One of the oft-asked questions in
the literary community is about novels that do not have the halo of The Greats,
but should.
There are many, and despite the
notion that a great novel would have deep but also universal appeal, in the end
it is a personal connection that makes it one of the books that transformed
you.
Today, I pick one that most would
classify as a novella.
THE
ALL OF IT by Jeannette Haien is one such story for me. I wouldn’t have
known about it were it not for a local book store’s clerk’s recommendation.
When she recommended this book, even her colleague, standing nearby, raised his
eyebrows and admitted he hadn’t heard of it. I suspect I bought it because at
the time my life was hectic and the book appeared short.
It was one of those pivotal moments in my reading life. This
novella changed the way I think, which is something books have the power to,
but rarely do.
I am not saying *you* should read it. But everyone has this
sort of book in their bookbag, and this is one of mine. Obviously, there are many
universally recognized GREATS that I carry with me. But this is one of the lesser-known
treasures, and all the more precious for having come into my sphere with little
attention from the usual sources.
Feel free to share underrated books that, for you, were
transformative.
