-
-
About
UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Tag Archives: dark humor
The Night Swimmer – Simon J Houlton
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Bill Eckersley, in his late thirties, drifts through life in the working-class seaside town of Hastings, England. He’s the kind of character who reminds us of the troubled, unstable writers we’ve all read about—but without the … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged dark humor, England, mental illness
Comments Off on The Night Swimmer – Simon J Houlton
Maximum Taxi – Douglas Bales
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “As I come out of the tunnels on my way home, the city lies below me with its lights sparkling. I think about Misty and Mickey and all of the screwed-up people running around the … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged dark humor, drugs, society
Comments Off on Maximum Taxi – Douglas Bales
The Book of Morfeo – Stefano Benni
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “What you do is supposed to be sacred. It’s supposed to be about healing. You should be taking it seriously, as seriously as death.” Italian writer, Stefano Benni addresses a serious issue that is prevalent … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Italian Literature, Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology
Tagged angels, dark humor, death, God, greed, healthcare, magical realism, profits, Religion, short books
Comments Off on The Book of Morfeo – Stefano Benni
Seven Down – David Whitton
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned Why would someone agree to participate in a clandestine operation in which they knew nothing about? Would it be for the excitement, money, or for a totally different reason? This is the premise of the … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged dark humor, Toronto
Comments Off on Seven Down – David Whitton
She Shits Bricks and Other Short Stories – Samson Tonauac
(reviewed by JD Jung) We’ve all been through a lot this past year and a half. Not just with COVID-19, but with social unrest, political chaos, and dealing with people who won’t accept basic facts as reality. Everyday life has … Continue reading
Posted in Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology
Tagged compulsion, corruption, dark humor, futuristic, greed, money, reality, science fiction, sex, short books
Comments Off on She Shits Bricks and Other Short Stories – Samson Tonauac
Pizza Girl: A Novel – Jean Kyoung Frazier
(reviewed by JD Jung) An eighteen-year-old pregnant pizza delivery girl is lost, with no idea where she is headed in life. Even though she has a loving boyfriend who is excited about the baby, that isn’t enough. She has never … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged coming-of-age, dark humor, Los Angeles
Comments Off on Pizza Girl: A Novel – Jean Kyoung Frazier
An UnderratedRead Revisited -Corkscrew: The highly improbable, but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer – Peter Stafford-Bow
(Reviewed by Don Jung) Prep school failure Felix Hart got his first job as an inventory clerk at a wine shop. Little did he realize that this would set the stage for his career as a premier wine buyer in … Continue reading
Posted in Revisited
Tagged dark humor, wine
Comments Off on An UnderratedRead Revisited -Corkscrew: The highly improbable, but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer – Peter Stafford-Bow
Tales of Adventure With Nap Lapkin – Lance Manion
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “There was only one place to be if you were a vampire, the Marriott Marquis Times Square. It was time to dispatch Dick Clark once and for all.” Why would secret agent/ “super-spy” Nap Lapkin dub … Continue reading
Posted in More fiction
Tagged dark humor, short books
Comments Off on Tales of Adventure With Nap Lapkin – Lance Manion
Corkscrew: The highly improbable, but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer – Peter Stafford-Bow
(Reviewed by Don Jung) Prep school failure Felix Hart got his first job as an inventory clerk at a wine shop. Little did he realize that this would set the stage for his career as a premier wine buyer in … Continue reading
Posted in Modern Literary Fiction
Tagged book review, dark humor, wine
Comments Off on Corkscrew: The highly improbable, but occasionally true, tale of a professional wine buyer – Peter Stafford-Bow