These two lists might explain the difference:
only sold well (over a million copies)
Alice in Wonderland, Dune, Pride and Prejudice, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Black Beauty
only called the best
Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, Ulysses, Heart of Darkness, 1984, Catch-22
sold well and called the best
Lord of the Rings, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lolita, Catcher in the Rye
My conclusion: good storytelling makes money; good writing impresses critics.
I remember reading several of the "only called the best" books as assignments in school. I think schools should include more best-sellers in the curriculum. The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird are often assigned, but younger readers seem to prefer fantasy, hence the popularity of the Harry Potter books.
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