Books you've read and loved that we probably haven't heard of

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Semi-inspired by the best/worst book threads that are going at the moment - I've seen the names of several bestsellers mentioned a lot, but I was wondering whether anyone has any books that they've really enjoyed that aren't as (or at all) well-known. I'd be interested in recommendations for anything I wouldn't otherwise have heard of, and plus it's always nice to see good authors getting a bit more recognition.

One I can think of off the top of my head is The Flight of Lucy Spoon, by Maggie Gibson - I picked up a second-hand copy for free somewhere expecting generic chick lit, and was surprised to find it was genuinely hilarious in a very British-feeling, tongue-in-cheek-silly way (even though it's Irish). It was just a very likeable book, full of oddities that were actually original and heartwarming rather than self-consciously 'look at me I'm so quirky' in that way that all those Ladies' Blah Blah Society books are.

I also loved Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede - I must have read it when I was about ten, but a glance through the Amazon preview suggests that I'd probably still love it now. I've forgotten the exact story but the basic premise is a tomboyish princess who escapes an arranged marriage by running away to live with dragons - it's another very funny and well-written book that's not centred around romance, with a clever and independent heroine who has to spend half her time convincing knights in shining armour to leave her alone and stop trying to 'rescue' her I really want to read it again now actually, I might have to buy it!

If anyone has any recommendations of their own to contribute then I'd love to hear them...

I love this thread I don't get to talk a lot about books in real life so I am sort of devouring this thread!

Thanks magimedi and AliceLidl - I'm going to leave it here for a bit so people see it, then ask for it to be moved when it dies.

I was going to mention The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden as no-one I know in real life has read it (unless I've forced them to!), although Google suggests it's better known than I realised, and someone else mentioned it on the 'books by female authors' thread. Anyway it's a beautifully told coming-of-age story that perfectly captures the feeling of being right on the cusp of adulthood, and IMO it's one of those rare books that you can enjoy in different ways at different stages in life (it gets sadder as you get older though!) It's also one of the most evocative books I've read, full of rich description that's never tedious or annoying.

The Book of Ebenezer le Page by G B Edwards. Read it years ago, and it's wonderful. Must get round to re-reading it :)

I post regularly in the Adult Fiction section and, whilst it isn't as busy as Chat, it does get lots of people posting on there. OP - getting your thread moved over there wouldn't mean it would disappear - it might get even more people posting about books over there :)

I've spent a fortune today, buying over 20 books so far off this list. I don't even like horses, so why have I forked out 13 for a copy of Talking Of Horses? A Fine And Private Place and Of Bees And Mist look particularly good too.

I'll have to buy a new bookcase!

haven't read the thread but heres a few ive enjoyed (fantasy type!)

Suzanne McLeod - spellcrackers series first book is â??sweet scent of blood'

kelley Armstrong - women of the otherworld â??bitten' is the 1st book

Keri Arthur - Riley jenson series 'full moon rising' is 1st book.

Cassandra Clare - mortal instruments series (maybe more popular as theres a film released) city of bones is 1st book

Isaac Marion - warm bodies (loved the book well worth a read but don't bother with the film!)

So many books, so little time...
I too love Ben Aaronovitch, also Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series. And Kelley Armstrong's non- fantasy trilogy which begins with Exit Strategy. I also like Sue Gee's writing - some are very sad though - be warned.

Yy The Duncton Trilogy is brilliant, I started reading them at 13 and have still got them all. Beautifully written and worth a read.

There are six duncton books all in all. 2 sets of trilogies

I like Notebooks of a Naked Youth by Billy Childish.

It's really well written and absolutely hilarious. I think it might be an acquired taste though, my mother hates it and thinks it's drivel.

So many fantastic books to look up and order! thank you!

Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee. I read it recently, got totally caught up in it and only wished I had read it as a teenager for full effect.

Thought of another favourite- the women's room by Marilyn French. This probably isn't that unknown if you're more up to speed with feminist literature, but I had never heard of it before I read it. It's a cracking piece of literature about one woman's struggle through marital oppression in the 50s and supposed "freedom" in the 60s. It manages to be both a page turner and a heavyweight piece of literature at the same time. Really opened my eyes to how far women have come in such a short time.

The Hunter by Julia Leigh. A beautiful little gem of a book (well, it's more of a novella). Read it in one sitting.

Dusty Answer- Rosamund Lehman
Henrietta's House- Elizabeth Goudge
The Girl of the Limberlost
The Little Grey Men
Daddy Long Legs
Thimble Summer

Ohhh loving this thread. So happy to find Betty MacDonald on here [leans on Stratters] though my favourite is The Plague and I. Also love Between Silk and Cyanide, duplo, and it amazes me that more people haven't heard of it despite so many people enjoying WWII books. Also adore Laurie Graham, my favourite is The Future Homemakers Of America, her style is so individual and so readable.

Not exactly obscure as it was a best seller in its time, but deserves to be regularly rediscovered - The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers. Very weird in some ways and very nationalistic, but the first couple of chapters are so funny and it's a great thriller. It is odd to have the only female character this kind of blank innocent space though.

And again, not really obscure at all but seems to have become less read in recent years - Period Piece by Gwen Raverat - the antidote to The Riddle of the Sands as it is such a funny, warm, real introduction to a Victorian/Edwardian mind.

I want to second Betty McDonald: The Egg and I and The Plague and I especially, not fiction but very funny autobiographical stuff.

Anything by Peter Tinniswood

The Deptford Trilogy and Cornish Trilogy by Robertson Davies.

Ooh, what a GREAT thread! I haven't read all the way through yet, but will certainly be putting in an order with Amazon this evening......!

Rocket City by Cathryn Alpert

The Mattagash novels by Cathie Pelletier - The Funeral Makers is the funniest, The Weight of Winter also brilliant but with a sadder, more haunting undertone.

The 100 year old man who climbed out of a window and disappeared. An amazing book that I bought on kindle when it was 20p!couldn't put it down!

Shes come undone by Wally Lamb love this book have read many times. Very sad and funny.

How wonderful to see other fans of the Duncton trilogies. Moved me to tears on occasion and made me think a lot about the place of organised religion in society.

Also loved The Women's Room.

I can offer
The Sisters Brothers for comedy value and
Peter V Brett- The Painted Man series and Brandon Sanderson- The Stormlight Archives beginning with The Way of Kings. Both fantasy, both as yet unfinished but so compelling.

Oh yes, The Egg and I, and all of Betty McDonald's books.

And The Greengage Summer - one of my favourite books of all time. Also other Rumer Godden books - An Episode of Sparrows and Coromandel Sea Change.

And anything by Monica Dickens.

And Martha Quest, by Doris Lessing.

Eva, by Meyer Levin.

Disobedience by Naomi Alderman,

Oh my word! I'd completely forgotten Peter Tinniswood. I loved these and and going to hunt them down and read them in order.