World Book Day – also known as World Book and Copyright Day – falls annually on April 23, celebrating the joy of reading, publishing and copyright awareness.
Marked by UNESCO to honour the death anniversary of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, the day is rooted in promoting a love for books as well as exploring the pleasures of reading.
To celebrate World Book Day, we asked book lovers from around the world about their all-time favourite books and why they love it.
From classics and hidden gems to self-help and non-fiction must-reads, here’s a comprehensive list of all-time favourite books evoking deep thought, vivid imagination and notes of nostalgia in the minds of readers.
‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Suhas, from Leiden, Netherlands, says, ” ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I love it for the way it evokes a time and place (Colombia in the colonial and post-colonial era), the unforgettable characters and its masterly use of techniques of magical realism in a way that feels essential for the story being told rather than gimmicky.”
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Jennifer from Yorkshire says, “My favourite book ever has to be ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak. I remember reading it for the first time at about 14 years old and staying awake late to read because I was so hooked on the story. It’s so delicately written and it’s one of the few books I’d happily read again and again.”
Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë
Dr. Riddhima Bose from Stockholm, Sweden loves a classic. She says, “Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ is an all-time favourite. There’s something almost dangerously magnetic about Heathcliff, isn’t there? He’s not the polished, predictable romantic hero; he’s raw, brooding, obsessive…What makes the book unforgettable isn’t just the romance, but the intensity of it. Love in Wuthering Heights isn’t soft or comforting, it’s wild, consuming, almost destructive.”
Mrityunjay – Shivaji Sawant
Neelum reminds us of the importance of regional literature with her pick. She says, “Marathi classic ‘Mrityunjay’ by Shivaji Sawant tells the story of Karna from Mahabharat like never before. It’s beautiful, it shows us who the great warrior was, his flaws, his strengths, his famous generosity. The last part of his death always moves me to tears. I read this book once every couple of years.”
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Writer Hiranshi Mistry names another classic with her pick ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood. She says, “I don’t know what it is about that book—it’s depressing and scary—but I swear to god I can read it again anytime. I don’t know if it’s the book or Atwood but dear lord, it’s so beautifully penned. I love the quietness of the book even though it’s deafening.”
The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenid
London-based marketing admin Faraday, says ” ‘The Virgin Suicides’ by Jeffrey Eugenid. It’s dreamy and so beautifully written, I love the pacing and the imagery.
Leadership in the Indian Army – Major General V. K. Singh
Aakaash Chaudhary recommends “‘ Leadership in Indian Army : Biographies of Twelve Soldiers’ by Major General V. K. Singh. It talks about pre and post Independent Indian Army, and their roles, till date. Very inspiring and fascinating.”
A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
Dr. Samrin Shaikh from Mumbai says ” ‘A Man Called Ove’ by Fredrik Backman is beautifully tragic and unexpectedly funny. Absolutely love how the author manages to balance grief and humour so effortlessly. Even the saddest moments leave you with a quiet smile.”
My Sister Jodie – Jacqueline Wilson
Delhi-NCR based Vatsala Saxena highlights ‘My Sister Jodie’ by UK-based children and teen author Jacqueline Wilson. She says, “I could relate to it immensely as someone who’s an older sister, the immense pressure, and having your home uprooted and being forced to fit into a hostile environment.The books speaks delicately about peer pressure, teenagers and the opposite-sex dynamics, mental health.”
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
Arundathy Bharadwaj recommends self-help book ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey.She says, “It’s a book that can be revisited multiple times and it has so many practical lessons to offer.”
Before Memory Fades – Fali S. Nariman
Lucknow-based Seema Bhatnagar names ‘Before Memory Fades’ by Fali S. Nariman. She says, ” As a legal professional, this autobiography is my constant companion. It isn’t just a life story; it’s a masterclass in legal ethics and the evolution of the Indian judiciary. I love it because Nariman’s journey reminds me that the law is not just about statutes, but about the courage to uphold the Constitution even in the most challenging times.”
Funny Boy – Shyam Selvadura
Scriptwriter Seher names ‘Funny Boy’ by Shyam Selvadurai as a very re-readable favourite. She says, “Funny, insightful, nostalgia without the rose-tinted glasses. It explores the many facets of human existence through a child’s eyes, never pandering to the audience, never spoon feeding the reader with all the context… We learn context through exploring the story, as a child would get to know about their world by experiencing it.”
City of Djinns – William Dalrymple
Lakshmi from Hyderabad says, “I am a crazy William Dalrymple fan and I loved his ‘City of Djinns’. The book kind of takes you to those times and the word smithery recreates the time and space ever so vividly”
Mahashweta – Sudha Murthy
Anusankari from Mumbai thinks back to her teen years for her favourite, saying, ” ‘Mahashweta’ by Sudha Murthy. I was around 13-14 when I read that book. It was my first introduction to feminism. Although, I don’t agree with many things on that book now, it made me realise that women have a choice to choose.”
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Jane Austen‘s classic ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is an all-time favourite named in two different submissions.
Rashmi Naik, Founder of Pondicherry-based Darcy & Company also reveals, ” I even named my brand of granola after a character in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – Darcy & Company is the name of my granola brand.”
Dr. Anushree says, ” ‘Pride and Prejudice’ because the characters seem life-like and language is simple and yet deep insights on human relationships”
The God of Small Things – Arundhathi Roy
Mukhil Malar from Tamil Nadu highlights ‘The God of Small Things’ by Arundhathi Roy, saying “There is no prose like hers and nothing evoked in me the kind of emotion this book was able to. I am scared to re-read.”
Other favourites worth mentioning :
- Anurag Singh suggests ‘Inugami Curse’ by Seishi Yokomizo if you’re looking for “the perfect murder mystery.”
- Bethany goes back to a classic with ‘The Great Gatsby’, particularly highlighting the chance to “dive deeper into different cultural contexts.”
- Meera’s favourite is ‘A Room of One’s Own’ by Virginia Woolf for its highly informative and thought provoking style.
- Anjali recommends ‘The Silent Patient’ by Alex Michaelides if you’re interested “crazy plot twists.”
Rekha Nigam loves yet another classic ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee is my all-time favourite book - Aarti suggests self-help guide ‘How To Know A Person : The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen’ by David Brooks.
- Meenakshi narrows down to four favourite picks spanning all-time favourite classic ‘Tess of the D’urbervilles’ by Thomas Hardy; ‘Blue Sisters’ by Coco Mellors ; Arundhati Roy‘s ‘Mother Mary Comes To Me’ and ‘Thousand Splendid Sons’ by Khaled Hosseini.
- A final anonymous submission names ‘Flipped and Before I Fall’ by Lauren Oliver.
What’s your all-time favourite books? Will any of these be making your recommended list? Visit Lyrical Muse for literature coverage.
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