(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch)
I’ll admit that I have never been into short stories – or collections of them, but Mathieu Cailler’s Forest For The Trees, changed my mind.
The writing here is fresh and poetic, the stories as varied as they come. Like many great writers, Callier knows how to tap deep into human emotions and foibles. Most importantly, many of the stories have surprise endings that I did not see coming.
A great read, and one that I certainly recommend.
(reviewed by JD Jung)
1933-Havana Cuba: Irishman Marcus Riley’s objective is to kidnap the visiting Winston Churchill and hold him hostage in exchange for IRA members serving time in London prisons. However former Detective Inspector Walter Thompson, now serving as Churchill’s bodyguard, thwarts his plans.
Fast forward to 1940. London is under siege by Nazis bombers. Prime Minister Churchill refuses to sign a treaty with Hitler, even after massive public and political pressure. Thompson finds himself constantly on guard to protect Churchill against possible Nazi agents, domestic and foreign.
Meanwhile Riley is alive and well in London, and has become obsessed with Churchill, seeking to kill him as retribution for the Irish people and his own family.
From pacifists to Nazi sympathizers to IRA fighters, Thompson soon realizes that Churchill is in danger on so many fronts, even to the point that maybe the MI5 and security branches could be involved.
Though Mission Churchill features Thompson as its protagonist, Riley and his deteriorated emotional state play a key role in this fast-paced thriller. The supporting characters are just as fascinating, some playing into Riley’s scheme and even become collateral damage. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Churchill himself, exposing his numerous idiosyncrasies.
This story was inspired by and serves as the prequel to the novel Target Churchill, written by the late Warren Adler and James C. Humes. If it’s as good as this one, I think I’ll pick it up.
(reviewed by JD Jung)
The Shining, a collection of over thirty poems, takes us to places similar to those that the Overlook Hotel made famous through Stephen King’s novel and Stanley Kubrick’s film of the same name. Though just as haunting, this journey is different.
These eerie tales take a feminist perspective, as the protagonist grapples with societal expectations and strives to simply take control over her own life. The poems unravel the intricate layers of her identity, along with her need for validation as an artist, mother, and woman. The exploration of trauma and the impact of destructive relationships adds a poignant depth to the poems, making it a gripping and emotionally charged collection.
What sets these poems apart is the nuanced portrayal of the protagonist. She doesn’t always play the victim; in fact, she occasionally takes on the role of the perpetrator. These contradictions challenge readers to admit that life isn’t just black and white, it’s complicated.
Whether the poem’s story takes place in a single room, the ballroom, a banquet room or even a hallway, it leaves you constantly looking over your shoulder. The Shining is a powerful and thought-provoking collection that lingers in the mind long after the last poem is read. It is a testament to the author’s ability to weave together complex themes with skillful prose that is intense and deeply unsettling.
(reviewed by JD Jung)
“I was an inconsequential being who had suddenly become deathly afraid of life.”
Our present-day narrator suffers from mental/psychological disorders: frequent panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse, and changing levels of agoraphobia. Eventually she breaks off all social contact and won’t even leave the house.
Her most bizarre belief though, is that she feels a kinship to the point of obsession with Ukrainian social and political activist Viacheslav Lypynsky (1882 – 1931), who came to prominence just after WWI.
The chapters change between her perspective and that of Lypynsky’s. We peek into her life and thoughts and how by her studying him, she hopes to discover herself.
However, the true allure lies in the portrayal of Lypynsky and his idiosyncrasies, along with the story’s approach to Ukrainian history. Forgottenness transforms what could have been a dry historical account into a riveting tale. In fact, I found myself researching not only Lypynsky, but also his contemporaries in the book, such as Yevhen Cykalenko, Ivan Franko, and Mykhailo Drahomanov.
This dual narrative works well with no confusion and serves multiple purposes. Readers with an interest in the human condition will find themselves engaged with the protagonist’s struggles. Simultaneously, Forgottenness serves as a fascinating window into Ukraine’s past, shedding light on the nation’s history and its possible relevance to its present-day struggles.
(reviewed by JD Jung)
For those of you who have thought about maintaining an indoor plant but don’t know where to start, How Not to Kill Your Plant is the book for you.
This guide is comprehensive and will provide everything you will need, as well as choosing the right houseplant. This includes what to look for when you are buying a houseplant, even from the most reputable garden shop. The encyclopedia of houseplants will detail particular demands and care.
What about fertilizing, watering, transplanting, and propagating? What tools will you need? How do you choose the right pot? What about soil composition? What about pests? How is location important? There’s even a section on troubleshooting problems with your plant.
The authors convinced me to try a houseplant to add some serenity to my bedroom. Since I am a complete novice, I needed the Glossary of terms, which answered my questions on terminology.
Though the illustrations may gear towards younger readers, I felt that the instructions were at my adult level…maybe because this is totally new to me?
In any event, How Not to Kill Your Plant will inspire you to start growing plants to enhance the beauty and tranquility of your home.
(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“The game of espionage, at its essence, is observation, seduction, patience. And a fluid relationship with your sense of self. To commit espionage at the highest levels you have to be willing to forget who you are in order to inhabit someone else.”
Our protagonist, a young and single British woman leading a mundane life in London, followed the same unexciting routine every day. She even felt she was boring, wishing that she was not averse to risks. So, why would this make her the perfect asset for covert agencies, like the American CIA, Israeli Mossad and The British M16, to close an assignment that was several years in the making?
She realizes that her life is about to change when she meets a wealthy, attentive American man, thirty-three years her senior. When they marry just shy of her twenty-first birthday, he asks for her help. She is to assume another identity and merely “listen” to certain individuals and report back to a man named Raja.
What ensues is a series of methodically plotted encounters she is involved in, the details of which she is not privy to. What keeps us in suspense is not only the unfolding events and their potential repercussions, but also the uncertainty of how this new lifestyle will be resolved for our protagonist.
Amidst the captivating plot, the supporting characters are expertly developed and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The reader gains a deep understanding of their personalities and motivations.
Author Lea Carpenter’s intent to infuse a personal dimension into the espionage tale is masterfully achieved. She emphasizes that events and characters on both sides are not simply black and white. The story proves to be utterly mesmerizing, making it a challenge to put the book down. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
(by JD Jung)
You may wonder why we don’t post reviews more often. Yes, we realize that “Content is king”, and we know that you want to see it all the time.
However, there is so much out there to get our eyes on. We are constantly searching for those literary gems to share with you. They may be from direct submissions, publishers or even an unexpected jaunt to a bookstore. It’s not 24/7 though. We still work our day jobs to feed our families. (Remember this is an unpaid gig. There’s no “pay-to-play” here.)
Anyway, back to my point. We are constantly reading. We receive a lot of submissions, but after reading, most of them don’t meet UnderratedReads’ standards of at least “highly recommended”. And yes, we know it’s all subjective. You may find a book that you consider to be a real find, whereas another reader may be struggling to get a quarter way through the book. We get it.
So, even if you don’t see any new posts from us, it doesn’t mean we’re asleep. We’re still looking for exceptional books and literature to share with you and the search is constant. Please be patient.
(Reviewed by JD Jung)
Clare Carlson, news director for Channel 10 News in New York City is experiencing a mid-life crisis. She’s about to turn fifty years old, three times married, and still looking for Mr. Right. Let’s also not forget that she is trying to repair a relationship with her adult daughter.
Added to that, the TV station is about to be sold to a media conglomerate, where ratings are king as opposed to responsible reporting. Clare has a close professional relationship with the current owner, who allows her to go after the big stories and appear on the news. She has a terrible relationship with her new boss, Susan Endicott, who backs up the new owners who believe that a news director should just do that—direct and stay out of the weeds.
When the car of a former NYPD officer turned private investigator, Wendy Kyle, is bombed, Clare wants to investigate. Wendy specialized in exposing cheating spouses, mostly high-profile individuals, so there are many who would want her dead. She also had enemies in the NYPD, including top brass, as she would carry on about department wrongdoing, coverups, and corruption.
There appears to be a coverup brewing in this murder case and Clare refuses to let it go. This could get dangerous, as it may not only involve those from the NYPD, and affluent individuals, but even a candidate for governor.
Broadcast Blues will take readers through a wild ride with so many twists and turns that you’ll be in complete suspense as to how the story will end. Add to that, the quirky supporting characters that add depth and humor to the story. For instance, there are the married co-anchors who bring their personal lives to work and the female sports reporter who really doesn’t care for sports and instead politicizes her stories. Author R. G. Belsky reveals that the newsroom scenes are based on his years of experience working in New York City newsrooms.
This is the sixth installment in the series. Though I enjoyed Broadcast Blues, I don’t think that I’ll read the others. I have a personal preference for dark and gritty crime fiction. I can overlook that if I find myself truly invested in the protagonists, which I was not.
However, for those who don’t share my partialities, but still enjoy a strong plot, this series may just be what you’re looking for.
( by JD Jung)
We at UnderratedReads wish all our readers a safe and Happy New Year filled with health, love, justice, and tolerance throughout 2024 and beyond.
We have discovered so many magnificent books during 2023, and since we only post reviews of books that we recommend, all books on our site are highly recommended.
However, here’s an abbreviated list of books with our highest ratings, that we discovered in 2023:
The Vacation House – Jane Shemilt
All Who Wander – Joe Clifford
The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants – Orlando Ortega-Medina
The Vulture Fund – Jeff Buick
A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom – Brittany K. Barnett (non-fiction)
Keep reading and let us know what you personally have discovered!
(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“After a divorce and a doctorate, a global pandemic and a murder, after a smattering of death threats, a lot of books, and even more booze, I found myself offering up my past with a kind of addict’s dissociation. “
Juniper Fitzgerald became pregnant while in graduate school and working as a sex worker in Las Vegas. She expresses her guilt to her daughter,” As I attempt to piece together this book, I am falling apart before your very eyes.” However, even without this confession, her painful feelings are expressed poignantly in this book.
Enjoy Me Among My Ruins takes the memoir genre and turns it on its head. Fitzgerald takes certain admitted liberties that enhance the book. She explains her teenage years growing up in the Midwest in the form of letters to her idol, Gillian Anderson. This non-linear story flashes back and forth between these letters and her life as a sex worker.
Fitzgerald writes in beautiful prose, against the backdrop of explicit gritty realness. She acknowledges the contradictions in life and emotions. While she refuses to be a victim, she exposes the difficult reality of a sex worker’s ability to just simply survive.
Enjoy Me Among My Ruins serves as an eye-opener, exposing readers to a life that they may have not encountered before. This short memoir will keep you engrossed throughout her journey.
