Books are Man’s Best friend. Books take you to a different world of imagination and fantasy. They are the best friends who never leave you alone. If you are one such book lover, then here we have got a list of:
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Top 10 Best-Selling Books in The World to Read in a Lifetime
1. Don Quixote
Author: Miguel de Cervantes
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Francisco de Robles
Published In: 1605
No. of copies Sold in the world: 500 million
Rating from different agencies: 3.88/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: Don Quixote is a metafictional novel based on some translations from “The Archives of La Mancha” and some from Arabic text by Moorish author Cide Hamete Benegeli.
The protagonist, implied to be real as a typical character in those days, meets prostitutes, goat herders, priests, soldiers and innkeepers.
This book is a magnified imagination of Don Quixote of the various characters he meets on the way before being persuaded to return to his village.
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2. A Tale of Two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
Genre: Historical Novel
Publisher: London: Chapman & Hall
Published In: 1859
No. of copies Sold in the world: 200 million
Rating from different agencies: 3.85/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: A Tale of Two Cities novel is set in the backdrop of London and Paris. The time frame is before and after the French Revolution.
The novel revolves around the story of French Doctor Manette who is imprisoned in the Bastille of Paris for 18 years. Post his release he lives in London with his daughter Lucie. He had never met his daughter Lucie.
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3. The Lord of the Rings
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Genre: High Fantasy / Adventure
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published In: 1954
No. of copies Sold in the world: 150 million
Rating from different agencies: 4.5/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: The Lord of the Rings is a sequel to the children’s novel The Hobbit. The book is about the Dark Lord Sauron, the creator of One Ring.
This One Ring rules the other rings given to Elves, men and Dwarfs in the campaign.
The campaign is to rule the middle – earth. The story begins with the Shrine, the hobbit land, which reminds us of the English countryside.
Each elves, dwarves, hobbits and orcs have their own culture, way of life and language.
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4. The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Genre: Novella
Publisher: Reynal & Hitchcock (U.S.) / Gallimard (France)
Published In: 1943
No. of copies Sold in the world: 142 million
Rating from different agencies: 4.31/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: The Little Prince book seems to be a children’s book however the novel is a confrontation of dulled adulthood through various observations about adults, life and human nature.
The novel is a roller coaster ride of loss and love with the main character a Little Prince. He is a king with no subjects and a businessman who wants to own the stars, a rose and a talking fox.
He is on a cross–universe and cosmic trip in which he jots down his experiences on various planets including Earth and gives a theme of love, friendship, loss and loneliness to each.
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5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published In: 1997
No. of copies Sold in the world: 107 million
Rating from different agencies: 4.47/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the first novel of the world-famous series “The Harry Potter”. The novel sets the stage with Harry Potter who discovers magical lineage on his eleventh birthday only to know that he is a wizard.
On his eleventh birthday, he receives a letter of acceptance from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
During his first year, he makes some good friends and some tough enemies. With the help of his friends, he makes an attempt at Lord Voldemort who killed his parent but not him as a 15-month-old baby.
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6. And Then There Were None
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery / Horror / Psychological Thriller / Crime
Publisher: Collins Crime Club
Published In: 1939
No. of copies Sold in the world: 100 million
Rating from different agencies: 4.26/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: And Then There Were None book is about eight invitees who are personally invited by Ulick Norman Owen and Una Nancy Owen to a small and isolated island on the Doven Coast.
The host is yet to arrive so these eight people are met with the cook – housekeeper – Ethel Roger and butler – Thomas.
The story further unveils the plot of a murder that is suspected to have been committed by these eight people. That is the time when the eight people understand that they are actually at the isolated prison.
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7. The Dream of the Red Chamber
Author: Cao Xueqin
Genre: Novel / Family Saga
Publisher: Unknown
Published In: Mid-18th Century
No. of copies Sold in the world: 100 million
Rating from different agencies: 3.76/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: The Dream of the Red Chamber is a partial autobiography of the author Cao Xueqin. The story reveals the rise and fall of the author and his family and in turn the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
The opening chapter of the Chinese book is about a young woman from youth who is memorable.
It also talks about family, friends and servants. The novel perfectly catches the essence of social structure and life of the 18th century in Chinese society with a big palate of characters and psychology.
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8. The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Genre: High Fantasy / Juvenile Fantasy
Publisher: George Allen & Unwin (UK)
Published In: 1937
No. of copies Sold in the world: 100 million
Rating from different agencies: 4.29/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: The Hobbit forms the backdrop of another best bestseller The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit unveils specific creatures in Tolkien’s geography through various episodic quests.
Bilbo gets a different level of maturity, wisdom and competencies through the adventurous, romantic, fey, and disreputable side of his nature.
In the climax, various characters emerge again and enter a conflict known as the Battle of Five Armies.
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9. She: A History of Adventure
Author: H. Rider Haggard
Genre: Fantasy, adventure, romance, Gothic
Publisher: Longmans
Published In: 1887
No. of copies Sold in the world: 100 million
Rating from different agencies: 3.58/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: Horace Holly is a professor at Cambridge University and is visited by his colleague Vincey. Vincey tells him that he will die soon and share a fantastical story of family heritage. He asks Holly to look after his son Leo whom he has never met.
Vincey hands over to Holly an iron box which is to be opened on Leo’s 25th birthday. Soon Vincey dies. On their 25th birthday, Leo and Holly along with their servant follow the instructions given in the iron box.
The story further unveils their adventure with different passers-by and meets a queen who is to be obeyed. She: A History of Adventure stories bring in different characters which keep you hooked to the book.
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10. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre: Children’s Fantasy / Christian literature
Publisher: Geoffrey Bles
Published In: 1950
No. of copies Sold in the world: 4.22/5.0 (Goodreads Rating)
Rating from different agencies: 85 million
Formats: Print / Audiobook / eBook
Story theme: In 1940, Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter are evacuated from London. They are sent to live in a large house in the English countryside along with Professor Digory Kirke.
Lucy discovers a door in the wardrobe that leads to the magical world of Narnia. While exploring the world she meets Tumnus and Faun. Tumnus invites her for tea and reports her to the White Witch who is the false ruler of Narnia.
Lucy shares her adventure but none of her siblings believe. However, Edmund follows her only to get separated. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe story further tells about the adventures of Edmund and Lucy to find each other.
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