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 42nd greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 2572
This book was first published in 1981
53 Lists
- score: 192 -- The 50 best books of the past 100 years - 2022 (Weight: 190)
- score: 137 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 130)
- score: 131 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 140)
- score: 125 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 140)
- score: 124 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 114 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 113 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 160)
- score: 112 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 140)
- score: 107 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 200)
- score: 96 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 160)
- score: 91 -- The Greatest 20th Century Novels - 1997 (Weight: 170)
- score: 89 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 100)
- score: 84 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 100)
- score: 80 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 130)
- score: 79 -- Top 10 British, Irish or Commonwealth Novels from 1980 to 2005 - 2006 (Weight: 120)
- score: 77 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 100)
- score: 77 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 100)
- score: 74 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 100)
- score: 63 -- Best Books Ever - 2006 (Weight: 100)
- score: 55 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 60)
- score: 54 -- Our Users' Top 100 Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 60)
- score: 52 -- TrueLit's Top 100 Favorite Books (2023) - 2023 (Weight: 60)
- score: 46 -- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 - 1999 (Weight: 89)
- score: 39 -- The 100 Novels That Have Most Enthralled "Le Monde" Since 1944 - 2019 (Weight: 46)
- score: 34 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 70)
- score: 33 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 70)
- score: 32 -- The Big Jubilee Read - 2022 (Weight: 36)
- score: 28 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 40)
- score: 27 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 40)
- score: 24 -- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers - 2024 (Weight: 26)
- score: 24 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 50)
- score: 22 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 40)
- score: 22 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 40)
- score: 16 -- NY Times Editors Choice 1980-1989 - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 80)
- score: 15 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 30)
- score: 14 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 20)
- score: 13 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 20)
- score: 12 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 20)
- score: 10 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 20)
- score: 4 -- James Tait Black Memorial Prize: Fiction - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 20)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Third World Novels… The Top 10 - 1989 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 - 2011 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Indian Fiction Top 25 - 2005 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Nancy Pearl's 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Booker Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Zeit Literaturkanon - 2012 (Weight: 1)