7 Incredible Novels You’ve (Probably) Never Heard About
Here are a few of my favorite lesser-known novels that you won’t find on many bestseller lists:
Did you know Mark Twain was obsessed with the story of Joan of Arc? And did you also know he spent 12 years researching her life and wrote a novel about her? Pretty wild!
Twain regarded this as his best book, and it follows Joan's life from early youth until her death. I didn't know much about Joan of Arc's story before reading this book, and it helped me understand how inspiring and heroic she really was. Twain does a great job of putting you right into the action, watching Joan's life from the perspective of her page and secretary, Sieur Louis de Conté.
The storytelling mechanism used in this book makes it one of the most interesting novels I've ever read. As a little teaser, here's what Stephen King has to say about this book: "[The novel's] real screeching bombshell is neatly tucked away about one hundred pages into the story. If you should happen upon this moment while thumbing randomly through the book, it means nothing to you. If you have read everything faithfully up to that point, it means...everything."
Ira Levin also wrote classics like Rosemary's Baby, The Stepford Wives, and The Boys from Brazil. I've never been disappointed by any of his books. Check him out.
I went through a big YA phase years ago, and this was one of my favorites that I stumbled upon. Bodeen has written a number of YA novels, but this is my favorite. It follows a boy named Eli, who's lived underground for the past six years. His family is sheltered avoiding some unknown horrible thing, but you're left unaware of what that is for the majority of the book.
I won't say much more about The Compound because it's the type of book that's best approached blind, but I think you'll enjoy this fast-paced read.
You're probably familiar with the movie starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlet Johannson, and Michael Caine. But I'm guessing you're not familiar with the book. The book is worth the time. As with most book/movie duos, the story is a bit different yet both are fulfilling in their own way.
If you're a fan of the movie, a lover of magic, or simply a connoisseur of fiction, you'll enjoy this book. It's a battle between dueling magicians who fight for supremacy in 1800s England.
The Street is likely the best-selling novel on this list (and for good reason). But it was published back in 1946, so very few of my bookish friends seem to have heard of it. Maybe you haven't either. If so, you're in for a treat.
Petry offers a view into the experience of a poor, Black, single mom trying to make her way in Harlem. The story is simultaneously poignant yet page-turning, gritty yet beautiful, and depressing yet somehow still hopeful. The Street was the first novel by an African-American woman to sell over one million copies. Shout-out to my brother Trevor for recommending this book.
Alan Glynn's 2001 book The Dark Fields was turned into a 2011 movie called Limitless. Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro star in the film, and it ends VERY differently than the book. (Actually, the two endings are the biggest book/movie difference I can ever remember seeing.)
If you're unfamiliar with the story, copywriter Eddie Spinola starts taking an experimental drug called MDT-48 that turns him into a cerebral superhero. His brain is firing on all cylinders, and he begins making tons of money as a day trader. But then, Spinola realizes that MDT-48 may have a few dangerous quirks and addictive properties that propel him on a roller coaster for the rest of the story. I loved this book.
I feel weird including a Dostoevsky novella on this list, but it's another book I don't hear people talk about very often. Readers rightfully rave about Dostoevsky's books like Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and The Idiot. This one generally gets less fanfare, and it's a fascinating read because it's semi-biographical.
Dostoevsky struggled with a gambling addiction for years (roulette specifically), which informed his brilliant prose about the allure of the casino. Here's one example: "I’ve borrowed money and I wanted to repay it. I had the strange and mad idea that I should be sure to win here at the gambling table. Why I had the idea I can’t understand, but I believed in it."
What are some of your favorite lesser-known novels?
Let me know if there's anything I should check out!
