The “Shopaholic” trilogy by Sophie Kinsella.
Margaret Cockrell? I’ve had two copies, because I gave one to a little girl who was visiting neighbors, and then I had to buy another.
My most obscure book is The Book of Ebenezer le Page by G.B. Edwards, but it got some attention the last time it was reprinted so there are probably quite a few Dopers who’ve read it.
I have never found anyone else who read Vonnegut’s Galapagos- a hilarious book, but not often heard of. Our big brains just reject it or something.
Yes, I read The first Chronicles of Thomas Covenant last year. When I first got into adult high fantasy, that was one of the most frequently recommended series. Brilliant concept, outstanding writing, unforgettable characters. Easily makes my list of the five best high fantasy series of all times.
Rare books I have known: The High House and The False House, by James Stoddard. Most people run screaming from the room when you mention the words “Christian fantasy”, but these books are actually quite good. Lots of lavish descriptions, plenty of action, very intriguing setting in a magical Victorian mansion that contains entire worlds.
The Prophecy Machine and The Treachery of Kings, by Neil Barrett, Jr. Dark comic fantasy involving magic talking animals, insane religious cults, balloons, weird technology, mechanical lizards, walking dead, time travel, sex, conspiracies, etc…
I just read the first one - and want to read the others. I thought it was very funny.
I’ve read High House! But, well, I don’t remember much about it except for the bobby and the eeeevil anarchists. That probably isn’t a good sign! 
Julie
I read that book twice in my high school days. One heck of a strong book and relevant even today.
Let’s go for an obscure fantasy book with a (*gasp) strong female lead character titled Silverglass by JF Rivkin.
I’ve read it (several times). Presents an interesting theory about our big brains. I’m not quite sure the Vonnegut wasn’t correct.
Also read Thomas Covenant, first when it came out then again about 4 years ago. Very apt comment that they were horribly written yet somehow compelling.
As for my contribution(s):
The Circus of Dr. Lao by some guy whose name I can’t remember at the moment.
My Three Years with Eisenhower by Commander Harry Butcher.
Red Star Over China by Edgar Snow.
Good stuff, all three.
As far as books I’ve really liked and I’ve found it a shame that no one else seems to have read are the Snow Queen books by Joan Vinge.
Actually, on the Snow Queen and the Summer Queen, the middle book, World’s End isn’t very good and is entirely recapped in the first part of The Summer Queen.
I have. Watching holocaust survivors evolve, isn’t that what it’s about? End o’ the world books depress me to no end.
I was pretty well convinced I was the only person to have ever heard of Last Stand of the DNA Cowboys by Mick Farren, but when I asked about the first three at a SF store in Toronto, the clerk said “By Mick Farren?” before I finished the name. Anyone else heard of him?
Based on the reaction here…
I must be hanging out with shlubs.
I read and enjoyed The Magus.
No one I know has read P. N. Elrond’s Jonathon Barrett, Gentleman Vampire books.
Another one for Galapagos. Not my favorite Vonnegut, but decent nonetheless.
There’s a book called Those About To Die that I haven’t been able to find outside of my old high school library. It’s an interesting book about the Roman colosseum.
If it’s the Jack Finney book, I read it a long time ago and you’re right, it’s great.
Well, we haven’t met in the formal sense but I’ve read it several times.
I’ve read The Mirror of Her Dreams and hated the protagonist so much that I was hoping she’d magically come to life so that I might slap her until my hands bled. I’ve never read another Donaldson book and I never will.
I own (and have read) almost every one of Ms. Lee’s books and anthologies, including this one. I haven’t kept up with her works since about 5 years ago, though. Too busy.
By Marian Cockrell; first read it in grade school and still have that copy.
I’ve read all his other books prior to Blameless in Abaddon but still haven’t moved it to the will-read-during-Spring-Break pile.
Bought when it was first published. My best friend and I spent an entire summer bullying others into reading it, just as we had done with God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell.
I’d love to find that others have read Ou Lu Khen and the Beautiful Madwoman by Jessica Amanda Salmonson (or any of her other books, for that matter.) Another book I often promote is Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury. How can you not love a book whose second paragraph begins:
“An old man, Tae had been skinned and then marinated and stuffed with insect flavored bread before his body was spit-roasted.”
I’ve read Vinge’s The Snow Queen books, loved them, and recommended them widely.
I have never met anyone else who read Zilpha Keatley Snyder’s Green-Sky trilogy (Below the Root, And All Between, and Until the Celebration).
I have. I used to have an autographed copy of The Velvet Room from when she visited my grade school. No idea where it is now, though.