10 Most Criminally Underrated Books

1 of 10

Letters to Felice, Franz Kafka

Kafka was a total stalker. His missives here are riveting and inadvertently hilarious.

2 of 10

Happy All the Time, Laurie Colwin

In this Manhattan comedy of manners, Colwin wrings magic from ordinary lives.

3 of 10

The Patrick Melrose Novels, Edward St. Aubyn

Sharply serrated portraits of dysfunction in an aristocratic British family so depraved, they make the Lannisters look like the Brady Bunch.

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4 of 10

Revolution in the Head, Ian MacDonald

An off-the-charts brilliant book that deconstructs the Beatles song by song.

5 of 10

Catherwood, Marly Youmans

A heart-stopping novel about a mother lost in the woods with her 1-year-old. It's insanity that no one's made a movie out of this.

6 of 10

Actual Air, David Berman

He's an indie musician — frontman for the Silver Jews — and an indie poet, too, with offbeat verse that snaps and sparks with life.

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7 of 10

Pobby and Dingan, Ben Rice

A seriously moving novel about an Australian girl who can't find her imaginary friends.

8 of 10

Winner of the National Book Award, Jincy Willett

All of Willett's novels are sardonic and bitingly funny, but this one — about twin sisters, relationships, and books — is the best.

9 of 10

The Interrogative Mood, Padgett Powell

Why is every sentence in this odd little book a question? And how did Powell make it a genuinely great read?

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10 of 10

Marbles, Ellen Forney

This graphic memoir — a chronicle of Forney's bipolar disorder — vividly explores the line between creativity and mental illness.

Replay gallery

10 Most Criminally Underrated Books

1 of 10

Letters to Felice, Franz Kafka

1 of 10

2 of 10

Happy All the Time, Laurie Colwin

2 of 10

3 of 10

The Patrick Melrose Novels, Edward St. Aubyn

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Revolution in the Head, Ian MacDonald

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5 of 10

Catherwood, Marly Youmans

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6 of 10

Actual Air, David Berman

6 of 10

7 of 10

Pobby and Dingan, Ben Rice

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8 of 10

Winner of the National Book Award, Jincy Willett

8 of 10

9 of 10

The Interrogative Mood, Padgett Powell

9 of 10

10 of 10

Marbles, Ellen Forney

10 of 10

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Everything in This Slideshow

Account

10 Most Criminally Underrated Books

1 of 10

Letters to Felice, Franz Kafka

1 of 10

2 of 10

Happy All the Time, Laurie Colwin

2 of 10

3 of 10

The Patrick Melrose Novels, Edward St. Aubyn

3 of 10

4 of 10

Revolution in the Head, Ian MacDonald

4 of 10

5 of 10

Catherwood, Marly Youmans

5 of 10

6 of 10

Actual Air, David Berman

6 of 10

7 of 10

Pobby and Dingan, Ben Rice

7 of 10

8 of 10

Winner of the National Book Award, Jincy Willett

8 of 10

9 of 10

The Interrogative Mood, Padgett Powell

9 of 10

10 of 10

Marbles, Ellen Forney

10 of 10

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