5 Literary Hidden Gems: These Unknown Classics Deserve More Love!

[@cafeaulivre]

Did you know any of these books? Which would be your 'hidden gem'? let me know down below and we'll talk forgotten classics some more!

[@starlasell5698]

I haven't heard of any of these, but they sound very interesting. It's not a classic. It's a 1995 book, but you mentioned a Russian book, and this came to mind. I enjoyed Dreams of My Russian Summers by Andrei Makine.

[@aiscahill]

You’re always an excellent source for classics, Bart! I genuinely haven’t heard of any of these books before now ☺️

[@cafeaulivre]

Oh, the things I delve up from the unknown depths of my bookshelves 🤣

[@jjcabello1]

You are my source! I don’t know these and can’t wait to get started! I have so many recs from you. Thank you!!

[@cafeaulivre]

My pleasure and if you have any recs for me, I'll happily take them :D

[@patriciadeane7250]

Thank you from Canada for these five recommendations! Love your enthusiasm!

[@cafeaulivre]

Thank you for watching!

[@michaelmccarty]

Great suggestions, thank you! I am especially intrigued by The Home-maker and The Evenings.

[@cafeaulivre]

I enjoyed both of them very much!

[@shisharma]

Thankyou for expanding my list i wasn't aware of these , indeed very unique and interesting recommendations as always. Today is my birthday i was having a bad day and you posted ❤ .

[@cafeaulivre]

Happy birthday!!! Try to enjoy it and I’m happy I could at least bring some joy 🤩

[@stevenpace1849]

Happy Birthday. Enjoy your day and burry yourself in a page turner.

[@mildrumpus]

Happy Reading! 😎📚👍

[@cafeaulivre]

Thank you, you too! 😊

[@Nina_DP]

I have heard of The Homemaker and The Leopard has been on my TBR for about a year. But, the other three? Never heard of them! Great video.

[@cafeaulivre]

Thank you! I download showcasing the lesser known ones 😊

[@michaeldornan7737]

That was an absolutely brilliant video. Thanks so much. I have seen the Ionesco play (and you should read Ionesco's only novel Le Solitaire, which could well be on your list) and have seen the film il Gattopardo and have The Evenings sitting in my kindle waiting to be read in English. I can think of one very recent book from my home city, which should not be missed and that is Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. Another brilliant classic from my country is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. Have just read it and adored it from beginning to end. Looking forward to your next video.

[@cafeaulivre]

I have never seen the Gattopardo-movie, nor have I read your recommendations. I guess I know what to do then! 😋

[@monicai.3034]

Great recommendations! I have Il Gattopardo by G.T. Di Lampedusa in my library, bought last year in a very nice new hardcover edition. This year tbr. 🤞🤞 I am proud to mention that Eugen Ionescu (later Eugène Ionesco) is originally from Romania, my country. I've noted The Bald Soprano, wow, it was his first play. Thank you! I've just discovered that Hubert Lampo was translated into Romanian, I also noted the book. Although I found an old edition, it's fine. The other recommended books are not translated here but it's fine also in English. Thanks again! 🥰

[@cafeaulivre]

I didn’t even know Lampo had been translated into Romanian. That’s quite a feat for a Belgian author!

[@monicai.3034]

@@cafeaulivre I found two translated into Romanian, the one you recommended and De madonna van Nedermunster. Yay! 😃

[@KindomChums]

I was for certain I would have read at least three of the titles.. I was wrong - Great Vid Mate

[@cafeaulivre]

Thanks for watching!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Heard of the Leopard but not the others. Thanks for the tips. The never shrinking tbr! Best wishes.

[@cafeaulivre]

If it's any consolation: I'm getting even more tips in return, so my tbr has grown exponentially again already :D

[@zetectic7968]

Known about the Leopard for a long time & it is still TBR. Visconti made a film in the 1960's starring Burt Lancaster but I haven't seen it either.

[@cafeaulivre]

Never saw the film I think

[@obedirwa9814]

Thank you for the insight...

[@cafeaulivre]

My pleasure

[@janeturner9064]

I have heard about The Homemaker although I haven't yet read it: I'll definitely look out for it now.

[@cafeaulivre]

It has some great tips to keep your floors clean 🤣

[@marcellaandherbooks8733]

I read The Home-maker a few years ago and loved it! Also, this is the first time I ever heard someone talk about De Avonden in a way that actually makes me want to read it.

[@cafeaulivre]

The problem with books like De Avonden is that it often has that required reading stamp on it. I didn’t enjoy it when I was 16 and had to read it, I did learn to appreciate it when I was older though

[@galanig4072]

I have never heard about any of them! Now I especially really want to read the first two as they're right up my alley, but with the way how enthusiastically you describe each of these 5 books, I want to read them all actually 😄 Thank you very much for these amazing recommendations! ☺️💞 Edit: grammar... 🤦

[@cafeaulivre]

Thank you for watching! 😊

[@giovanni95922]

The Leopard was written by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, not Giuseppe. It is like saying that Hamlet was by William..😊

[@susanneill7142]

Thanks Cafe!! I’ve heard of some of these but not all. And I’ve read The Leopard! Twice! It’s one of my favs too! I even wrote a short paper on it in grad school! Your enthusiasm for it makes me want to read it again. I love Don Frabrizio, who as you said is losing his aristocratic way of life but understands why. I also love di Lampedusa’s ironic style. The others on your list will go on my list!! Thanks again! 😊

[@cafeaulivre]

That must have been quite the paper 💪

[@VTimmoni]

Thank you. I was not familiar with any of these. That genuinely surprised me. Thank you.

[@cafeaulivre]

See…it wasn’t just clickbait 🤣

[@Daria-4215]

These books are absolutely new for me, and all five sound great, thank you. I am not sure if I can call the books by R C Sherriff the hidden gems, but I found three of them about a year ago and now he is one of my favourite authors.

[@cafeaulivre]

I havn’t read anything by Sherriff yet, so color me intrigued 😋

[@bbbartolo]

New here. As a Dutchman, have you commented on Louis Paul Boon novels? Enjoyed the Termuren and Chapel Road books several years ago but never compared notes with anyone, least of all a native speaker/litterateur

[@cafeaulivre]

Big fan of Chapel Road/Kapellekesbaan myself, been a while since I (re)read it

[@tlam3309]

Il Gattopardo is taught at the Australian University at which I work.

[@cafeaulivre]

Oh wow, you don’t see that often 👍

[@barbaraboethling596]

Thanks for the reading ideas! I've only read The Leopard, and really enjoyed experiencing a time and place that has had less written about it than many others! I like reading less usual books than the typical bestsellers.

[@cafeaulivre]

Then you are in the right place, because I like recommending the unusual ones 😉

[@lizzy-wx4rx]

Have not read any of these, but thought the first author sounded very familiar--she's the same woman who brought Montessori to the US!! What an amazing individual!

[@cafeaulivre]

She is indeed! Way ahead of her time, she was!

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

I found your channel in the most unusual fashion. I was looking up names for a bookshop and thought of 'cafe au livre'.....now we're here and you just described 'the leopard' exactly as I see it. It is possible that parts of our brain are made of the same stuff

[@cafeaulivre]

And by that you mean ‘good taste’ ? 😋

[@vickya8653]

These sound interesting. Unfortunately my library hasn’t heard of them either 😂. Looks like I’ll be spending some money. Especially want to read The Homemaker. On another note…I’m on a holiday in Japan at the moment. Picked up a book called The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. It’s purported to be the first ever novel from around 10th century. That was intriguing enough for me to give it a try.

[@cafeaulivre]

I know the title, but I havn’t read it. Let me know your thoughts on it!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Great video. Thanks for the recommendations. I remember the movie Il Gattopardo; didn't know it was based on a book. I'll be checking it out.

[@cafeaulivre]

Thank you! I have never seen the movie actually. Is it any good?

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

@@cafeaulivre Unfortunately, I can't say. I'm not much of a cinephile. My girlfriend made me watch it with her. Also, I didn't love The Bald Soprano, so we might not have the same sensibilities. But I love the enthusiasm you bring to your videos! I'm a new subscriber because of that. Keep up the great work.

[@uniuser2003]

I had the leopard in my tbr for some time now. Another forgotten classic is journey through moonlight so brilliant!

[@cafeaulivre]

I havn’t read that one…I’ll have to look into that one, thank you!

[@uniuser2003]

Just checked it's actually called Journey By Moonlight by Antal Szerb. It's wonderful I think you would love it!!!

[@cafeaulivre]

Thank you for the recommendation 😊

[@tracythomas132]

Going to source a second hand copy of The Leopard. Disappointed it’s only available in German and Italian on Audible though.

[@cafeaulivre]

Havn’t tried it as an audiobook actually