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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Pancakes in Paris: Living the American Dream in France (Culinary LGBTQ+ Memoir Book for Francophiles and Foodies) – Craig Carlson

Posted on June 5, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by J.D. Jung)

“I spoke of my favorite city and how beautiful it was…How all it needed was an American breakfast joint, and then it would be perfect!”

Former Hollywood screenwriter, Craig Carlson, wanted to live his dream and open up an American diner in Paris. He fell in love with the city when he studied in France in the mid-1980s. As his life progressed, this vision became clearer and clearer.

But how would he go about accomplishing this? He knew nothing about running a restaurant or any business for that matter. How would he find funding? Would there be a demand for a restaurant that gives free coffee refills? With all of the obstacles he ran into, most of us would have given up, or at least think that this was a bad omen. Of course, there were issues that would arise that he had no idea of. How about the cultural differences? Who knew that French employment laws are a lot different than those in the United States? So would his restaurant “Breakfast In America” even succeed? (By the way, I won’t even talk about the possible copyright infringement with the song of the same title.)

Pancakes in Paris isn’t just about living one’s dream with all its ups and downs, or a story about French culture–which are enough in themselves–but also a story about self-discovery. Yes, Carlson does go into his research like driving along the legendary Hwy. 66 and coming up with his target audience and a solid business plan. Yes, we learn about the unscrupulous vendors and business partners along with those he could always count on. But since this is a memoir, we learn a lot about Craig, himself.

What makes this memoir stand out though, is that he structures the story in such a way that the reader can’t wait to find out what happens next. We learn about him, the man, in the same way that he does. So many memoirs are filled with boring events that make you yawn. Not this one; Carlson isn’t narcissistic at all. Each element he includes is crucial to the story. Right when I thought that it was over (boom!) more happens.

There is so much to love about Pancakes in Paris, it’s a must-read for everyone.

Posted in Revisited | Tagged cooking, LGBTQ, memoir, Paris | Comments Off

Maximum Taxi – Douglas Bales

Posted on June 1, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned

“As I come out of the tunnels on my way home, the city lies below me with its lights sparkling. I think about Misty and Mickey and all of the screwed-up people running around the world. It’s a clear, beautiful night and the stars are shining, but the universe is all fucked up. “

One can just imagine the wild, but also ghastly stories that taxi drivers can relate to us; ones they personally experience and those of their passengers. Such is the case with Doug, a middle-aged taxi driver.

He rents an apartment from his ex-wife and works seventy to eighty hours a week just to get by. We drive with him as he picks up fares from passengers of all walks of life: millionaires, out-of-town businessmen, working class people, partying twenty-somethings, drug addicts, prostitutes, and more.

Maximum Taxi is filled with dark humor, but also reflects the grim realities of everyday life. Though it is a work of fiction, it is based on author Douglas Bales’ experience as a cab driver in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Our protagonist, Doug has a self-destructive streak, but maintains his limits while truly caring about the world. That said, I wish we could have learned more about him, his backstory, and the reasons for some of his choices.

Still, Maximum Taxi is an engaging, fast-paced, well-written read. It will especially appeal to those drawn to realistic stories about the human condition and society.

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged dark humor, drugs, society | Comments Off

Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility – Rebecca Solnit & Thelma Young-Lutunatabua

Posted on May 27, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“Nothing is inevitable, and that’s crucial to remember in this fight.”

Personally, I have felt both hopeless and helpless when it comes to preserving our planet and fighting climate change. Not Too Late convinced me through its essays and interviews that what I do on an individual basis and what we can do collectively does, in fact, matter.

The writers, through their diverse backgrounds and perspectives, take a global look at the current climate crisis, both causes and possible solutions.

For example, in “Decolonizing Climate Coloniality”, Farhana Sultana shows how colonization throughout the world has managed to ruin our climate. Gloria Walton in her essay, “Shared Solutions Are Our Greatest Hope and Strength” acknowledges that indigenous peoples, immigrants and communities of color are hardest hit by climate change. But she also explains how these communities are successfully working towards a more affordable and sustainable way of life.

There is even an interesting timeline, “An Extremely Incomplete List of Climate Victories”. Many writers explain the specific frame of mind that this fight will take.

There are so many thought-provoking essays in this anthology, that I can’t mention them all here. One that particularly stuck with me was “What to Do When the World is Ending” by Yotam Marom. He provides examples of how people successfully fought despair when their world seemed to be ending. While despair is the easy way out, it “is also, quite simply, bad politics. By surrendering the fight outward, despair refocuses us inward.”

Every reader will probably relate more to some essays than to others, based on their life experiences. I suggest that you don’t read the collection all at once but savor it in bite-sized morsels.

Not to Late is an essential handbook for fighting the climate crisis. Readers will look at this fight in a whole new and inspiring light.

Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics, Social Justice | Tagged climate change, colonization, ecology, Indigenous peoples | Comments Off

Who is bombing Kyiv?! – Marina Alova

Posted on May 22, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned

“It was disheartening and revolting to witness the country repeating the same mistakes and going around in circles. Slava believed that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it would be impossible to make the same mistakes again. However, not much time has passed, and now Stalin is gaining popularity again, with many people considering the Great Terror and the Gulag to be hoaxes. “

Slava Tarasov and his wife Tanya face similar problems that other couples experience but live a relatively ordinary life in Moscow. However, February 24, 2022 would change it all. This was the day the Russians first bombed Ukraine, and their lives would never be the same.

Tanya’s grandparents live in Ukraine, and she is fearful for their well-being. However, taking the “wrong” side comes at a steep cost, as Slava soon learns. The Russian Government has silenced social media; conventional media is blaming NATO for the war, spouting that the entire world is against them and that they must defend their sovereignty.

Readers not only learn about this couple’s everyday life—and Salva’s vivid imagination— along with the lives of friends and co-workers, but also how this war is tearing Russian families apart.

When author Marina Alova (a pseudonym), requested that I read their book, I was intrigued. He/she maintained that they live in Moscow and of course, must protect their identity. Though I have no way of verifying this, I can tell that English is not the author’s primary language.

That aside, I must say that the novella is very well written. I wish it was longer though, as I was invested in the characters and how their lives would play out. However, the author succeeded in explaining how Putin’s propaganda is affecting Russian citizens and how their lives and privacy are threatened.

Who is bombing Kyiv?! is a short read, but an essential one.

Posted in Slavic Literature, World Issues, World Literature | Tagged propaganda, Putin, Russia, Russian literature, Ukraine, war | Comments Off

The Wishing Pool and Other Stories – Tananarive Due

Posted on May 17, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

You’ll keep looking over your shoulder as you read these eerie stories of horror, with a little science fiction sprinkled in, in The Wishing Pool and Other Stories.

The title piece, “The Wishing Pool” features Joy, a woman returning home to North Florida to visit her father who is suffering from dementia. She reminisces about her childhood there and the small pond, where one must be careful what they wish for.

Author Tananarive Due not only tackles childhood fears but also aging and the fear of mortality. Throughout this collection of fourteen chilling stories, she also explores issues of race, family, and society. Such is the case with “Haint in the Window”, where Darryl, who runs a bookstore, is faced with a security guard who is racially profiling him. That is, in addition to dealing with the ghosts provoking him in the shop.

While these two superb stories are just examples of the haunting tales in “Part I: Wishing”, my favorites are those in “Part II: The Gracetown Stories”. As mentioned in the section title, the setting for these is Gracetown, a swamp-filled rural town in North Florida. From getting lost on Route 9 to working as a housekeeper for an elderly white man hiding damning secrets, readers will identify with many of the characters as it will bring up some of their deepest fears. In “Migration”, Jazmine cannot make sense of her actions nor remember all her secrets and transgressions as she may be suffering from schizophrenia on the one hand or possessed by a demon on the other.

In “Part III: The Nayima Stories”, we witness a grim, dystopian future where decades of plague lead to totalitarianism and shortages of every kind.

These stories feel hauntingly real and invoke such powerful images that the reader is completely invested in the characters and their dire situations. It is also amazing how Due is able to develop her unique characters in such a short amount of time.

The Wishing Pool and Other Stories will provide a unique experience in the horror genre. Highly recommended!

Posted in Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Mythology, Short stories | Tagged African-American, aging, horror, race, society | Comments Off

The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Medina

Posted on May 7, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

“We were a family of emigrants, on the move from generation to generation. Forced to flee our homes because of intolerable situations imposed on us by those in power. The United States was meant to be the last stop on that journey.”

Such is the case of thirty-six-year-old attorney and recovering addict Marc Mendes. His father is Rabbi Gabriel Mendes who fled Aleppo, Syria with his grandmother in the late 1930s to escape violence against Jews. They ended up in Cuba, and twenty-three years later his parents left Cuba due to religious intolerance and settled in Los Angeles in a Sephardic community.

Marc later moved to San Francisco with his partner, paralegal Isaac Perez, a refugee from El Salvador (which is a heart-breaking story of itself). In 1997, six years into their relationship, Isaac is threatened with deportation. Will Marc help him fight it, or move back with him to El Salvador, or possibly request asylum in another country? Remember, this is before same-sex marriage was legal in the United States.

There’s more to it though. A handsome former client stalks Marc and challenges his relationship with Isaac as well as his sobriety. But Marc carries another dark, painful secret that we slowly learn the truth about.

There are so many layers that add depth to this story. It may sound like there’s a lot here, but all elements are interwoven flawlessly. From religion to addiction to immigration, to social commentary, they’re all deeply thought out. This is especially true of the family dynamics that play out in unexpected ways. And we can’t forget that’s it’s also a riveting thriller.

Author Orlando Ortega-Media started writing a memoir but came to the realization that “a memoir forced in anger made for an unpleasant read.” Twenty years later he reimagined it as a novel. Perhaps this is the reason that the story seems so personal.

In any event, The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants is a must-read for those who wish to delve into the human condition, as well as enjoying an exciting thriller.

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Modern Literary Fiction, Our Best | Tagged addiction, family, immigration, Judaism, LGBTQ, Religion, San Francisco, thrillers | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited – A Season in Lights: A Novel in Three Acts – Gregory Erich Phillips

Posted on May 4, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned

“Less than a year ago, when the curtain fell after the opening night applause, I assumed the New York City I knew—and my place in it—could last forever.”

A Season in Lights celebrates performers and other creative artists who travel to New York to fulfill their dreams. Specifically, the story centers around two such performers who are trying to make a successful career in the city.

It’s June 2019 and Cammie, an aging dancer, is to perform in her first off-Broadway play. She left her comfortable life in Lancaster, PA for an attempt to fulfil her dreams as a dancer on Broadway. Now, she frets about making her monthly rent.

In 1986, nineteen-year-old pianist Tom Haley left the drug-ridden streets of South Bronx in hopes of becoming a classical pianist and perform at Carnegie Hall. He finds a few jazz gigs, but his true passion is classical music.

The story takes us between the two years of 1986 and 2019 to revisit what has transpired in their lives to determine their choices in trying to make a life in New York. While both come from contrasting backgrounds and are decades apart in age, they develop a special friendship. Their circumstances are different, but there is a common thread in the problems they face. Both are ridden with family guilt and pressure from their mothers. Both challenge stereotypes that keep them stagnant in this commercial world. Both are forced to face their demons and make peace with their realities. The author carefully weaves in these similarities without downplaying the differences.

Readers will be able to identify with these two characters on multiple levels as well as feel for the supporting characters. Tom’s employer and friend Charles, battles the fear of contracting AIDS while plagued with guilt of being a survivor. Remember, this is 1986 when there were a lot of unknowns and myths about the disease.

The strength of this novel is not just the memorable characters but the structure of the plot. As we go back and forth between the two main characters, we wonder if they will make it and at what cost. Always in the back of my mind was the thought of how COVID would affect their lives…that’s if they made it that far.

Though written before Broadway’s reopening, A Season in Lights: A Novel in Three Acts gives hope for the resilience of New York and the people who make it what it is.

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Broadway, Carnegie Hall, COVID-19, dancers, dreams, New York City, pianists | Comments Off

The Blue is Where God Lives – Sharon Sochil Washington, PhD

Posted on April 29, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

#CommissionsEarned

“If Satan is successful, the family’s history will end with the blue baby girl.”

It is currently 2008, and Blue (referenced above) is grieving the murder of her daughter. She questions God’s existence, which leads her to travel from her home in Houston south to The Ranch, a retreat run by a Catholic order that was exiled from Rome over one hundred years ago. She feels that she’s been here before, though she’s sure she hasn’t. In any event, she is seeking answers to her life.

1848 at a party in New Orleans, one attendee, Palmer is seeking revenge for the man who sold his father into slavery. Another guest, Amanda, challenges the hostess, Ismay, to a social experiment which will affect generations. Ismay, who is a daughter of a slave and an aristocrat, cannot understand why slaves and free men cannot escape their dire circumstances of bondage and poverty. Will her beliefs eventually change?

Amanda is aware of a curse that will plague her family for generations. Can she break it? Her magical abilities as a shapeshifter and puzzle maker help her through this journey to change the seemingly inevitable.

Throughout this novel, we meet famous nineteenth century people, such as Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, anthropologist Johann Kant, and French Catholic priest Eugène de Mazenod.

You may question how these two stories over a century apart relate to one another, but they will all come together as we travel between the two time periods and in between throughout the book.

Though I am not generally a fan of this genre of magical realism, this book is an exception. The elements of folklore and mysticism enhance the storyline. We learn about the role of class within race in the pre-Civil War South. More importantly, we are reminded of the effects of slavery throughout later generations, as well as the intolerance of those who maintain that everyone can pull themselves up no matter what their circumstances. This is one I just couldn’t put down.

Posted in Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Mythology | Tagged African literature, class, folkore, magical realism, mysticism, poverty, slavery | Comments Off

The Vulture Fund (Curtis Westcott Crime Thrillers Book 3) – Jeff Buick

Posted on April 25, 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!

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Our Best | Tagged hedge fund, India, murder | Comments Off

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