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 54th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 3603
This book was first published in 1981
50 Lists
- score: 179 -- The 50 best books of the past 100 years - 2022 (Weight: 192)
- score: 158 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 172)
- score: 145 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 184)
- score: 134 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 152)
- score: 132 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 152)
- score: 127 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 152)
- score: 115 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 152)
- score: 115 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 192)
- score: 108 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 120)
- score: 107 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 200)
- score: 104 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 120)
- score: 102 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 144)
- score: 100 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 168)
- score: 95 -- The Greatest 20th Century Novels - 1997 (Weight: 176)
- score: 88 -- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers - 2024 (Weight: 100)
- score: 87 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 120)
- score: 87 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 120)
- score: 84 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 144)
- score: 84 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 120)
- score: 78 -- The Big Jubilee Read - 2022 (Weight: 92)
- score: 75 -- Top 10 British, Irish or Commonwealth Novels from 1980 to 2005 - 2006 (Weight: 96)
- score: 72 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 112)
- score: 72 -- Best Books Ever - 2006 (Weight: 120)
- score: 70 -- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 - 1999 (Weight: 144)
- score: 66 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 92)
- score: 65 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 96)
- score: 63 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 92)
- score: 60 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 104)
- score: 59 -- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 - 2011 (Weight: 88)
- score: 56 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 76)
- score: 56 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 115)
- score: 54 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 96)
- score: 54 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 112)
- score: 53 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 96)
- score: 52 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 112)
- score: 45 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 92)
- score: 44 -- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read - 2015 (Weight: 60)
- score: 44 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 68)
- score: 42 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 60)
- score: 41 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 88)
- score: 39 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 68)
- score: 28 -- The Indian Fiction Top 25 - 2005 (Weight: 44)
- score: 24 -- Third World Novels… The Top 10 - 1989 (Weight: 76)
- score: 24 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 60)
- score: 23 -- Nancy Pearl's 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade - 2009 (Weight: 36)
- score: 22 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 28)
- score: 17 -- NY Times Editors Choice 1980-1989 - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 88)
- score: 14 -- James Tait Black Memorial Prize: Fiction - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 72)
- score: 8 -- Zeit Literaturkanon - 2012 (Weight: 12)
- score: 7 -- Booker Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 40)