### Joan Didion

- Best Known Work:

- Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968) – A seminal collection of essays capturing the spirit of the 1960s, particularly in California.

- The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) – A powerful memoir about grief and the death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne.

- Underrated/Underdiscovered Work:

- Play It As It Lays (1970) – A novel that offers a bleak but compelling portrait of Hollywood and existential despair.

- Salvador (1983) – A sharp and harrowing account of her time in El Salvador during the civil war, often overlooked in favor of her more famous works.

- Similar Authors:

- Eve Babitz – Particularly for her reflections on Los Angeles and its culture.

- Susan Sontag – For her essays on culture and art.

- Renata Adler – For her blend of fiction and journalism with a similar analytical style.

### Rainer Maria Rilke

- Best Known Work:

- Letters to a Young Poet (1929) – A collection of letters offering profound advice on life, love, and art.

- Duino Elegies (1923) – A deeply philosophical and spiritual collection of poems exploring human existence.

- Underrated/Underdiscovered Work:

- The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (1910) – A semi-autobiographical novel that delves into themes of existential dread and the search for meaning.

- Sonnets to Orpheus (1923) – Often overshadowed by the Duino Elegies, these poems are rich with imagery and reflection on art and creation.

- Similar Authors:

- Ralph Waldo Emerson – For his philosophical and spiritual writings.

- Hermann Hesse – Especially Siddhartha, for its exploration of the self and spirituality.

- Paul Celan – For poetry that explores similar themes of existence and the human condition.

### Patti Smith

- Best Known Work:

- Just Kids (2010) – A memoir about her early life and friendship with the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

- Horses (1975) – While not a book, this album is a cornerstone of her literary-musical career.

- Underrated/Underdiscovered Work:

- M Train (2015) – A meditative work blending memoir and cultural commentary, which many find even more poetic and introspective than Just Kids.

- Woolgathering (1992) – A collection of lyrical prose pieces that offer glimpses into her childhood and inner life.

- Similar Authors:

- Lydia Lunch – For a similarly raw and poetic approach to writing.

- Sam Shepard – Especially his plays and writings, which share Smith's rebellious spirit.

- Jim Carroll – Particularly The Basketball Diaries, for its raw portrayal of life in New York.

### Deborah Levy

- Best Known Work:

- The Cost of Living (2018) – A memoir that explores Levy's life post-divorce, focusing on identity and independence.

- Swimming Home (2011) – A novel that was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, exploring mental health and family dynamics.

- Underrated/Underdiscovered Work:

- Things I Don’t Want to Know (2013) – A reflection on writing and the challenges of being a woman in a patriarchal society, often considered a quieter but profound companion to The Cost of Living.

- Black Vodka (2013) – A collection of short stories that often gets overshadowed by her longer works but showcases her ability to write tightly constructed, emotionally resonant narratives.

- Similar Authors:

- Ali Smith – For her experimental prose and exploration of identity.

- Rachel Cusk – Particularly her Outline trilogy, for its deep exploration of self and relationships.

- Jenny Offill – For her fragmentary, yet deeply emotional, narrative style.

### Maria Popova

- Best Known Work:

- Figuring (2019) – A sprawling exploration of the lives of several historical figures, blending biography, philosophy, and art.

- Brain Pickings (now The Marginalian) – While not a book, her blog is widely known for its insightful essays connecting various works of literature, science, and art.

- Underrated/Underdiscovered Work:

- A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader (2018, co-edited with Claudia Bedrick) – A collection of letters and illustrations by famous authors and artists, offering insights into the joy of reading, often overlooked but a beautiful companion to her longer works.

- Similar Authors:

- Rebecca Solnit – For her ability to blend history, philosophy, and personal narrative.

- Anne Lamott – Especially Bird by Bird, for a similarly reflective and encouraging tone.

- Maggie Nelson – Particularly The Argonauts, for its mix of memoir and intellectual exploration.

### Mary Oliver

- Best Known Work:

- New and Selected Poems (1992) – A collection of her most beloved poems, showcasing her connection to nature and the simplicity of everyday life.

- A Thousand Mornings (2012) – A later collection that continues her exploration of the natural world with clarity and grace.

- Underrated/Underdiscovered Work:

- Long Life: Essays and Other Writings (2004) – A lesser-known collection of essays and reflections that offer insight into her poetic process and philosophy.

- Blue Horses (2014) – A later poetry collection that is often overshadowed by her earlier works but contains some of her most introspective and tender poetry.

- Similar Authors:

- Wendell Berry – For his poems and essays that similarly celebrate nature and rural life.

- Maxine Kumin – Another poet who writes with clarity and grace about nature and the human condition.

- Jane Kenyon – For her simple yet profound observations of life, similar to Oliver's style.

This selection should give you a broad view of each author's most acclaimed and lesser-known works, as well as a pathway to discover other writers who share their sensibilities.

This Side of Paradise

José Saramago