Lord of The Rings books lose top spot

JRR Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy has lost its number one spot on the latest list of Whitcoulls Top 100 books.

The new leader is Larsson's Millenium trilogy, which includes the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the Girl Who Played With Fire, and the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, with Tolkien relegated to number six.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy had been in the top four since the biennial list began 12 years ago, said Whitcoulls managing director Peter Kalan.

He said the Millennium trilogy was a new entrant on the Top 100 and had romped into first place.

Another series, Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga, was second and Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveller's Wife leapt from 14th place to third.

Several New Zealand authors were on the list, including award-winner Alison Wong whose book As the Earth Turns Silver was at number 42 and Nicky Pellegrino's latest novel Recipe For Life was another new entrant at 62.

Mr Kalan said 25 per cent of the books on the list were new but plenty of old favorites had made it onto every list.

The Bible was down from 15 to 23.

He said enduring romances had not lost their charm with Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice at number seven, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights at number 53, and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre at number 72.

New arrivals on the list included Jamie Oliver's Jamie Does at number 13, Justin Cronin's The Passage at number 15, and Andre Agassi's autobiography Open at number 18.

- NZPA