The top 100 novels can vary depending on who's making the list. Different critics and readers might have different opinions. However, some perennial favorites like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and '1984' often make the cut due to their powerful themes and excellent writing.
Lolita is often regarded as one of Nabokov's top novels. It's a controversial yet highly influential work. The story, told from Humbert Humbert's perspective, delves into his obsession with the young Dolores Haze. The prose is rich and complex, and Nabokov's use of language is masterful.
Well, 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown is a very popular one among the top mysterious novels. It combines mystery with art history and religious elements, which makes it extremely engaging. 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn is also quite well - known. The story is full of twists and turns, and the mystery of what happened to the main character's wife keeps you on the edge of your seat. And 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier has a great sense of mystery with the new wife trying to figure out the secrets of her husband's first wife.
Pride and Prejudice is often at the top. It's a classic love story with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Sense and Sensibility is also great, exploring the contrast between two sisters' natures. Emma is another well - known one, with the eponymous character meddling in others' affairs in a charming way.
One of the top fantasy series novels is 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has a richly detailed world, complex characters, and an epic story of good versus evil. The world - building is so immersive that readers feel like they are actually in Middle - earth. Another great one is 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin. It has a large cast of characters and a complex political intrigue set in a medieval - like fantasy world. And 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling is also very popular. It combines magic, friendship, and a battle against the dark forces in a modern - day wizarding world.
One of the top noir detective novels is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It's a classic with its hard - boiled detective Sam Spade and the complex search for a valuable statuette. Another great one is 'Raymond Chandler's 'The Big Sleep'. It features Philip Marlowe and has a convoluted plot full of mystery and crime in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. Then there's 'Laura' by Vera Caspary, which has a unique narrative structure and a great sense of atmosphere.
'The Killing Joke' is a well - known mystery graphic novel in the Batman series. It delves deep into the Joker's origin and his relationship with Batman. The mystery here is not just about the Joker's past but also about what makes him so unpredictable and dangerous. It's a classic that has influenced many other works in the genre.
Another great Tamil novel is 'Sivagamiyin Sabadham'. It delves deep into the historical and cultural aspects of the time. The love story intertwined with the political and religious backdrop is beautifully narrated. The author's use of language and the way the story unfolds keeps the readers hooked from start to finish.
One of the top best completed manga is 'Fullmetal Alchemist'. It has a well-crafted story and memorable characters.
Well, 'American Gods: My Ainsel' is also excellent. It takes the concepts from the 'American Gods' novel and adapts them into a graphic novel format in a really interesting way. You get to see the gods in a more visual and sometimes more visceral way than in the original book. It's a great exploration of the idea of belief and the power of the old gods in a new world.
Some of the top Indian novels include 'Kanthapura' by Raja Rao. It's important as it was one of the early works that presented the rural Indian life in English. 'Nectar in a Sieve' by Kamala Markandaya is another. It shows the struggles of a poor peasant family in a changing India. Also, 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga is a significant work. It's a darkly humorous take on the class divide in India, told from the perspective of a self - made man who rises from poverty to wealth through rather unethical means.