Moderately Underrated Books (1,000 to 10,000 ratings) (1907 books)

An alternative to the popular "Best Books Ever" list, focusing on the less popular. You can vote for any book, in any genre so long as it has between 1,000 and 10,000 ratings on GRs. Before you add a book, please take a moment to look up its ratings on GRs to ensure it meets the parameters for this list.

There are lists for even more obscure books at:
Underrated Books (1,001 - 5,000 GR ratings)
Really Underrated Books (fewer than 1,000 GR ratings)
Really Seriously Underrated Books (fewer than 500 GR ratings)
REALLY Really Underrated Books (fewer than 100 GR ratings)
Super Underrated Books (fewer than 50 GR ratings)
Ridiculously Underrated Books (fewer than 20 GR ratings)
Really Underrated Children's Books (children's books with fewer than 100 GR ratings)
Just One Rating

Alternatively, see lists of books with the most ratings.
You might also want to check out obscure books worth considering: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Jewel in the Crown (The Raj Quartet, #1) by Paul Scott 4.14 avg rating — 6,196 ratings score: 1,559, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	English Passengers by Matthew Kneale 4.07 avg rating — 7,611 ratings score: 1,271, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Copenhagen by Michael Frayn 3.92 avg rating — 6,910 ratings score: 1,005, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Touch Not the Cat: A Haunting Gothic Mystery of Debt, Death, and a Devastating Family Curse by Mary Stewart 3.95 avg rating — 8,933 ratings score: 829, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The American by Henry James 3.68 avg rating — 7,189 ratings score: 805, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Open Secrets by Alice Munro 4.02 avg rating — 6,659 ratings score: 794, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 4.19 avg rating — 8,592 ratings score: 764, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson 3.70 avg rating — 6,514 ratings score: 688, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Sacred Hunger (Sacred Hunger #1) by Barry Unsworth 4.13 avg rating — 7,527 ratings score: 659, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Lad: A Dog (Lad, #1) by Albert Payson Terhune 4.27 avg rating — 9,140 ratings score: 607, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth 4.12 avg rating — 7,754 ratings score: 607, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Sound of the Mountain by Yasunari Kawabata 3.84 avg rating — 9,620 ratings score: 606, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen 3.64 avg rating — 9,199 ratings score: 601, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones 4.10 avg rating — 7,364 ratings score: 592, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Light Princess by George MacDonald 4.02 avg rating — 9,282 ratings score: 589, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 7,803 ratings score: 570, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr. 4.18 avg rating — 4,743 ratings score: 569, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories by Robin McKinley 3.80 avg rating — 5,447 ratings score: 554, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Snapper (The Barrytown Trilogy, #2) by Roddy Doyle 3.94 avg rating — 8,814 ratings score: 553, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	A Time of Gifts (Trilogy, #1) by Patrick Leigh Fermor 4.03 avg rating — 9,767 ratings score: 547, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas 4.11 avg rating — 8,538 ratings score: 529, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Hidden Warrior (The Tamír Triad, #2) by Lynn Flewelling (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 8,303 ratings score: 528, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven 4.05 avg rating — 8,987 ratings score: 522, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.36 avg rating — 6,238 ratings score: 516, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Farthing (Small Change, #1) by Jo Walton (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 5,672 ratings score: 505, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	What Maisie Knew by Henry James 3.41 avg rating — 7,069 ratings score: 500, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Aspern Papers by Henry James 3.70 avg rating — 6,909 ratings score: 468, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter 3.73 avg rating — 4,077 ratings score: 464, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service by Erskine Childers 3.63 avg rating — 7,753 ratings score: 461, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Doctor Thorne (Chronicles of Barsetshire #3) by Anthony Trollope 4.15 avg rating — 8,422 ratings score: 448, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch 3.75 avg rating — 6,821 ratings score: 440, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Moonheart by Charles de Lint (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 6,783 ratings score: 439, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Colour by Rose Tremain 3.86 avg rating — 6,538 ratings score: 414, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter 4.14 avg rating — 7,312 ratings score: 390, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell 3.87 avg rating — 9,891 ratings score: 388, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories by O. Henry 4.12 avg rating — 6,308 ratings score: 387, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter 4.08 avg rating — 9,926 ratings score: 386, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson 3.46 avg rating — 6,844 ratings score: 381, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Wapshot Chronicle by John Cheever 3.76 avg rating — 7,594 ratings score: 376, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum 3.94 avg rating — 7,912 ratings score: 376, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton 4.12 avg rating — 6,806 ratings score: 375, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees 3.85 avg rating — 9,740 ratings score: 375, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford 3.87 avg rating — 6,835 ratings score: 372, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Book of Salt by Monique Truong (Goodreads Author) 3.53 avg rating — 6,663 ratings score: 369, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht 3.74 avg rating — 9,169 ratings score: 367, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann 3.93 avg rating — 6,279 ratings score: 366, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine by Glenn Beck 3.79 avg rating — 7,243 ratings score: 364, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Z.Z. Packer 3.88 avg rating — 7,888 ratings score: 358, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Under the Frog by Tibor Fischer 3.96 avg rating — 2,120 ratings score: 351, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck 4.09 avg rating — 9,252 ratings score: 343, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Van (The Barrytown Trilogy, #3) by Roddy Doyle 3.93 avg rating — 8,157 ratings score: 340, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit 3.82 avg rating — 9,364 ratings score: 332, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Consumed (Dark Protectors, #4) by Rebecca Zanetti (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 8,404 ratings score: 332, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor 3.64 avg rating — 8,506 ratings score: 332, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Summer Lightning (Blandings Castle, #4) by P.G. Wodehouse 4.23 avg rating — 6,939 ratings score: 331, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Oracle's Queen (The Tamír Triad, #3) by Lynn Flewelling (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 8,246 ratings score: 328, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Liza by Ivan Turgenev 3.92 avg rating — 5,634 ratings score: 328, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Howards End Is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home by Susan Hill 3.65 avg rating — 4,040 ratings score: 327, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Pat of Silver Bush (Pat of Silver Bush, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 3.93 avg rating — 7,772 ratings score: 326, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom 3.76 avg rating — 5,993 ratings score: 324, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Приключения Чиполлино by Gianni Rodari 4.14 avg rating — 6,719 ratings score: 324, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Thus Was Adonis Murdered (Hilary Tamar, #1) by Sarah Caudwell 3.86 avg rating — 6,219 ratings score: 324, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	A Free Man of Color (Benjamin January, #1) by Barbara Hambly (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 3,584 ratings score: 323, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier 3.78 avg rating — 8,361 ratings score: 320, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey 3.95 avg rating — 9,304 ratings score: 319, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Guests of the Sheik: An Ethnography of an Iraqi Village by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea 4.12 avg rating — 3,262 ratings score: 318, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen 3.71 avg rating — 9,372 ratings score: 316, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Provoked (Dark Protectors, #5) by Rebecca Zanetti (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 8,195 ratings score: 314, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Hawkmistress! by Marion Zimmer Bradley really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,509 ratings score: 310, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Red Sorghum by Mo Yan 3.81 avg rating — 8,865 ratings score: 305, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm 3.52 avg rating — 4,921 ratings score: 301, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Rosebush by Michele Jaffe (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 4,130 ratings score: 299, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Much Obliged, Jeeves (Jeeves, #14) by P.G. Wodehouse 4.20 avg rating — 6,552 ratings score: 298, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges 4.05 avg rating — 9,843 ratings score: 298, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay 3.54 avg rating — 3,977 ratings score: 293, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914 by Barbara W. Tuchman 4.13 avg rating — 9,714 ratings score: 292, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	The Collected Stories by Eudora Welty 4.20 avg rating — 8,340 ratings score: 291, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Complete Saki by Saki 4.37 avg rating — 2,604 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Memento Mori by Muriel Spark 3.61 avg rating — 7,428 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Aurian (Artefacts of Power, #1) by Maggie Furey 3.93 avg rating — 3,411 ratings score: 286, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neill 4.10 avg rating — 9,769 ratings score: 284, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton (Lidie Newton, #1) by Jane Smiley (Goodreads Author) 3.58 avg rating — 2,814 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Captain's Verses by Pablo Neruda 4.19 avg rating — 9,128 ratings score: 282, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner 4.20 avg rating — 8,975 ratings score: 281, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Lanark by Alasdair Gray 4.10 avg rating — 7,902 ratings score: 281, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman 3.56 avg rating — 8,122 ratings score: 280, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander 3.74 avg rating — 8,258 ratings score: 280, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Gone-Away Lake (Gone-Away Lake, #1) by Elizabeth Enright 4.12 avg rating — 8,815 ratings score: 280, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Envy by Yury Olesha 3.69 avg rating — 4,002 ratings score: 280, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Q: A Deadly Historical Thriller – Papal Spy Hunts Heretic Through Reformation Europe by Luther Blissett 4.22 avg rating — 9,681 ratings score: 279, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Short Cuts: Selected Stories by Raymond Carver 4.10 avg rating — 7,026 ratings score: 274, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Billy Budd and Other Stories by Herman Melville 3.56 avg rating — 4,843 ratings score: 270, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Bloom County Babylon: Five Years of Basic Naughtiness by Berkeley Breathed 4.39 avg rating — 8,344 ratings score: 266, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Experience by Martin Amis 3.90 avg rating — 4,062 ratings score: 259, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Three Tales by Gustave Flaubert 3.62 avg rating — 7,840 ratings score: 258, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Blind Faith (Sin Brothers, #3) by Rebecca Zanetti (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 5,893 ratings score: 257, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear 4.18 avg rating — 8,733 ratings score: 257, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Nova by Samuel R. Delany 3.80 avg rating — 9,062 ratings score: 257, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Ten Days that Shook the World by John Reed 3.94 avg rating — 7,876 ratings score: 255, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Jacques le fataliste et son maître by Denis Diderot 3.79 avg rating — 9,747 ratings score: 254, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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1,907 books · 264 voters · list created July 8th, 2009 by John Burns (votes) .

Tags: best, fiction, great, least-ratings, literature, obscure, rare, ratings, too-few-ratings, underrated, unsung

126 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (264)

John 862 books
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Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3386 books
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Lynda 22350 books
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Karen 4454 books
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Gwyn 1501 books
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Morgan 1419 books
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 298 (298 new)

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message 1: by John (new)

Jul 10, 2009 07:39AM

War and peace will soon cross the 10,000 mark but i think it should be left on here. Many of these books would eventually cross the 10,000 mark anyway. As long as the book had few enough votes to be eligible when it was first added, it can stay here indefinitely. A book doesnt suddenly become widely read just because the number of people who've read it slowly passes a certain point.

As goodreads becomes more popular the number of ratings for every book on this site will increase anyway, so this rule makes sense.

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message 2: by Eli (new)

Nov 16, 2009 07:56PM

OK, but what about a book like Catch-22, which is at more than 4 times the max number of ratings for this list (40,000+ratings)? We need to cull books like that, or the list doesn't really mean anything at all.

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message 3: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 17, 2009 10:52AM

Catch-22 removed.

Anything else with grossly too many reviews?

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message 4: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Jan 06, 2010 08:35AM

Not necessarily GROSSLY too many, but decidedly in excess of 10,000 ratings:

Stevenson, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"
Wells, "The Time Machine"
Tolstoy, "War and Peace"
Dick, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"
King, "Cujo"

Also, the "main" (interlinked) edition of Kafka's "Trial" -- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17... -- has over 10,000 ratings. Does it make sense to nevertheless list a separate (as-yet unlinked) edition here?

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message 5: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 06, 2010 04:36PM

Themis-Athena wrote: "Not necessarily GROSSLY too many, but decidedly in excess of 10,000 ratings:

Stevenson, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"
Wells, "The Time Machine"
Tolstoy, "War and Peace"
Dick, "Do Androids Dream of ..."

Deleted.

As for the edition of The Trial on the list, it's a modern stage adaptation with its own playwright and thus on GR is separate from the original book. I left it because it has 14 ratings and there's no legitimate reason to delete it.

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message 6: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Jan 07, 2010 03:54AM

I see -- wasn't aware that it's an adaptation. If it only has 14 ratings, shouldn't it be on the list for SERIOUSLY underrated books, though?

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message 7: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 08, 2010 02:05PM

Themis-Athena wrote: "I see -- wasn't aware that it's an adaptation. If it only has 14 ratings, shouldn't it be on the list for SERIOUSLY underrated books, though?"

Good point. It needs to be deleted from here, and I don't know if there is such a list.

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message 8: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 08, 2010 02:08PM

Or is that the other list I've been visiting? I'm so confused. At any rate, I deleted the Trial adaptation.

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message 9: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 08, 2010 02:09PM

Deleted: The Goats. Insufficient ratings.

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message 10: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 08, 2010 02:12PM

Deleted: Chaucer's Poetry and Vampire Academy Box Set.

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message 11: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jan 10, 2010 07:28AM

There's another list for books with less than 1,000 rankings, yes.

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message 12: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 16, 2010 06:38PM

Removed: The Martian Chronicles.

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message 13: by Lobstergirl (new)

Feb 28, 2010 09:43PM

Removed: I Am Legend.

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message 14: by Lobstergirl (new)

Feb 28, 2010 09:46PM

Removed: Vampire Academy (#1).

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message 15: by Lobstergirl (new)

Feb 28, 2010 09:48PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Oryx and Crake.

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message 16: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Jan 11, 2012 09:03AM) (new)

Mar 02, 2010 01:08PM

Removed, but added to the list of REALLY underrated books (fewer than 1,000 ratings): The Golden Ass and The Celestial Omnibus.

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message 17: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Jan 11, 2012 09:00AM) (new)

Mar 02, 2010 01:11PM

Removed for excessive ratings:
The Last Olympian
The Hotel New Hampshire
Cujo
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
The Talisman

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message 18: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 02, 2010 01:32PM

Removed for having less than 1,000 ratings: Song of Lawino & Song of Ocol. Based on the very small number of ratings, this book would certainly qualify for inclusion in the list of REALLY underrated books, though. (Won't add it there myself as I haven't read it.)

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message 19: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 02, 2010 01:38PM

Removed for having less than 1,000 ratings: Alexandria: City of Memory. See previous comment on inclusion in the list of REALLY underrated books.

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message 20: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Jan 11, 2012 09:05AM) (new)

Mar 02, 2010 01:40PM

Removed for having less than 1,000 ratings:
Spirit Bound
Popular Music from Vittula

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message 21: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:26AM

Removed for excessive ratings: Winnie the Pooh.

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message 22: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:37AM

Removed for excessive ratings: Notes From Underground.

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message 23: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:41AM

Removed for excessive ratings: Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2).

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message 24: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:41AM

Removed for excessive ratings: White Fang.

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message 25: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:47AM

Removed for excessive ratings: The Remains of the Day.

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message 26: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:51AM

Removed for excessive ratings: The Dharma Bums.

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message 27: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:53AM

And Starship Troopers is banished.

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message 28: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 11:55AM

And A Moveable Feast.

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message 29: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 28, 2010 12:04PM

And The Princess Diaries.

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message 30: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Jan 11, 2012 09:01AM) (new)

May 17, 2010 02:39AM

And I Capture the Castle, Shadow Kiss and Blue Bloods.

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message 31: by Deedee (new)

May 17, 2010 02:09PM

I don't know how much longer A Wizard of Earthsea will qualify for this list .... I just checked it and there are 9,975 ratings! 25 more and it hits 10,000!

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message 32: by Deedee (new)

May 27, 2010 10:03AM

As of today, A Wizard of Earthsea has 10,063 ratings.

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message 33: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

May 27, 2010 10:33AM

Wow. That was fast!

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message 34: by Antoine (new)

May 30, 2010 06:00AM

Deedee wrote: "I don't know how much longer A Wizard of Earthsea will qualify for this list .... I just checked it and there are 9,975 ratings! 25 more and it hits 10,000!"

I am very surprised to read that it only just crossed over. I would have expected it to be over that line quite a while ago...

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message 35: by Antoine (new)

May 30, 2010 06:03AM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Removed for excessive ratings: Winnie the Pooh."

Funny how few ratings The House at Pooh Corner has, considering how well known the material in it is. I wonder if many people forget that it is a separate book.

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message 36: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Jun 18, 2010 03:37AM) (new)

Jun 18, 2010 03:27AM

Removed for excessive ratings: Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, Blood Promise and Redwall.

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message 37: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jun 29, 2010 02:57PM

Removed for excessive ratings: This Lullaby.

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message 38: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 14, 2010 11:02PM

Removed for excessive ratings: A Brief History of Time.

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message 39: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 14, 2010 11:08PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Looking for Alaska.

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message 40: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Jul 30, 2010 02:25PM) (new)

Jul 30, 2010 01:22PM

Love the fact that the lists now display the number of a book's ratings, which is making it much less time-consuming to track what should and what shouldn't be on this particular list and the list for seriously underrated books. It would be even nicer if the number of ratings were updated in real time, as is the case on the individual book pages ... (E.g., Henry James' "The American" is still showing only 980 ratings here, whereas when you go to the actual book page, you find that the book has in fact over 1,000 ratings and is, therefore, quite rightly placed on this list. The same is true with regard to a number of other books, where the discrepancies are sometimes even considerably greater.)

That said, removed for really NOT having enough ratings: Alone in Berlin and If This Is a Man / The Truce. (Needless to say, these may always be added to the list for seriously underrated books.)

Removed for having excessive ratings: School's Out - Forever.

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message 41: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 30, 2010 05:00PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.

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message 42: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 30, 2010 05:03PM

Themis-Athena wrote: "Love the fact that the lists now display the number of a book's ratings, which is making it much less time-consuming to track what should and what shouldn't be on this particular list and the list ..."

T-A, I posted the question in one of the Feedback (I think) threads of why a book would have a different number of ratings in two different places. The answer was that the lower number is actual ratings, the higher number is shelvings. I guess that means people have shelved it as to-read, or currently-reading or whatever, but have not actually rated it.

So these Listopias that depend on # of ratings may not exactly be totally accurate, depending on what number people are using.

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message 43: by Antoine (new)

Jul 30, 2010 05:55PM

Looking at this list is really interesting, especially in reference to other lists. Some books (Bleak House, with 5000+ ratings at present, for example) are VERY popular on Listopia—appearing in almost every list that they could conceivably qualify for—and yet do not, in fact, have very many readers. It makes me wonder: how far down the the Goodreads popularity list do you have to go—assuming there are rankings—before you hit the 10,000 mark? How much further below that is the 1,000 mark? What kind of curve do we see? And what does it mean if a book with only 5000 readers can mobilize so much enthusiasm, relative to a book with, say, 30,000?

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message 44: by Lobstergirl (new)

Aug 19, 2010 11:46PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Howl's Moving Castle.

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message 45: by Lobstergirl (new)

Aug 19, 2010 11:47PM

Removed for excessive ratings: The Idiot.

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message 46: by Lobstergirl (new)

Sep 02, 2010 12:55AM

Deleted for excessive ratings: Fairest.