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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 Old Man – The Old Man
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Do all the lovely memories fade first? Do all the faces of the people you held dearest disappear…and all the horrible ones stay nailed into your skull?” When I was asked to review The Old … Continue reading
Cleaner – Jess Shannon
(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy dark humor and offbeat protagonists, Cleaner delivers a bizarre ride. The unnamed narrator—a master’s in fine arts graduate who drops out of her PhD program due to financial strain—returns home unable to find … Continue reading
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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