Here's a list of twenty underrated novels across various genres that are worth reading:
1. **"Stoner" by John Williams**: This novel follows the life of William Stoner, an unassuming professor, and explores themes of love, ambition, and the pursuit of meaning.
2. **"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson**: Set in the 1950s, this novel is a reflection on life, faith, and the complexities of human relationships, told through the perspective of an aging pastor.
3. **"The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón**: A captivating mystery set in post-war Barcelona, blending elements of romance, suspense, and historical fiction.
4. **"The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov**: A surreal and satirical novel that intertwines the story of the Devil visiting Moscow with that of Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ.
5. **"Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson**: Another novel by Marilynne Robinson, this hauntingly beautiful story explores the lives of two sisters and their unconventional upbringing.
6. **"The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood**: A multi-layered narrative that combines elements of mystery, romance, and science fiction, exploring the complexities of storytelling and memory.
7. **"The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell**: A thought-provoking science fiction novel that follows a Jesuit mission to a distant planet and delves into themes of faith, culture clash, and morality.
8. **"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt**: A dark and atmospheric novel set in an elite college, where a group of students becomes entangled in a murder plot with devastating consequences.
9. **"The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell**: A genre-defying epic that spans decades and continents, blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction in a mesmerizing narrative.
10. **"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak**: Narrated by Death, this novel tells the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany who steals books and finds solace in the power of words.
11. **"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro**: A dystopian novel that explores the ethics of cloning and the nature of humanity through the lives of three friends growing up in a secluded boarding school.
12. **"Beloved" by Toni Morrison**: A powerful and haunting exploration of slavery's legacy, told through the story of Sethe, a former slave haunted by the ghost of her daughter.
13. **"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern**: A mesmerizing tale of magic and romance set in a mysterious circus that appears without warning and is open only at night.
14. **"Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie**: This novel follows the lives of two Nigerians who leave their homeland for the West, exploring themes of race, identity, and belonging.
15. **"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz**: A vibrant and inventive novel that follows the life of an overweight Dominican geek and his family, blending elements of history, pop culture, and magical realism.
16. **"The Night Watch" by Sarah Waters**: Set in London during and after World War II, this novel explores the lives of four interconnected characters, each grappling with secrets and desires.
17. **"The Sense of an Ending" by Julian Barnes**: A meditative exploration of memory, regret, and the passage of time, centered around a man reflecting on his past in light of new revelations.
18. **"The Golem and the Jinni" by Helene Wecker**: A magical realist novel set in turn-of-the-century New York City, where a golem and a jinni navigate the complexities of immigrant life.
19. **"Atonement" by Ian McEwan**: A sweeping novel that explores the consequences of a young girl's false accusation and its ripple effects on the lives of those involved.
20. **"The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters**: A chilling ghost story set in post-war England, where a country doctor becomes entangled with a troubled aristocratic family.
These novels offer rich storytelling, diverse perspectives, and thought-provoking themes that make them deserving of a spot on your reading list.
