Underrated Books that you Love

[Vincent, Thunder God]

I think the Dragonlance series is underrated, and also the most awesomest.

=O

Ooh. I've read two Dragonlance books, and I liked them. I "bought" one when I paid a local library for losing it and found it a few months later.

One would argue that they're pulp fiction and/or marketing of an unrelated intellectual property (D&D), but the thing is, books classified as either generally are only panned for those very reasons.

I have found a lot of supposed pulp fiction (Tarzan series - pulp fiction at the time but now classic, and the Pellucidar series also by Rice Burroughs, the Gor series) very enjoyable, and I've enjoyed a few Star Wars or Star Trek tie-in novels for light, fast reading.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - Stephen King. When a site full of Stephen King fans hate it who else would like it

I find that Steven King can be a bit hit-and-miss, but I can't comment on that one because I haven't read it. I really enjoyed his Dark Tower series, Misery, and despite a ridiculously slow start, the Tommyknockers. After about 250 pages, it really starts becoming very suspenseful.

The Soldier's Son trilogy, by Robin Hobb.

Hobb is generally a critically acclaimed writer, but fans would have nothing to do with her stepping out of her box and doing something different. It was a really great trilogy. Despite being a little bit below her usual par, it was still ten times better than most of the other books filling shelves in the fantasy section.

I do enjoy fantasy (both reading it and writing it) but I find that often the writers fall into repetitive patterns, rip off each other, and have wooden, cardboard-cutout characters. If you feel that Hobb is above par, I'll definitely have to try out that trilogy.

"The Drifters"; James A. Michener. I have no idea why this book isn't on everybody's list as one of the most brilliant things ever written, but it remains (as far as I know, anyways! ) pretty unknown. Which is wtf.

"The Unbearable Lightness of Being"; this book is fairly well-known, but not nearly enough. It's brilliant. And more people seem to have watched the bloody movie

I really enjoy Michener in general - Hawaii really was a tour de force, though at first it was a tad long even for me.

I haven't heard of the latter but I'll add it to my literally endless list of books I want to read. Whether I'll ever get to it in another matter. :rolleyes2

The Xanth Stories from Piers Anthony. Great Books, though a lot of people seem to think they are sub par and mediocre. Curse them all.

And I'll say the Shannara books from Terry Brooks. Pretty popular, but they still deserve mentioned due to their sheer Awesome.

I've heard that Xanth started out well but became too "punny." Still, as I enjoy humourous writing I'll keep it in mind. Any individual suggestions? What's the best one to try?

As for the Shannara series, I really enjoy it a lot.

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston (sp?)

Had to read it in 10th grade. It's kind of a classic, but everyone at my high school who I talked to or overheard hated it. I thought it was wonderful

I always enjoy a good classic. I haven't had it as recommended reading yet - if I never do I'll keep it in mind to try anyway.

I'm not sure what I'd class as underrated to be honest. I think that Day of the Triffids doesn't get as much praise as it deserves though.

I really liked the Chrysalids by the same author, though I found the beginning and end a bit rushed, while the middle was slightly overlong. I'll keep that in mind too.

The Culture novels, especially The Player Of Games, Use of Weapons, and Excession.

Sure, Banks gets a ton of praise, but I know exactly one person besides myself who has actually read his sci-fi. And his sci-fi is ridiculously good.

World War Z. Many people have read it, but it doesn't get the critical praise it should, mainly on the basis that it's about zombies and not some destitute kid from Newcastle/gay man in Iran/etc. Regardless of subject this is, without question, one of the most engaging books I have ever read.

Never heard of either, but I'll keep them in mind too.

Why do there have to be so many books and so little time to read them? If there is a Heaven, hopefully you can access all books ever published there.