jail the whole family goes to jail.”

After you read this book, you will be permanently changed. I went out immediately and bought several copies to share with friends. I now have a better understanding of the criminal justice system. The facts in these cases put faces to the people who are trapped by sentencing disparities. The ‘minimum mandatory sentences’ that judges had to impose on people are now being retroactively changed. I hope you will be inspired by this attorney’s work. She worked with Bryan Stevenson (Just Mercy) and others, to free a number of people through the clemency initiative during the Obama administration. They continue to fight tirelessly to free more people through the “Buried Alive Project”.

I believe this book reveals the vitally important work that remains to be done. It is critical for everyone to “keep seeking the dawn.” Reading and sharing this will continue altering lives.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Antiman: A Hybrid Memoir – Rajiv Mohabir

Posted on June 13, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

“I wanted to stop hiding. I wanted to tell them that I was queer. Queer sexually, queer religiously, queer by caste, and queer countried.”

Rajiv Mohabir never felt that he belonged. As a resident of Central Florida and from a family of Guyanese-Indian immigrants, he felt like an outsider. He was close to his paternal grandmother and wanted to learn more about his Hindu culture and background. That didn’t set well with his Christian family. Neither did his sexuality.

He briefly studied in India to learn more about his background. However, he found that India was not Guyana, and he would have to pretend that he was a “high-casted straight man.”

Antiman is a poignant memoir of identity, race, culture, sexuality,  family and political activism. We follow Rajiv as he tries to find a connection to somewhere and someone. This often finds him in destructive relationships as he feels he is unlovable and unworthy. He even moves to new cities where no one will know him so he will be able to reinvent himself.

Mohabir uses various writing styles: from  his luscious prose to poetry (in English and a Hindi-Creole dialect), to diary-like entries. He also incorporates metaphoric folk traditions to tell his story. This enhances the reader’s experience as we accompany him in his search for self-discovery and personal meaning.

Mohabir received the New Immigrant Writing Award from Restless Books for this moving memoir. It is well deserved.

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Your Turn – Lavelle Andrew Miller

Posted on June 8, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned


Why was a well-respected detective with the Metro Nashville Police Department framed for a murder he did not commit, and worse, the crime of killing a fellow police officer?

After serving ten years, that former detective, Seven House, was released early from prison. And of course, he is suspicious. Could it be that a higher-up really did believe that he was wrongfully charged and convicted? Or now is it more advantageous if he were dead? After all, it would be easier to have him killed if he were released, since there were multiple unsuccessful attempts on his life while in prison by those he put there.

Upon release he is determined to find out who framed him and the reasons why. He has learned to trust no one— even the police union abandoned him during his trial—but he soon learns that there are some forgotten people who feel that they owe him their lives and are willing to help him at any cost.

Author Lavelle Andrew Miller takes us on a wild ride of twists and turns that won’t stop. As we are eager to learn the truth, we’re immersed in the stories of the supporting characters which are just as riveting. The ending won’t disappoint; it is believable and not sugar-coated.

Your Turn, at under 200 pages will hold the reader at every page. I highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to more from this author.

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