January – Sara Gallardo, translated by Frances Riddle

Posted on October 24, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)

Exceptional
January (Enero) first published in Spanish in 1958, follows the daily life and thoughts of sixteen-year-old Nefer, who finds she is pregnant after a rape.

Nefer works on the family farm, and lives in the shadow of her sister and the other girls in the Argentine village. There seems to be no one she can turn to. She doesn’t get along with her mother and is afraid to confide in her local priest. She contemplates visiting the infamous woman who is known to perform abortions, though they are illegal.

The late Argentinian author Sara Gallardo wrote this in a very personal tone. Though we learn the story through Nefer’s perspective, her feelings are not static. We witness her confusion, but also her anger, jealousy, and desperation. Why couldn’t this “secret” inside her be from the man she loves, though he never notices her? For this, she despises the pretty wealthier girls from the village. However, through all of this, Nefer refuses to be a victim.

What is so fascinating about January is that the story is not only very human and genuine, but also significant in a historical, cultural, and sociological sense.

January was Gallardo’s first novel and remains a very significant work of literary fiction. We are fortunate that it has just been translated into English.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited:The Wishing Pool and Other Stories – Tananarive Due

Posted on October 18, 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!

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C’mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock -David Fantle and Tom Johnson

Posted on October 12, 2023 by J D Jung

(Review and poem by Betty Jo Tucker)


#CommissionsEarned


Summer Stock, a movie I love,
now a book on the making of.
Ring cowbells and shout hooray
What a great read to have today!

Questions answered? Oh, yes indeed.
Everything fans and readers need.
A book of details surprising
that make a reader want to sing.

Judy and Gene get lots of space.
They worked together at a pace
They loved each other and it shows.
Their friendship worked — as this fan knows.

Other helpers are detailed too.
Read this book and find out who.
All songs and dances get their due.
Favorite? “You Wonderful You”

Cast and everyone behind screen
All of them manage to be seen.
A barnyard musical like this
now history we should not miss.

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The Moscow Affair: A Nicole Graves Mystery – Nancy Boyarsky

Posted on October 9, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned


Private investigator Nicole Grave’s fiancé , Reinhardt, has disappeared. Actually, it’s not that unusual. First, he worked as a chief inspector for the London Metropolitan Police. He then took a rather secretive job, where his absences were sudden and for undetermined periods of time. Maybe he is now an operative for the UK’s M16? In any event, this disappearance has been for almost a year.

So, when Nicole, an American, is asked by British intelligence to pose as a tourist on a Russian riverboat cruise to observe a group of passengers, she considers it. Maybe this will bring her to Reinhardt.

As Nicole proceeds, there is more to this assignment than meets the eye. Have her British handlers been totally truthful with her? As the narrative unfolds, Nicole finds herself in perilous situations, bearing witness to a murder and fleeing from the relentless pursuit of Russian authorities. The tension and stakes are intense throughout, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

From the outset, the premise may seem a tad far-fetched, requiring a certain suspension of disbelief on how Nicole was recruited. It took me awhile to get past this. However, once I dove into the heart of the story, I found myself captivated by a fast-paced narrative that kept me turning the pages. While the plot doesn’t consist of intricate layers of espionage, it still remains solid.

The well-developed characters, even the minor ones, ensure that readers become fully invested in the story. The bleak Russian setting sets the tone, as we embark on a game of cat-and-mouse through the streets of Moscow.

The Moscow Affair is a quick read that fans of uncomplicated espionage thrillers (with a bit of romance sprinkled in) will enjoy.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You – Keir Giles

Posted on October 2, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned

Exceptional
When I started reading Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You, I thought “I know all of this.”, as I considered myself relatively informed on the subject. However, I am so glad that I continued to read this fascinating, but troubling book. There is so much I was totally unaware of!

British author Keir Giles explains how Russia uses its military, espionage, media, cyber, organized crime, and other methods to accomplish their objectives. In addition to extensive research, he interviewed nearly forty people throughout the world. Among them were professors, diplomats, military officers and soldiers, and cybersecurity experts. They relate their accounts of Russia’s campaign against the West.

In addition to well-publicized attacks, he has included those relatively unknown to Americans, as they have occurred in numerous countries, such as the UK, Sweden, Finland, Australia, and Estonia. He has provided specific examples of electronic warfare, murder, sabotage, intimidation, identity theft, and disinformation. He explains Russia’s role in Brexit and how Russia exploits weaknesses and vulnerabilities in Western countries. Their attacks extend further than traditional targets.

Giles teaches us the history of the government mindset, which traces back to the Russian Empire. Will Russia’s actions change after Putin?

There is a lot of detail in this book, but it is necessary to educate us on the dangers, as well as to convince the naysayers. Which countries have fared better in protecting themselves against Russian influence? How do they continue to accomplish that?

So, what can we and our governments do to protect us against Russian influence? How can we contain Russia within its own borders?

So, if the Russian threat is not on your radar, it should be. If you are not even concerned, after reading Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You, you will be!

(Reviewer’s note: Consider this book when you hear U.S. politicians demand cuts to aid to Ukraine, where there are no American boots on the ground. Ukrainians are not only fighting this war for themselves, but for all of us in the free world! )

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All Who Wander – Joe Clifford

Posted on September 21, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)


“I’ve spent years in therapy pushing dark memories into a black corner where, without light, I though the wild things could not grow. I was wrong. Left alone and ignored, I’ve provided ideal conditions for them to flourish.”

And allow others to manipulate us with their “truth”.

In All Who Wander, we travel between the present and the late 1990’s, just days before twenty-year-old Brooke Mulcahy disappeared.

Brooke lived with her father in a small Massachusetts town. He didn’t know how to deal with her wild behavior, drug abuse, and affection for the wrong men. Her mother, who had abandoned them a decade earlier, returned on the brink of death, accompanied by a baby boy. Brooke understood her mother’s desire to escape, but harbored resentment toward her newfound half-brother, Robert, or “Bobby.” The narrative in the present unfolds through the lens of Robert, now a thirty-six-year-old civil engineering professor, husband, and father.

When a young woman, claiming to be the daughter of Brooke comes to visit Robert, his life starts to unravel. Brooke’s disappearance was considered a cold case, as her body was never found. However, even authorities believed that she was a victim of a known serial killer. The problem for Robert though, was that it brought back excruciating childhood memories of his life as “Bobby”.

This intoxicating novel transports us to uncharted territories of human emotion and psyche. The characters are meticulously crafted, and we understand their motivations. Author Joe Clifford writes with haunting clarity, and we can feel the intense emotion of the characters as well as the smell of the stench and sweat of everyday life. The conclusion hits you as a complete surprise, and from start to finish, this book captivates, refusing to release its grip.

I seldom give a book the highest rating of “5 Bookmarks”, but All Who Wander meets the necessary criteria. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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The Inimitable Jeeves, Deluxe Edition – P.G. Wodehouse

Posted on September 15, 2023 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned

Exceptional
I must admit that I was not familiar with the celebrated British humorist P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) until now, when I thoroughly enjoyed the recent release of The Inimitable Jeeves, Deluxe Edition.

This sidesplitting story, taking place in WWI era London, features Bertie Wooster as its narrator: a young, predictable, wealthy bachelor who spends too much of his time playing the horses. He allows himself to be manipulated by those close to him and seeks advice to get out of these predicaments from none other than his personal valet, Jeeves.

He dreads his Aunt Agatha, who wants to see him married and arranges for him to meet unsuitable women, but he just can’t say no to her. He always seems to be caught up in the antics of his younger twin cousins Claude and Eustace who attend Oxford. But the strangest relationship he has is that with an old school friend, Richard “Bingo” Little. Like Bertie, he’s rather idle and always finds something to bet on.  He supports himself by occasionally tutoring students, but receives the bulk of his money from an allowance provided by a wealthy uncle. Unfortunately, that money is not unconditional. The crazier part is that Bingo falls in love with a different woman every few weeks or so, and somehow entangles Bertie in the mess and then ultimately Jeeves to sort it all out. That is not to say that Jeeves’s solutions never come without a consequence…at least for Bertie.

With characters like these, there’s a laugh on every page and it never gets old. Also, when you think you know how each situation is going to resolve, a major surprise comes into play. The plot is very neatly woven, and over one hundred years later, it’s still hilarious.

If you’re looking for an entertaining and comical read that will make you forget your troubles— at least for a little while—The Inimitable Jeeves, Deluxe Edition, may just be the perfect choice.

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The Last Election – Andrew Yang, Stephen Marche

Posted on September 12, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned


“Democracy is on the way out. Who will control the aftermath?”

This political thriller serves as a cautionary tale that takes place in the very near future, possibly as early as 2024. What would happen if a no presidential candidate received the majority of electoral votes (270) or popular votes? Then the election would be determined by the contingency procedure outlined in the Twelfth Amendment. The House of Representatives would choose the president from the top three candidates. Also, there is no mandate that this process be held in public.

Martha Hass runs the tip line for the New York Times. She receives a potentially explosive audio recording of senior members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff plotting a military takeover of the country through a contingent election. When she brings this to the attention of the Editor-in-chief, he squashes the story because it is not reliable. However, she has confidence in her source, so should she leak it to a non-traditional outlet in order to save the country?

Cooper Sherman is running for president on the centrist Maverick Party ticket. Though he is a tech billionaire, his party’s goal is to remove money from politics. It hopes to take votes away from the center of both the Democratic and Republican parties. As the election unfolds, readers are drawn into a complex web of scandal, deceit, and morally ambiguous characters, including a right-wing tech giant’s oppo man determined to destroy Sherman.

The Last Election takes us through the early stages of the election cycle through the inauguration, including the personal and professional lives of those involved.

The platform of universal basic income and the slogan “Do the Math.” is reminiscent of co-author Andrew Yang’s 2020 presidential campaign, but we can see the potential harm that third parties can pose on our system.

Though the story is captivating from beginning to end, I think that it could have been more cohesive. There’s a lot going on with multiple characters, and these elements could have been more tightly woven.

Still, The Last Election is a gripping political tale that provides a realistic look into American politics. It will leave readers pondering the fragility of democracy and the power of information long after they’ve turned the final page. This political thriller is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of politics, media, and the future of American democracy.

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: I Buried Paul – Bruce Ferber

Posted on September 6, 2023 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 music.

While playing in various bands he gets an offer to join a Beatles tribute band, Help!, led by an aging Gene Klein. Jimmy plays the Paul McCartney role convincingly. Both Jimmy and Gene have strong personalities, and they clash and gel, but they become lovable characters that hook you into their lives.

Gene is a tyrant of a leader but playing his John Lennon role, he makes the band a success. His strong demeanor gives the band a soul as they maintain a certain lifestyle. He manages the band members like a marine sergeant, but he has a soft heart inside.

When Jimmy’s orchestra leader father is sent to a nursing home, he volunteers to play a one-hour concert for him and the other patients each week. Jimmy is frustrated playing the same Beatles songs all the time but doesn’t have the drive to showcase his original material until a chance happening. He then must decide to try to go on his own or stay with the tribute band.

Jimmy confronts his past and current romantic interests as he searches for a deeper meaning to his life. He finally connects with a daughter he fathered twenty-five years ago and tries to hook up with a married woman as well as his former flames. He realizes he has a lonely life and does not know how to change it. All of this makes the plot quite interesting.

The story culminates in a Beatles tribute band contest in Liverpool, New York. The tension and drama to compete brings the band members having to choose what Beatles song list will win the crowd and the judges. Win or lose, you love the main characters, and you don’t want it to end. A fun read!

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Sherlock Holmes & the Silver Cord -M.K. Wiseman

Posted on August 29, 2023 by J D Jung

(reviewed by JD Jung)


#CommissionsEarned


“I had my holiday. I had enjoyed three years without a single thread binding me to this or that place, any one responsibility save for my own to myself and the fishing of what I had begun with Professor Moriarty. A task which ought to have ended neatly and without any loose ends…But to close the entry on Moriarty was to bury my own acknowledgement that I had been cavalier with my own life and with Watson’s.”

The newspapers had reported that Sherlock Holmes was dead, but actually he had run away to Europe. When he resurfaced in London three years later, he was still remembered by the public, and of course, Scotland Yard.  Most importantly, Dr. Watson forgave him, and they continued their friendship and professional relationship as before.

Upon his return, a wealthy widow sought Holmes’ services as she was being blackmailed over a brief affair she had. The gentleman in question, Simmons, was a friend of her late husband. The strange part was that so far, no money had been demanded by the extortionist. Even stranger, was that Simmons soon came to Holmes requesting help in solving the mysterious cause of death of some members of his organization (or cult), Theosophist Order of Odic Forces. Simmons believed that magic was involved in their deaths, and the culprit seemed to exert mental control over his victims.

This story engages the reader at every step as we try to figure out how these two cases are related, as well as the cause of the deaths, and the reason for the blackmail. However, what fascinated me the most was the exploration into the psyche of Sherlock Homes. He questions his own motives and ethics, as well as his inability to feel or love. Most of all, he ponders if there can even be life for him after Moriarty.

I especially appreciate author M.K. Wiseman’s literary style which keeps close to that of the original series.

In fact, I believe that fans of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series are sure to enjoy Sherlock Holmes & the Silver Cord.

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