Rating the Underrated
Thank you for tuning in for another round of lists. This one again comes from BookRiot, being posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky. She shares the results of reader poll for underrated books from the 576 who decided to voice their opinion. Usually I find these findings rather dubious. Stanford and Gallup were not involved so how do we really know how legit the findings are? Since you are here take a look at the list. Any surprises? I am only familiar with a couple of the votes. Sigh, my illiteracy is showing again, I suppose.
Are These the 13 Most Underrated Books?
- I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (9 votes)
- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (6)
- Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (6)
- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (5)
- Stoner by John Williams (5)
- The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay (4)
- if on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino (4)
- Lamb by Christopher Moore (4)
- North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (4)
- Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov (4)
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (4)
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman (4)
- The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (4)
I adored The Phantom Tollbooth in elementary school, grooved on The Princess Bride in college, and skipped The Neverending Story, both the book and the movie. Nothing else on the list rings a bell. I’m not seeing how Tollbooth or Princess Bride could be underrated since both became film adaptations.
Anyone read any of these? Are they underrated?
Check out other Riot polls:
The 25 Most-Hated Books (by Book Riot Readers)
19 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read FOREVER
20 Books You Pretend to Have Read
Top 10 Books You’re Embarrassed to Admit You’ve Read
20 Most-Loved Literary Characters
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Pam Webb 
Yeah, I feel my book is underrated as well. 🙂
Some of these books are for SURE underrated! I Capture the Castle was lovely, Shantaram is an incredible journey, The Shadow of the Wind is incredible and I am OBSESSED with North and South. Gaskell is a fantastic Victorian writer.
I’m only familiar with Gaskell. Sigh–my TBR gets longer and longer.
I read then underrated Shadow of the Wind but the lack of Calvino love around the world is just criminal!!! Also The phantom Tollbooth I hadn’t heard of until a year or so ago, glad I read it now, it was pretty good.
I need to revisit it. A definite childhood fave.