Underrated Reads

Second Coming: Elvis. Extraterrestrials. Dogs. – D. B. Borton

Posted on July 20, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) #CommissionsEarned Second Coming is a humorous science fiction story about Lawrence and Elvis, two aliens who have traveled to earth for the second time. Their mission is to bring a message and that is, if Earth does not stop sending weapons into space, then it will be destroyed. The first time…

Posted in Humor & Satire, Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology | Tagged aliens, Elvis, humor, outer-space, science fiction | Comments Off

The Tower of the Antilles – Achy Obejas

Posted on July 18, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “We explained that where we come from the greatest achievement is to leave.” And leaving Cuba means reinventing oneself in a new country. The Tower of the Antilles is one of ten short stories centering on life unique to the Cuban experience. Many stayed in Cuban communities in Miami. But some…

Posted in Latin American Literature | Tagged Cuba, immigration, Latin America, LGBT, short books, short stories | Comments Off

Size Zero – AC Moyer

Posted on July 15, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) Size Zero is a bizarre and crazy murder mystery that revolves around the dark side of the fashion industry. LeClaire Model Management focuses on keeping their young models skinny by strange, unusual methods and then spinning them into the sex trafficking world. The main characters are Cecil LeClaire, the son of…

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers | Tagged Crime, modeling industry, mystery | Comments Off

The LoveSpell Experiment: My Year Exploring Love & Discovering a Secret to Happiness – I. J. Weinstock

Posted on July 13, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) While celebrating New Year’s Eve, I.J. Weinstock heard his late wife, Joy, ask him… ‘What do you love?’ I liked The Secret Sex Life of Angels by this author, so I was interested in reading this book. But it turned out not to be that kind of book. It is a…

Posted in Philosophical reads, Your Best Self | Tagged happiness, self-help | Comments Off

Autopsy of a Father- Pascale Kramer (translated from the French by Robert Bononno)

Posted on July 11, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “A kind of bottomless fear wrapped her in herself, and she wished she had never set foot in her father’s world again.” Ania and her son Théo came by train to her childhood home of Les Épinettes to visit her estranged father, Gabriel, whom she hadn’t seen in four years. She…

Posted in French Literature, World Literature | Tagged family dysfunction, immigration, racism, Xenophobia | Comments Off

The Least Among Us: Waging the Battle for the Vulnerable – Rosa DeLauro

Posted on July 7, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Morally speaking, the social safety net acknowledges that we are accountable to one another. It originated from our recognition that the vulnerable and the poor are not alien populations; they are us, in certain times and sometimes unforeseen circumstances.” So, what happened? Why did a bipartisan agreement for this safety net…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks, Social Justice | Tagged ACA, congress, healthcare, NAFTA, Obamacare, poverty, Religion, women's rights | 1 Comment

Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way – Ryan White

Posted on July 4, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Don Jung) There are so many interesting tidbits in this book about the life of Jimmy Buffett, but it is different than most biographies. It’s written by an outsider who has been fascinated by this man, since both of their lives have been dominated by one word, “change”. Jimmy Buffett-A Good Life All…

Posted in Bios and Memoirs | Tagged Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, music, sailing | Comments Off

Raising a Hand: A Photographic Music Festival with a Cause – by Dave Clements

Posted on June 30, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) “What you are about to see is a collection of…entertainers representing all genres of music from around the world, coming together abstractly “in concert” for the first time.” If this were an actual music festival instead of a photographic music festival, it would go on for months! There are over 200…

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged disabilities, philanthropy, Rett Syndrome | Comments Off

American Rococo: Essays On the Edge – Isham Cook

Posted on June 27, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Isham Cook advises teens to get rid of their smartphones. He equates Airbnb with an upgraded way of couch surfing. He’s obsessed with big breasts and younger Chinese women. By the way, he currently lives in China. He’s an atheist, but has problems with them as a group. After all, they’re…

Posted in Culture, Philosophical reads, Short stories | Tagged Marquis de Sade, monogamy, philosophy, sex, Shakespeare | Comments Off

Into Autumn: A Story of Survival (Four Seasons Book 1) – Larry Landgraf

Posted on June 23, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) Into Autumn is a science fiction story written about a man named Lars Lindgren. An apocalypse has happened ending any electricity, water, services, and gasoline. Life is hard for everyone, and Lars is able to somehow survive by planting vegetables on his 40-acre land and eating off the fish and animals…

Posted in Adventure, Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology | Tagged science fiction | Comments Off