REALLY Underrated Books (Fewer than 1,000 Ratings) (3136 books)

This is an alternative to the popular "Best Books Ever" list, focusing on the most obscure books. Here's the rule: add any book--in any genre--so long as it has fewer than 1,000 ratings on Goodreads.

Before you add a book, please take a moment to look it up to ensure it meets the parameters for this list.

You can find the number of every book's Goodreads ratings under "book data" in the first line of the box containing the book's editorial data.

There is another list for Moderately Underrated Books (1,000 - 10,000 GRs ratings).

And for those who are feeling crowded even on this list, here are a few lists designed to give a home to even more undeservedly obscure books:
REALLY Seriously Underrated Books (100 to 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	Collected Stories by Wallace Stegner 4.21 avg rating — 923 ratings score: 2,244, and 24 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	Loving / Living / Party Going by Henry Green 3.66 avg rating — 684 ratings score: 1,894, and 20 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	Grundish and Askew by Lance Carbuncle (Goodreads Author) 3.75 avg rating — 347 ratings score: 1,775, 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
4	The Bat-Poet by Randall Jarrell 4.26 avg rating — 949 ratings score: 1,753, 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
5	Sanditon and The Watsons: Austen's Unfinished Novels by Jane Austen 3.67 avg rating — 659 ratings score: 1,326, 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
6	Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon by Marjorie Kellogg 3.82 avg rating — 533 ratings score: 1,302, 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
7	Naguib Mahfouz: Three Novels of Ancient Egypt by Naguib Mahfouz 4.03 avg rating — 477 ratings score: 1,285, 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
8	An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition by James Lipton 4.06 avg rating — 819 ratings score: 1,119, and 13 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	Summer Will Show by Sylvia Townsend Warner 3.59 avg rating — 999 ratings score: 1,039, 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
10	Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder by Steve S. Saroff (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 409 ratings score: 997, and 10 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
11	The Nightingales of Troy: Connected Stories by Alice Fulton (Goodreads Author) 3.58 avg rating — 210 ratings score: 864, 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
12	I Should Be Extremely Happy in Your Company: A Novel of Lewis and Clark by Brian Hall 3.35 avg rating — 472 ratings score: 679, 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	A Human Condition: The Selected Stories of Rhys Davies by Rhys Davies 4.04 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 666, 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	"I Can't," Said the Ant by Polly Cameron 4.12 avg rating — 792 ratings score: 656, 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	The Chess Garden by Brooks Hansen 3.99 avg rating — 584 ratings score: 656, 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
16	Five Plays by Ben Jonson 3.80 avg rating — 84 ratings score: 655, 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
17	England, their England by A.G. Macdonell 3.67 avg rating — 605 ratings score: 645, 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
18	A Dram of Poison by Charlotte Armstrong 3.72 avg rating — 413 ratings score: 574, 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
19	Flambards in Summer (Flambards, #3) by K.M. Peyton 4.05 avg rating — 788 ratings score: 562, 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
20	Disturbances in the Field by Lynne Sharon Schwartz 4.04 avg rating — 583 ratings score: 554, 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
21	The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story by Peter Lefcourt 3.92 avg rating — 1,003 ratings score: 513, 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	Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 508 ratings score: 500, 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
23	The Saskiad by Brian Hall 3.66 avg rating — 572 ratings score: 494, 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
24	Winter Birds by Jim Grimsley (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 908 ratings score: 493, 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
24	Death of a Player by Alex Ashe (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 493, 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
26	Lifelode by Jo Walton (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 668 ratings score: 486, 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
27	Winterlong (Winterlong, #1) by Elizabeth Hand 3.70 avg rating — 889 ratings score: 480, 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	Maida's Little Shop by Inez Haynes Gillmore 4.20 avg rating — 218 ratings score: 479, 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
29	The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren (New York Review Books Classics) by Iona Opie 4.25 avg rating — 150 ratings score: 447, 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
30	Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems Illustrated by James Thurber 4.03 avg rating — 475 ratings score: 433, 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	I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon by Philip K. Dick 3.90 avg rating — 913 ratings score: 427, 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
32	The Book of the Mad (Secret Books of Paradys, #4) by Tanith Lee 4.09 avg rating — 403 ratings score: 415, 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	Blood Father: A Novel by Peter Craig 3.82 avg rating — 267 ratings score: 400, 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
34	Famine by Liam O'Flaherty 4.05 avg rating — 542 ratings score: 399, 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	Billy Makes Cookies by Pria Dee (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 33 ratings score: 399, 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
36	Colors in the Dreamweaver's Loom by Beth Hilgartner (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 179 ratings score: 395, 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
37	Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources by M. Kat Anderson 4.58 avg rating — 525 ratings score: 392, 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
37	A Cool Million by Nathanael West 3.65 avg rating — 912 ratings score: 392, 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
39	The Complete Poems of Stephen Crane by Stephen Crane 4.31 avg rating — 790 ratings score: 388, 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
40	The Book of the Damned (Secret Books of Paradys, #1) by Tanith Lee 3.76 avg rating — 916 ratings score: 383, 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	Sabella, or The Blood Stone by Tanith Lee 3.86 avg rating — 800 ratings score: 382, 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
42	War Fever by J.G. Ballard 3.88 avg rating — 555 ratings score: 374, 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	Passion: A Novel of the Romantic Poets by Jude Morgan 3.95 avg rating — 870 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	Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories by Washington Irving 3.53 avg rating — 833 ratings score: 359, 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	Shakespeare and Co.: Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher and the Other Players in His Story by Stanley Wells 3.98 avg rating — 384 ratings score: 355, 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
46	Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori 3.78 avg rating — 995 ratings score: 344, 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	Homeboy by Seth Morgan 4.16 avg rating — 413 ratings score: 337, 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	The Jump Artist by Austin Ratner 3.53 avg rating — 215 ratings score: 334, 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	A Dark Night's Work and Other Stories by Elizabeth Gaskell 3.74 avg rating — 46 ratings score: 323, 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	The Crock of Gold by James Stephens 3.88 avg rating — 938 ratings score: 323, 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	Basic Theological Writings by Martin Luther 4.23 avg rating — 343 ratings score: 323, 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	Cousin Phillis and Other Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell 3.92 avg rating — 37 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
53	Miss Melville Regrets (Miss Melville #1) by Evelyn E. Smith 3.84 avg rating — 235 ratings score: 304, 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
54	The Good German of Nanking : The Diaries of John Rabe by John Rabe 4.11 avg rating — 539 ratings score: 302, 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
54	Night's Sorceries (Flat Earth, #5) by Tanith Lee 4.28 avg rating — 584 ratings score: 302, 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	Light by Torgny Lindgren 3.96 avg rating — 387 ratings score: 300, 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
56	Rage of the Behemoth: An Anthology of Heroic Adventure by Jason M. Waltz (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.36 avg rating — 28 ratings score: 300, 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
56	I Am Her... (I Am Her..., #1) by Sarah Ann Walker (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 843 ratings score: 300, 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
56	The Harp of Elvyth (The Long Ears Legacy #1) by Debbie Daley (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 300, 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
56	Enchanted Forests by Astrid V.J. (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 229 ratings score: 300, 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
61	Orope - The White Snake (Whisperers of the Gods, #1) by Guenevere Lee (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 87 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
61	How to Kill an 8th Grade Teacher by Wolf Redboy it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 11 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
63	X Out Of Wonderland by David Allan Cates (Goodreads Author) 3.31 avg rating — 124 ratings score: 298, 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
63	The Becalmer by Nick Wilford (Goodreads Author) 4.71 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 298, 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
65	The Forest of Hours by Kerstin Ekman 3.85 avg rating — 509 ratings score: 295, 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
66	The Dimensioneers by Doris Piserchia 3.64 avg rating — 56 ratings score: 293, 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
66	The Serpent (Atlan, #1a) by Jane Gaskell 3.61 avg rating — 241 ratings score: 293, 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
68	Hot Plastic by Peter Craig 3.61 avg rating — 246 ratings score: 292, 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
69	The Dance of Deception: A Guide to Authenticity and Truth-Telling in Women's Relationships by Harriet Lerner 4.01 avg rating — 769 ratings score: 289, 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	Io Deceneus: Journal of a Time Traveler (The Living Universe #1) by Florian Armas (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 424 ratings score: 288, 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
71	Welcome to the Ark (Ark, #1) by Stephanie S. Tolan 3.86 avg rating — 636 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
72	Firegold by Dia Calhoun 3.89 avg rating — 439 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
73	The Guest by Hwang Sok-yong 3.82 avg rating — 519 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
74	John Caldigate by Anthony Trollope 3.98 avg rating — 318 ratings score: 282, 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
75	The Cracker Factory by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt 3.90 avg rating — 434 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
75	Ivan the Fool: A Lost Opportunity and Polikushka by Leo Tolstoy 3.74 avg rating — 31 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
77	Droll Stories by Honoré de Balzac 3.56 avg rating — 617 ratings score: 279, 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	Forbidden Flowers by Nancy Friday 3.68 avg rating — 716 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
79	An Honorable German by Charles L. McCain 4.11 avg rating — 284 ratings score: 278, 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	Maida's Little House by Inez Haynes Gillmore 4.18 avg rating — 117 ratings score: 277, 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	The Thrall's Tale by Judith Lindbergh (Goodreads Author) 3.21 avg rating — 995 ratings score: 276, 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	Esther Waters by George Moore 3.71 avg rating — 953 ratings score: 276, 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	Rumpole for the Defence by John Mortimer 4.11 avg rating — 719 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
84	Rumpole on Trial (Rumpole of the Bailey #9) by John Mortimer 4.21 avg rating — 781 ratings score: 273, 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
85	The sands of Kalahari by William Mulvihill 4.14 avg rating — 196 ratings score: 272, 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
85	Flambards Divided (Flambards, #4) by K.M. Peyton 3.85 avg rating — 664 ratings score: 272, 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
87	God's Mercy (The Wolfskin Trilogy, #1) by Kerstin Ekman 3.83 avg rating — 668 ratings score: 271, 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
87	Father Fox's Pennyrhymes by Clyde Watson 4.12 avg rating — 140 ratings score: 271, 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
87	Curses Inc. and Other Stories (Laurel-Leaf Books) by Vivian Vande Velde 3.79 avg rating — 990 ratings score: 271, 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
87	The Divine Ryans by Wayne Johnston 3.65 avg rating — 729 ratings score: 271, 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	Rumpole and the Golden Thread (Rumpole of the Bailey, #5) by John Mortimer 4.15 avg rating — 686 ratings score: 269, 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	How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America: Freedom, Politics and the War on Sex by Cristina Page 4.04 avg rating — 975 ratings score: 268, 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	Under the Moon: The Unpublished Early Poetry by W.B. Yeats 3.96 avg rating — 73 ratings score: 268, 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	Smoke: The Disappearing Novel by Donald E. Westlake 3.82 avg rating — 568 ratings score: 265, 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	Under the Poppy (Under the Poppy, #1) by Kathe Koja (Goodreads Author) 3.47 avg rating — 580 ratings score: 265, 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	Selected Essays by Samuel Johnson 4.12 avg rating — 143 ratings score: 264, 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	Since Yesterday: The 1930's in America, September 3, 1929 to September 3, 1939 – A Vivid Chronicle of the Great Depression and American Life by Frederick Lewis Allen 4.06 avg rating — 998 ratings score: 264, 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
98	The Gunniwolf by Wilhelmina Harper 3.81 avg rating — 233 ratings score: 261, 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
99	The Marlowe Conspiracy by M.G. Scarsbrook (Goodreads Author) 3.37 avg rating — 199 ratings score: 260, 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	Giraffes? Giraffes! by Dr Doris Haggis-On-Whey 4.38 avg rating — 898 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

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3,136 books · 763 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

292 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

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message 1: by Stuart (new)

Jul 08, 2009 04:27PM

Added The Road to Wigan Pier, I, Claudius From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered & Deified A.D. 54, A Fortunate Life and All Quiet on the Western Front.

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message 2: by John (new)

Jul 09, 2009 02:24AM

Stuart wrote: "Added The Road to Wigan Pier, I, Claudius From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered & Deified A.D. 54, A Fortunate Life and [book..."

I claudius has too many ratings. It belongs (and already is) in the other list. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/24...
All quiet on the western front has WAAAAY too many ratings. Its too popular for either list. Sorry if this method seems a bit strict and uptight but its the only way to determine which are the genuinely obscure books out there and a book like AQOTWF has way too much of an advantage over all these obscure books.

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message 3: by Stuart (new)

Jul 09, 2009 05:04AM

Sorry, I was looking at the reviews value rather than the ratings value.

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message 4: by John (last edited Jul 10, 2009 05:26AM) (new)

Jul 10, 2009 05:16AM

Thanks you guys who voted for shadow of the wind. Way to completely ignore the one premise of this list.

DELETED!

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message 5: by John (new)

Jul 10, 2009 05:47AM

Also deleted for having too many ratings: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon
The Gargoyle

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message 6: by Lobstergirl (new)

Aug 01, 2009 11:59PM

Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it should be "fewer than 1,000 ratings" not less than.

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message 7: by Stuart (new)

Aug 02, 2009 07:55PM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it should be "fewer than 1,000 ratings" not less than."

Did you add any books, or did you just drop by to complain?

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message 8: by John (last edited Aug 03, 2009 04:01AM) (new)

Aug 03, 2009 03:52AM

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message 9: by Lobstergirl (new)

Aug 03, 2009 07:26PM

Stuart wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it should be "fewer than 1,000 ratings" not less tha..."

I did add books, although if I wanted drop by just to complain I'd feel free to. Punctuation is that important!

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message 10: by Lobstergirl (new)

Aug 03, 2009 07:26PM

Killthepopular wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it should be "fewer than 1,000 ratings" not less tha..."

Very happy.

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message 11: by Stuart (last edited Aug 04, 2009 04:22AM) (new)

Aug 04, 2009 04:21AM

Lobstergirl wrote: I did add books, although if I wanted drop by just to complain I'd feel free to. Punctuation is that important!

I'm all for correct use of grammar, but isn't clarity the whole point of the endeavour? There is no doubt what someone means by 'Less than 1000 ratings'.

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message 12: by John (new)

Aug 04, 2009 04:55AM

True. Surely being THAT bothered by things like the incorrect usage of apostrophes is just another form of OCD?

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message 13: by Jimmy (new)

Sep 22, 2009 04:53PM

wow. bitchy comments section here. oh, the drama

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message 14: by Rachel (new)

Dec 28, 2009 10:22AM

"The Girls" by Lori Lansens is on this list and has waaay more than 1,000 ratings. Just thought I'd mention this! Otherwise, really interesting list to read through.

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message 15: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Dec 28, 2009 12:24PM

Removed for too many ratings:

The Girls, by Lori Lansens

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message 16: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:44PM

Removed for too many ratings: "A Distant Mirror" by Tuchman.

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message 17: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:45PM

Killthepopular wrote: "True. Surely being THAT bothered by things like the incorrect usage of apostrophes is just another form of OCD?"

In the eye of the beholder, etc.

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message 18: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:47PM

Removed: The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White.

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message 19: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:48PM

Removed: Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard.

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message 20: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:50PM

Removed: Moon and Sixpence.

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message 21: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:52PM

Removed: A Bear Called Paddington.

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message 22: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 06:53PM

Removed: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax.

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message 23: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 07:01PM

Removed: Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde.

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message 24: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 07:04PM

Removed: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

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message 25: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 07:06PM

Removed: Homicide by David Simon.

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message 26: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 07:10PM

Removed: Her Fearful Symmetry.

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message 27: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 05, 2010 07:15PM

Removed: Keep the Aspidistra Flying.

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message 28: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Jan 06, 2010 06:26AM

Hmmm. Could it be that this list is achieving its goal and IS actually creating more of a readership for some of these books? If so, all the better!

Then again, given the criteria stated -- "fewer than 1,000 ratings -- I'm afraid there are a few more candidates for deletion ... which is not to say that they DON'T still rightly deserve a place on the "(moderately) underrated books" list ( http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/24... ) ... or indeed, on any of this site's "must read" lists.

In that spirit, could someone with librarian status please delete (from this PRESENT list only, and ONLY on the grounds of exceeding the 1,000-ratings-threshold):

Stephen Greenblatt, "Will in the World"
Jerome Lawrence, "Inherit the Wind"
Colleen McCullough, "The First Man in Rome"
Evelyn Waugh, "Scoop"

Thanks in advance!

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message 29: by Thom (new)

Jan 06, 2010 06:57AM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Stuart wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it should be "fewer than 1,000 rating..."

Well, the English-speaking world needs more people like you, but I object to your assertion that "It should be 'fewer than' not 'less than'." What you say is simply not the case---I mean the "should" part. Language is not logic, not carved in stone--except when it is, of course--and not owned by anyone. I find "different THAN" utterly galling, but (PACE, William Safire) we have no "academy" to oversee language change and growth. YOU MIGHT COULD SAY DIFFERENT THAN. I hate it, you hate it, but we simply cannot say it is "wrong" with any authority, IMO (Yes, I hate abbreviations, too). Peace/Love, Thom

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message 30: by M (new)

Jan 06, 2010 11:49AM

Themis-Athena wrote: "Hmmm. Could it be that this list is achieving its goal and IS actually creating more of a readership for some of these books? If so, all the better!

Then again, given the criteria stated -- "few..."

Deleted !

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message 31: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 06, 2010 03:58PM

Thom wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Stuart wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it should be "fewer t..."

I agree that language is mutable and ever changing and not owned by anyone. Yet we must have some standards, or at least we ought to. At the very least, I personally demand that we do. Perhaps that makes me batshit crazy, but there you have it. The 'fewer than/less than' thing doesn't bother me much, but apostrophes in the wrong place make me homicidal. And I will never give up the struggle. FIGHT ON, proper apostrophization.

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message 32: by Thom (new)

Jan 06, 2010 04:31PM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Thom wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Stuart wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "Sorry but this is bugging me: "Before you add a book, look up it's profile...."

Can you take out the apostrophe?

Also it s..."

Well, I suspect if we had time we would find ourselves in substantial agreement. Certainly my students were held to strict standards, such as those regarding dangling modifiers, faulty parallelism, subject-verb agreement, and such like.
One way to settle the standards questions is by appeal to a particular style sheet, The New York Times will do.

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message 33: by Thom (new)

Jan 07, 2010 07:01AM

Rdbot (Reese) wrote: "Oh, dear -- why did I allow myself to read the comments attached to this list? The O-C part of me refused to click a back or forward arrow. Having read messages 1-30, I now feel compelled to compo..."

Rdbot (Reese) wrote: "Oh, dear -- why did I allow myself to read the comments attached to this list? The O-C part of me refused to click a back or forward arrow. Having read messages 1-30, I now feel compelled to compo..."

The Dirty Little Secret (And you musn't let this get out) we men have been keeping all these years is that tuxedos are comfortable. The tremendous power of Yiddish and Ebonics and such-like non-standard lingos lies in the glosses, extensions and send-ups they provide of the standard languages they spring from. Eventually we lexicon prigs just can't stand the appeal anymore and start chanting, "Schlemiel, schlemazel, Hassenpfeffer Incorporataed" or muttering in tune, "Ain' got no home,....ain' got no woman....caint
spell no words...." and so on. Gets ME through the night. Keeps my O C from becoming OCD....That's my plan, anyway. Love you people. --T.

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message 34: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 11, 2010 09:54PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Lady Susan by Austen.

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message 35: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Jan 12, 2010 03:05AM

Thanks for keeping tabs on these!

(I added "Lady Susan" to the other list instead -- books with between 1,000 and 10,000 ratings.)

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message 36: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 16, 2010 06:36PM

Removed: Little, Big. Adding to other list.

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message 37: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 22, 2010 04:38PM

Removed for excessive ratings: The Gormenghast Novels.

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message 38: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 22, 2010 04:45PM

Removed for excessive ratings: The True Story of Hansel and Gretel.

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message 39: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 22, 2010 04:49PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Gateway.

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message 40: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jan 22, 2010 04:51PM

Removed for excessive ratings: Three Bags Full.

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message 41: by Jan C (new)

Feb 13, 2010 09:49PM

Rdbot (Reese) wrote: "Thom wrote: "Rdbot (Reese) wrote: "Oh, dear -- why did I allow myself to read the comments attached to this list? The O-C part of me refused to click a back or forward arrow. Having read messages ..."

Not to be picky but Tom Terrific was not about a cat. It was about a kid with a thinking cap and a lazy dog named Manfred. It started on Captain Kangaroo.

I admit I had to look it up on Wikipedia - I remembered the bit about the kid with the hat but not the dog.

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message 42: by Jan C (new)

Feb 14, 2010 09:39AM

Ahhhhhhhh, but TC was a classy trash-can kitty. He was one cool cat.

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message 43: by Lobstergirl (new)

Feb 28, 2010 09:41PM

Removed: 101 Dalmatians.

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message 44: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited May 21, 2010 03:55AM) (new)

Mar 01, 2010 02:21AM