Underrated Reads

The Vacation House – Jane Shemilt

Posted on December 26, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) 2003 -Thirteen-year-old Sofie and her family toiled at a vacation house on the island of Paxos, Greece. This house was owned by a wealthy British family and frequented every summer by them and their friends. When Sofie is sexually assaulted by two teenagers from this group, life unravels for her entire…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Reviewers' Top Picks | Tagged class, Greece, London, Sexual abuse | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: Visualize Yourself: Designing the Outcome of Your Life, One Issue at a Time – Aileen Nealie

Posted on December 22, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) “This is you breaking free from your current reality. Dare to expand. Dare to grow. Design your path. You have a say in everything.” Reading Visualize Yourself by Aileen Nealie is like giving your mind a long, cool drink of the purest water on a blazing hot day. In our current…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged depression, love, mental health issues, relationships, spirituality, visualization | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Vices -Lawrence Douglas

Posted on December 15, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “It would be years before I would be prepared to accept his self-assessment [as a sick person], and even then, not fully. …he was handsome, wealthy, the youngest tenured professor at one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges, and already internationally known for his work; many people would have happily…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged family, fiction, lies, mystery, Religion | Comments Off

Many People Die Like You – Lina Wolff, translated by Saskia Vogel

Posted on December 11, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned Those who enjoy eclectic short stories that explore human nature are sure to relish the stories in Many People Die Like You. From bizarre relationships to unexpected power dynamics, this collection of fourteen stories takes readers on a journey through unconventional narratives that readers will not expect. The book opens…

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Scandinavian Literature, Short stories | Tagged relationships, short stories, Spain | Comments Off

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…

Posted in Culture, Far Eastern Literature, World Literature | Tagged culture, Korea, mysogeny, Seoul | Comments Off

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) “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…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Historical fiction, Iran, Islamic revolution, Tudeh party | Comments Off

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…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Culture, Food & Cooking | Tagged diversity, family, India, multiculture, New York City | Comments Off

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…

Posted in Australian Literature, Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged Australian fiction, Crime, deception, divorce, drugs, murder | Comments Off

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…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Brazil, Latin American Lit, LGBTQ, society | Comments Off

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…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged crime fiction, hedge fund, India, murder, murder-mystery | Comments Off