Underrated Reads

They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency – Malcolm Nance

Posted on July 11, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We have something new in American history…a political party defined by the terror if feels for its own voters, that’s the Republican party right now” - George Will How was Donald Trump able to transform the Republican party into one that idolizes just one man? Why are his supporters intent on installing him…

Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice | Tagged anti-antisemitism, domestic terrorism, QAnon, racism, Republican party, terrorism, Trump | Comments Off

An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Patient – Jasper DeWitt

Posted on July 8, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Patient additionally shows a high propensity toward violence and sadism. Patient has assaulted numerous members of staff and has had to be restrained. Despite relative youth, patient seems intuitively aware of which parts of the human body are most vulnerable or sensitive to pain. “ “He’s developed an ability to induce…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged contemporary fiction, mental illness, Psychiatry | Comments Off

The Newlyweds’ Window: The 2022 Mukana Press Anthology of African Writing – Mukana Press (Compiler)

Posted on July 4, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “Mukana” is the Shona translation for “opportunity”, and the mission of Mukana Press is to provide the opportunity for writers in underrepresented areas to show their work to a world audience. So, what is the result of this specific compilation? Twelve diverse stories selected out of 512 entries from twenty-three…

Posted in African Literature, Short stories | Tagged Africa, family, fiction, short stories | Comments Off

The Scent of Burnt Flowers – Blitz Bazawule

Posted on June 28, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned It’s the mid-1960s and an African American couple, Melvin and Bernadette are on the run. Melvin sees that their only chance is to flee the U.S. Back in college, Melvin saved the life of a Ghanian student who would later become the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Though Kwame promises…

Posted in African Literature, Historical Fiction, World Literature | Tagged 1960s, colonization, FBI, Ghana, racism | Comments Off

Comeuppance – Frank Honorof

Posted on June 24, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned It’s the end of World War II and American military attorney, Philip Almeister, is sent on a liaison mission to Austria to help restore assets stolen by the Nazis. While working there he uncovers a treasure trove of pre-war German bonds worth a small fortune. How he decides to keep…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction | Tagged intrigue, thriller, WWII | Comments Off

I Buried Paul: A Novel: Bruce Ferber

Posted on June 19, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned This is the story of forty-nine-year-old Jimmy Koslowski and his uncertain life as a struggling musician. It starts off with his family, where his father is an orchestra leader, and his older brother is a gifted guitarist. To the dismay of his parents, Jimmy leaves college for his love of…

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks | Tagged Beatles, music, rock music | Comments Off

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

Posted on June 14, 2022 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…

Posted in Revisited | Tagged Iran, Islamic revolution, LGBTQ, Shah | Comments Off

The Uniform – G. Gruen

Posted on June 10, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned David Korda is close to getting his medical degree in Nazi Germany when it is discovered that he is Jewish. Instead of joining his graduation class, he is sent to a concentration camp to do hard labor. Not what you expect, but this ordeal is full of what you don't…

Posted in Historical Fiction | Tagged Germany, Nazism | Comments Off

The Woman in the Library – Sulari Gentill

Posted on June 7, 2022 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned Four strangers sit in a reading room at the Boston Public Library when they hear a bloodcurdling scream. It appears that a murder has taken place and the four are forced to remain there until security authorizes them to leave. Winifred “Freddie” Kincaid, an Australian writer in residence in Boston,…

Posted in Australian Literature, Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged Australian fiction, Boston, library, murder | Comments Off

Rainbow Rainbow – Lydia Conklin

Posted on June 2, 2022 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…

Posted in Modern Literary Fiction, Short stories | Tagged book reviews. fiction, LGBTQ, short stories, transgender | Comments Off