Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
The novel tells the story of Saleem Sinai, who was born at the exact moment when India gained its independence. As a result, he shares a mystical connection with other children born at the same time, all of whom possess unique, magical abilities. As Saleem grows up, his life mirrors the political and cultural changes happening in his country, from the partition of India and Pakistan, to the Bangladesh War of Independence. The story is a blend of historical fiction and magical realism, exploring themes of identity, fate, and the power of storytelling.
The 32nd greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
Total Points: 4024
This book was first published in 1981
43 Lists
- score: 157 -- The Greatest 20th Century Novels - 1997 (Weight: 132)
- score: 156 -- The 50 best books of the past 100 years - 2022 (Weight: 144)
- score: 150 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 150)
- score: 140 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 138)
- score: 134 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 129)
- score: 132 -- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 - 1999 (Weight: 132)
- score: 126 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 126)
- score: 116 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 114)
- score: 108 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 108)
- score: 108 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 108)
- score: 105 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 105)
- score: 98 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 95 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 93)
- score: 94 -- Top 10 British, Irish or Commonwealth Novels from 1980 to 2005 - 2006 (Weight: 72)
- score: 93 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 93)
- score: 92 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 90)
- score: 91 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Best Books Ever - 2006 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 90)
- score: 85 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 84)
- score: 84 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 84)
- score: 84 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 84)
- score: 82 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 81)
- score: 80 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 78)
- score: 75 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 75)
- score: 69 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 - 2011 (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- Third World Novels… The Top 10 - 1989 (Weight: 69)
- score: 63 -- The Indian Fiction Top 25 - 2005 (Weight: 57)
- score: 51 -- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read - 2015 (Weight: 51)
- score: 42 -- James Tait Black Memorial Prize: Fiction - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 42)
- score: 33 -- Zeit Literaturkanon - 2012 (Weight: 33)
- score: 18 -- Booker Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 18)