10 books by authors with a pen name or pseudonym

Middlemarch

by George Eliot

Eliot's hefty masterpiece combines her "study of provincial life" with a close look at several young couples who fall (or think they fall) in love. Who will find lasting happiness, and who won't, and why? By focusing on the narrow disappointments and particular joys of this small community, Eliot cuts to the heart of human nature. A novel about love, happiness, and second chances.

Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Bronte

This groundbreaking classic is a gothic romance, mystery, and psychological thriller all rolled into one; its themes were astonishingly modern for 1847. If you never read it in high school, give it a try now. You’ll be kicking yourself for not reading it decades sooner. Those who have read it will spot its influence everywhere. We follow Jane Eyre from childhood to adulthood as she learns to speak up for herself and makes bold choices.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

by Maya Angelou

In the first of her six autobiographies, Angelou tells the haunting story of her childhood in the American South of the 1930s. Her poetic prose is incredible, and the story is by turns heartwarming ("I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare") and utterly heartbreaking. Angelou's lilting voice brings her powerful, touching story to life in the audiobook.

My Brilliant Friend (Neapolitan Novels Book 1)

by Elena Ferrante

This is the first installment of Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet, which revolves around the friendship between Elena and Lila. This book begins when the girls are in first grade and carries them through adolescence. I picked this up from my local bookstore's blind date with a book shelf: the bookseller had described it as "a masterpiece you probably haven’t read yet. (Three and a half years later, booksellers can no longer say that with confidence!) Originally written in Italian and beautifully translated by Ann Goldstein. (Hot tip: I LOVED this series on audio.)

My Not So Perfect Life

by Sophie Kinsella

People called this “A sparkling, witty novel about social media and the stories we tell ourselves." Jojo Moyes said, "Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter. I loved it."

Into the Drowning Deep

by Mira Grant

As a confirmed scaredy-cat I was afraid to pick up this sci-fi/horror novel, but a couple of readers I trust told me I could probably handle it. They were right. Here's the deal: Mermaids are real, but they are not like Ariel. Some researchers believe this with their whole heart and have made studying these mermaids, or sirens, their life's work. Others are deeply skeptical, but regardless what camp they're in, a huge swath of the scientific community isabout to set sail on another voyage to the Mariana Trench, a follow-up to a voyage seven years earlier ended in tragedy with everyone on board lost at sea. No one is exactly sure why; skeptics called the whole thing a hoax. Both the siren skeptics and the true believers are about to discover mermaids are very real—and it will be a miracle if anyone gets out of there alive.

While Justice Sleeps

by Stacey Abrams

Knives Out meets The Pelican Brief in this page-turning political thriller. When Supreme Court Justice Howard Winn falls into a coma, his law clerk Avery Keene is stunned to learn he named her as the legal guardian tasked with handling his affairs. His angry family, fearful that she now may wield the Judge’s decisive swing vote, swiftly moves to strip her of her power. But Avery is determined to do her duty—and soon discovers a secret message from the Judge urging her to continue the dangerous secret investigation he began before falling ill. Relying on her eidetic memory and strong chess game to decode the Judge’s clues, Avery races to stay one step ahead of her pursuers and get to the bottom of a global conspiracy before it’s too late. A puzzle-like, propulsive read.

Becoming Duchess Goldblatt

When I had no idea what to listen to next after finishing my current read, I popped over to our What Should I Read Next Patreon community and asked for recommendations... which led me to this book, which had been halfheartedly lingering on my TBR for a while. I had been under the mistaken impression it was a comedy work, but nope, that was completely wrong. I plunged in, as advised, knowing little but definitely intrigued by the inclusion of Lyle Lovett as a narrator. (All I will say is: he plays himself.) Forgive me if you already know this, but this is a memoir, written by an anonymous author, who explains how and why she came to operate the pseudonymous Twitter account @DuchessGoldblat. I LOVED it.

All About Love

by bell hooks

Author and social activist bell hooks was born Gloria Jean Watkins. Her pen name is her great-grandmother’s name and she used lowercase letters to honor her great-grandmother, whom she greatly admired, and to show that the work itself mattered more than the person who wrote it. In All About Love, she examines how our understanding about love often falls short. She invites readers to consider a different kind of love that lends itself to compassion, forgiveness, and peace in our personal and professional lives and in our communities and beyond.

All Creatures Great and Small

by James Herriot

The first in Herriot's autobiographical series about life as a country vet in Northern England. When Herriot lands a position with an eccentric owner of an existing veterinary practice at the tender age of 23, he learns to treat the animals that popular Yorkshire farms—which also involves a good bit of care for their colorful owners. A delightful collection that's easy to read one short story at a time.

10 books by authors with a pen name or pseudonym

Buckle Up!

summer reading starts May 16th