Underrated Writers

Poppy Z. Brite

Nominated by Ron Hogan, who says, "She's been getting some fabulous recognition for her last two novels, Liquor and Prime, but she deserves to be bigger, and if you aren't reading those books, well, run right down to the bookstore."

More about Poppy Z. Brite
+  The Poppy Z. Brite Official Site
+  Brite's titles at Powell's
+  Poppy Z. Brite's Wikipedia entry
+  Bookslut's interview with Brite
+  Brite's group listings at Yahoo!

Lydia Millet

This author, and only one other, is doubly recommended by Mark Sarvas and Ron Hogan. Sarvas calls her "ambitious, smart and witty." Hogan recognizes that the terrific reviews her novel, Oh Pure and Radiant Heart, received might make the "underrated" label "not entirely accurate," but recommends her anyway, because "she's not as famous as she ought to be." This novel is Millett's fourth. Her others include the irresistibly titled George Bush, Dark Prince of Love: A Presidential Romance and Everyone's Pretty.

More about Lydia Millet
+  Soft Skull Press's page for OPaRH, includes an excerpt from the novel
+  Sarvas's 3-Minute Interview with Millet
+  PopMatters review of OPaRH