8 Underrated Books You’ll Be Glad You Found

In the vast ocean of literature, some gems remain hidden beneath the waves of bestsellers and award-winners. These underrated books may not have received the spotlight they deserve, but each one delivers exceptional storytelling, profound insight, or transformative thinking. Below is a list of 8 underrated books you’ll be glad you found.

1. The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker

Nicholson Baker’s The Mezzanine turns the mundane into the profound with astonishing brilliance. The entire novel takes place during an office worker’s escalator ride, during which his thoughts branch off into detailed meditations on everyday objects—shoelaces, straws, vending machines, paper towels. Baker’s hyper-focused, witty narration is a celebration of the small and overlooked. The book is humorous, intellectually sharp, and delightfully obsessive. Beneath its micro-level observations lies a deeper exploration of consciousness and time. The Mezzanine is unlike any other novel—charmingly cerebral and refreshingly original, a must-read for lovers of language and quirky philosophy.

2. The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard

Spanning decades, it tells the story of two Australian sisters navigating love, betrayal, and social ambition in postwar England. Hazzard’s prose is incisive, lyrical, and deeply human, revealing truths in the smallest gestures and glances. The novel tackles fate, longing, and the slow revelations of time with unmatched subtlety. Each sentence is meticulously crafted, demanding—and rewarding—close attention. Though not widely read today, this is a book of rare intelligence and feeling, one that grows richer with every reread and stands among the finest of the 20th century.

3. The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson

The Long Ships is a Viking epic filled with adventure, dry humor, and rich historical context. Red Orm, the bold protagonist, embarks on daring exploits across Europe and the Middle East. The novel balances high-seas escapades and swordplay with moments of levity and insight into Norse culture. Bengtsson’s storytelling is both gripping and entertaining, capturing the era’s brutality without losing its charm. Unlike many historical novels, it avoids modern preachiness, instead embracing the spirit of its time. For fans of action, history, and character-driven plots, this lesser-known classic is a thoroughly satisfying read.

4. Engine Summer by John Crowley

John Crowley’s Engine Summer is a poetic post-apocalyptic journey unlike any other. Set in a future where humanity has returned to pastoral simplicity, the novel follows Rush That Speaks, a young man on a quest for understanding and connection. Crowley’s prose is dreamlike and layered, weaving themes of memory, storytelling, and truth into a haunting narrative. The book asks profound questions: What is real? What survives? Its gentle pace rewards those who savor language and meaning. Though often eclipsed by Crowley’s later work, Engine Summer is a quiet triumph of speculative fiction that resonates long after its conclusion.

5. The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

Written by Portuguese modernist Fernando Pessoa under the heteronym Bernardo Soares, it’s part diary, part philosophical treatise, part prose poetry. Through Soares, Pessoa reflects on existence, loneliness, identity, and the futility of ambition. While not a conventional novel, it captures the complexity of the human psyche with unmatched clarity. It’s a book best read slowly, with contemplation. For readers drawn to existential literature, The Book of Disquiet is a profound, immersive exploration of the self.

6. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

Tigana is a richly imagined fantasy novel with a heart-wrenching core. Set in a land ravaged by tyrants and magic, the story follows a group of rebels determined to restore their homeland’s identity—literally erased from memory by a powerful sorcerer. Kay delves into themes of memory, cultural survival, and the cost of resistance. Unlike many fantasy works, Tigana is grounded in emotional realism, with characters facing moral ambiguities and painful choices.

7. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

Best known for her Moomin stories, Tove Jansson’s The Summer Book is a quietly beautiful meditation on nature, aging, and intergenerational bonds. Set on a tiny Finnish island, it follows a grandmother and her granddaughter as they spend the summer exploring the land and each other’s thoughts. The book is composed of short, loosely connected vignettes that together create a mosaic of life’s gentle rhythms. It’s a simple but profound work that offers solace, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for life’s quiet moments.

8. The Wall by Marlen Haushofer

The Wall by Austrian writer Marlen Haushofer is a chilling yet introspective survival novel that examines isolation, resilience, and the fragility of civilization. The story follows a woman who finds herself inexplicably cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible wall, left to survive alone in the wilderness with only animals for company. It’s not just a dystopian story—it’s a powerful meditation on what it means to be human when stripped of society’s constructs.

Conclusion

These books have been unfairly eclipsed by more marketable or trendy titles, but their impact is no less significant. They provide fresh perspectives, challenge literary conventions, and speak to timeless human experiences. Discovering such works is like finding buried treasure, each page unveiling something rare and profound.

Whether you're looking to deepen your reading life or escape into worlds unknown, these underrated books promise rewards far beyond their reputation.