A book rises to fame and gains the title of a famous book whenever it is in the bestselling list or is being defined as a classic. Books of all categories from children's fairy tales to classic novels, from plays by Shakespeare to Harry Potter can be included in the list of famous books. When you hear of a book from your friends or when your mother suggests you to read a book in your teenage years, you can call the book well known.
It is not necessary that the famous books are by well known authors only; it is their books which fetch fame for the authors. Once the author becomes famous, his upcoming books also become popular. Since the 21 st century, the quotient of famous books has been determined by the bestselling lists published in eminent magazines and newspapers. The book reviews also help the book in gaining popularity. Non-fictional books like diet books, cook books, biographies and autobiographies are making their places in the famous book lists these days more than novels and fictional tales.
Some of the famous classics which are a must in all children's lives when he/she is taking his/her first step towards adolescence are “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, Sherlock Holmes adventures by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle and “ Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson. These days the Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling are creating sensation among kids and even adults. Many comic books like the Adventures of Tintin and Asterix adventure series are very famous and have broken the binds of time and place.
Some of the famous books which any person will cherish for his life are ‘Short stories by O Henry', Short Stories by Somerset Maugham, novels by Thomas Hardy, plays by Shakespeare etc. The authors of the 21 st century whose books can be included in the list of famous books are, John Grisham, Sydney Sheldon, J.K. Rowling, Erich Segal etc.
