By Beatrix S
It’s very hard to list objectively “the most popular books”. What is a popular book now, might not be a popular book ten years from now. Even if we assess the “most popular books” in terms of sheer number of all-time sales, the results can give a distorted picture. For example, the Bible in some parts of the world would rate as the most popular book ever; in other parts of the world, a different religious text might take that title. And when you think of the “most popular book”, religious texts might not be what you had in mind. Nevertheless — putting aside religious texts — here is my list of what I regard as the top 5 books that meet the description "popular", if not "most popular".
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien is one of the most popular books, on any measure. After being published in the years 1954 and 1955 in three volumes, the book has had massive success. It has sold approximately 150 million copies and it has been translated into some 40 languages. The book is about a war between races and a hobbit that has the power to destroy the ancient Ring before it ends up in evil hands. When it was published, some critics heaped praise on the book; yet other critics condemned it. If you like fantasy, then you will like this book. The main reason why The Lord of the Rings is popular is that it is entertaining.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is a mystery novel that has attracted almost a cult following. It was published in 2003 and has sold 80 million copies throughout the world. Like The Lord of the Rings, the book also received negative reviews, sometimes from well-known and highly respected authors. The main character is Robert Langdon, a professor of Religious Symbology, who is trying to solve the mystery involving the murder of Jacques Saunière, a curator at the Louvre Museum. Together with the daughter of the victim, he starts deciphering the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and they find out things that will shock the religious world. If you are into mysteries and detective stories, prepare for a very original novel. The book is so good that you may even start to believe in the novel’s theories!
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was published in 1988 and has been translated into 54 languages. It is the most-translated book written by a living author. It has sold 65 million copies and it is a very popular novel in many countries. The book is a journey to find oneself, the journey of Santiago, a shepherd, who decides to travel to Egypt after having a dream. The Alchemist has been called "a wonderful tale, a metaphor of life" and although it is written in a simple narrative style it will move you with its profound, deeper meanings.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is one of the most famous novels written in the English language. It has sold 200 million copies. The book provides a portrait of the war between the aristocracy and peasantry. If you like Charles Dickens, you will love this book; and if you haven’t read anything by Dickens yet, you should start with A Tale of Two Cities. The book, published in 1859, is a metaphor for the society Dickens lives in; it is about difficult times during the French Revolution.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a mystery novel, arguably the most famous of Agatha Christie’s novels. And Then There Were None is written in a terrific way, slowly building the conflict until it reaches the climax. The book starts with ten characters who are invited to an island without knowing why they are there. Soon, they start dying in mysterious ways and it has something to do with the nursery rhyme the "Ten Little Indians", which is called "Ten Little Soldiers" in the book. The song seems to be a motif in the book, and the "little solider" is a symbol that appears everywhere. The book was published in 1939 and, in my opinion, is one of the best mystery detective novels ever written.