What is your favorite under-appreciated novel? Tell us about it. Have you read it more than once? Did it influence your writing?
18 thoughts on “READER FRIDAY: What’s Your Favorite Under-Appreciated Novel?”
I’ll have to say The Hour of the Dragon, by Robert E. Howard. Under the heated and often grim action in this Conan tale is a gold mine of insightful commentary on civilization, legitimacy in government, and personal honor.
Love me some Robert E. Howard!
Have you read his bio, Blood & Thunder?
No, but I found it online (after finding a surprising number of books with that title), and look forward to reading it.
I’d say Howard is generally underappreciated. I’m glad to see he’s finally getting some serious notice.
The Testament by John Grisham. Something about this book just spoke to me at a time when I was going through a spiritual crisis. I try to keep a few on hand to give away.
Thanks for the rec. I’ve read a little Grisham, but not much. Will check this one out.
You’re welcome friend!
The Journey of The Flame by Walter Nordhoff. A lyrical book about a boy traveling coastal California in the time of the Spanish missions.
Oh! This sounds like one I would like. Got my Amazon copy on the way (sadly, it’s not out on Kindle).
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, by Roddy Doyle. It won the Booker Prize, but none of my acquaintances have read it–except for my husband.
The book is written from the viewpoint of a smart ten year old boy, who lives in Dublin, Ireland. The story focuses primarily on the boy’s perceptions of and interactions with his family and friends in the most stunningly effective manner: bonding, loyalty, shifting allegiances, cruelty, and the consequences of one’s actions. And it contains a hilarious scene involving a Bible story about lepers.
Doyle captures childhood so pointedly. Even though this takes place in Ireland, it reminded me so much of my childhood in Boston.
I was so fascinated by Doyle’s craft that it took me awhile to get through the book, because I kept rereading passages. I can only hope that it influences my writing. Now that I’m reminded of it, I’m going to start reading it again, tonight.
Although critically acclaimed, I rarely hear any talk about The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins. It is a gritty and realistic look at organized crime and the every day people who are involved.. I get something new from it every time I read it.
Elmore Leonard called it the best crime novel ever written. It was Higgin’s first book. Set in Boston, Coyle is a low-level gun runner who is resisting being turned in a snitch. Excellent stuff.
Sorry for the typos.
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. I don’t think it got its due because they made a pretty crappy movie based on the book.
Storming Heaven By Denise Giardina. A love story against the backdrop of the battle for union representation of coal miners in southern West Virginia.
Stephen R Donaldson’s “The Gap” series is my all time favourite. Fantastic science fiction with characters that are so deeply flawed that you struggle deciding whether to loathe or love them.
Ireland, by Frank Delaney.
One of my favourite books of all time. It’s got nearly 700 reviews, and 7500 ratings on Amazon. But I have yet to meet a person who, when I mention the title or author in a discussion, even recognizes it.
Sounds intriguing, I’ll have to get a copy!
Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake. Almost all description and character, but it really pulls you in. A fantastic world building example.
Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon. Yes, I’ve read it more than once.
So many people love Stephen King – I didn’t like anything to do with his subject matter or horror stories, and I could never get into the movies ither. Then a friend mentioned that his daughter wanted him to write a book for her, but she didn’t want a horror story either – she wanted a fairytale – so, Eyes of the Dragon was the result.
I read the story and was blown away – I thought “Wow, Stephen King is brilliant, one of the best writers I’d ever read.” I was in college at the time. I also got his autobiography when he put it out a couple of years later – again – loved his tips and insights. He is definitely an influence. I’ve since read some of his incredible short stories that will creep and scare the hide right off you. I’ve also read some really insightful articles by him. I love him, but I still just don’t like his subject matter so I won’t read it. I always wished he would do more fantasy or other types of sci-fi writing.
I’ll have to say The Hour of the Dragon, by Robert E. Howard. Under the heated and often grim action in this Conan tale is a gold mine of insightful commentary on civilization, legitimacy in government, and personal honor.
Love me some Robert E. Howard!
Have you read his bio, Blood & Thunder?
No, but I found it online (after finding a surprising number of books with that title), and look forward to reading it.
I’d say Howard is generally underappreciated. I’m glad to see he’s finally getting some serious notice.
The Testament by John Grisham. Something about this book just spoke to me at a time when I was going through a spiritual crisis. I try to keep a few on hand to give away.
Thanks for the rec. I’ve read a little Grisham, but not much. Will check this one out.
You’re welcome friend!
The Journey of The Flame by Walter Nordhoff. A lyrical book about a boy traveling coastal California in the time of the Spanish missions.
Oh! This sounds like one I would like. Got my Amazon copy on the way (sadly, it’s not out on Kindle).
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, by Roddy Doyle. It won the Booker Prize, but none of my acquaintances have read it–except for my husband.
The book is written from the viewpoint of a smart ten year old boy, who lives in Dublin, Ireland. The story focuses primarily on the boy’s perceptions of and interactions with his family and friends in the most stunningly effective manner: bonding, loyalty, shifting allegiances, cruelty, and the consequences of one’s actions. And it contains a hilarious scene involving a Bible story about lepers.
Doyle captures childhood so pointedly. Even though this takes place in Ireland, it reminded me so much of my childhood in Boston.
I was so fascinated by Doyle’s craft that it took me awhile to get through the book, because I kept rereading passages. I can only hope that it influences my writing. Now that I’m reminded of it, I’m going to start reading it again, tonight.
Although critically acclaimed, I rarely hear any talk about The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins. It is a gritty and realistic look at organized crime and the every day people who are involved.. I get something new from it every time I read it.
Elmore Leonard called it the best crime novel ever written. It was Higgin’s first book. Set in Boston, Coyle is a low-level gun runner who is resisting being turned in a snitch. Excellent stuff.
Sorry for the typos.
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. I don’t think it got its due because they made a pretty crappy movie based on the book.
Storming Heaven By Denise Giardina. A love story against the backdrop of the battle for union representation of coal miners in southern West Virginia.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004071Y04/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Stephen R Donaldson’s “The Gap” series is my all time favourite. Fantastic science fiction with characters that are so deeply flawed that you struggle deciding whether to loathe or love them.
Ireland, by Frank Delaney.
One of my favourite books of all time. It’s got nearly 700 reviews, and 7500 ratings on Amazon. But I have yet to meet a person who, when I mention the title or author in a discussion, even recognizes it.
Sounds intriguing, I’ll have to get a copy!
Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake. Almost all description and character, but it really pulls you in. A fantastic world building example.
Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon. Yes, I’ve read it more than once.
So many people love Stephen King – I didn’t like anything to do with his subject matter or horror stories, and I could never get into the movies ither. Then a friend mentioned that his daughter wanted him to write a book for her, but she didn’t want a horror story either – she wanted a fairytale – so, Eyes of the Dragon was the result.
I read the story and was blown away – I thought “Wow, Stephen King is brilliant, one of the best writers I’d ever read.” I was in college at the time. I also got his autobiography when he put it out a couple of years later – again – loved his tips and insights. He is definitely an influence. I’ve since read some of his incredible short stories that will creep and scare the hide right off you. I’ve also read some really insightful articles by him. I love him, but I still just don’t like his subject matter so I won’t read it. I always wished he would do more fantasy or other types of sci-fi writing.