Everyone loves a good book. No matter who we are or where we come from, words hold the universal power to inspire and move us.
Some authors have a special gift, weaving a spell of enchantment with their writing that captivates the entire nation (or even the world). But sadly, these amazing authors are often famous for only one or two of their stories, while many of their best works pass unnoticed. If you're looking for some lesser-known books that deserve more recognition than they receive, consider adding these five to your summer reading list (or anytime reading list!):
1. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
No doubt about it, New York Times bestselling author Stephenie Meyer is most widely known for her teen vampire romance books. However, the Twilight series pales in comparison (vampire pun intended) to Meyer’s adult science fiction novel The Host. The story centers around Wanderer, a parasitic but kind-hearted alien, and Melanie, the human whose body Wanderer inhabits. The story may sound a bit bizarre at first, but it is actually a sophisticated and incredibly poignant exploration of the complexity and beauty of being human. The Host garnered some attention when a film adaptation was released in 2013, but thanks to the movie’s flop, the book still lacks the recognition that it deserves. I’m still waiting for the day when it surpasses Twilight as the book that Meyer is remembered for for generations to come.
2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Afghani-born author Khaled Hosseini is known in high school classrooms across America for his breakout novel The Kite Runner, but fewer people know about his second book. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a sweeping saga of the lives of two women that encompasses more than fifty years of Afghanistan history. It is a story of love, loss, and family written with crystalline clarity and heart-wrenching honesty. If you appreciated Hosseini’s gift for writing in The Kite Runner—or if you’ve never heard of him in your life—you should pick up a copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns and a pack of tissues and prepare to be swept away.
3. The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Renowned romance author Nicholas Sparks is known for such tear-jerking, sappy love stories as The Notebook and A Walk to Remember. What many people don’t know is that he is also the author of a chillingly creepy mystery thriller. The Guardian interweaves Sparks’ signature knack for writing romance with a terrifying story of danger and obsession in a small town. It’s a page turner that will keep you riveted, dying to find out if the two star-crossed lovers end up together—and if they survive. It’s Sparks as you’ve never seen him before, and the new genre looks good on him.
4. Emma by Jane Austen
For those of us that love classics, we’re sure to love Jane Austen’s world-famous novels Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, but we may not be as familiar with Emma. It’s a charming, witty story of matchmaking and misadventures in love, filled with the delightful dialogue and lovable characters that Austen is known for. If you loved her most famous stories, then you’re sure to love Emma as well.
5. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo is one of today’s most well-loved children’s authors. She’s best known for Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, but she also wrote The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, a story of a porcelain rabbit who needs to learn how to love. It’s a children’s story by classification, but its story and themes are universal. Adults will appreciate both the striking characters and the powerful messages about how love and loss are two inextricable parts of human life.
