English books for beginner ?

trixky · 12-29-2009, 07:22 AM

Hello everybody,

In the french section we have a thread about what books read when english is not our main language. Some title appears on this thread but i would ask to english people directly to have more

As you know, (or not), ebooks are not so develop in France. So I decide to read books in english. After all, i watch TV-Shows in english.

But, every books have not the same level of difficulty because of the vocabulary, etc...

So, do you have any idea of books to read in English to start with ? Any kind of genre can be propose because i think this could be useful for others. But i have a preference for SF books.

Thanks

Latinandgreek · 12-29-2009, 07:51 AM

Hi Trixky! Maybe a good idea would be to start with Young Adult fiction, as it tends to be written using somewhat less complicated language (much like people learning French like to read Le Petit Prince). Since you like sf, I would like to suggest "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle.

Best of luck! I'll try to think of some other books...

sergiodongala · 12-29-2009, 09:16 AM

Well its a good idea, since I speak portuguese, i will try it too

neilmarr · 12-29-2009, 09:26 AM

My own small independent publishing house, Trixky, has a historical fiction/fantasy series running called *The Petronicus Legacy*. Three volumes so far. It is aimed at both a Young Adult and more mature readership but is deliberately written with simple vocabulary and grammar and with a minimalist approach to punctuation. If any of our French MR members would like the ebook versions (PDF only, I'm afraid), please just email me and I'd be happy to send them free of charge. Best wishes. Neil
ntmarrATbewrite.net (use the @ sign)

A4- · 12-29-2009, 01:14 PM

You might want to take a look in this tread:
Recommendation in order to improve his English level

I would suggest you to get a book (maybe young adult) which interests you and make sure there is a dictionary within reach.

'Have Space Suit Will Travel' by Robert A Heinlein might be something for you. It has a good story, and it's a fairly easy read.

trixky · 12-30-2009, 06:49 AM

Well, i take note about books you propose to me, thanks for your answer.

Does anyone can give me some american/english famous reading blogs you read because i think it's a wonderful sources to find ideas for books

kacir · 12-30-2009, 07:10 AM

My first "real" book in English - after I finished all Simplified Editions that were available in my town library was a detective story by Dick Francis.

His English is very easy to understand, books are fast paced and well written, Mr. Francis does not use complicated words, idioms, he does not "play" with language. He simply tells a good story.

I borrowed book by Dick Francis from a sheer desperation, because there were no more simplified editions, and the last one - The Call of the wild by Jack London proved to be unreadable by a mere beginner.
Only much later I have realized how lucky I was. Had it been, for example, Thomas Harris, I might have abandoned my attempts to improve my English by reading fiction.

Another excellent candidate is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

And now that I think about it, books by Dan Brown are written in an easy-to-comprehend-for-a-beginner English.

mikelvdb · 01-08-2010, 02:30 AM

James Rollins
Barbara Michaels
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child: Pendergast serie
Sue Grafton
Michael Scott: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

look for details at http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

12-29-2009, 07:22 AM	#1
trixky Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 150 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-600	English books for beginner ? Hello everybody, In the french section we have a thread about what books read when english is not our main language. Some title appears on this thread but i would ask to english people directly to have more As you know, (or not), ebooks are not so develop in France. So I decide to read books in english. After all, i watch TV-Shows in english. But, every books have not the same level of difficulty because of the vocabulary, etc... So, do you have any idea of books to read in English to start with ? Any kind of genre can be propose because i think this could be useful for others. But i have a preference for SF books. Thanks

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12-29-2009, 07:51 AM	#2
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	Hi Trixky! Maybe a good idea would be to start with Young Adult fiction, as it tends to be written using somewhat less complicated language (much like people learning French like to read Le Petit Prince). Since you like sf, I would like to suggest "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Best of luck! I'll try to think of some other books...

12-29-2009, 09:16 AM	#3
sergiodongala Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 160 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Angola Device: PRS-505	Well its a good idea, since I speak portuguese, i will try it too

12-29-2009, 09:26 AM	#4
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	My own small independent publishing house, Trixky, has a historical fiction/fantasy series running called The Petronicus Legacy. Three volumes so far. It is aimed at both a Young Adult and more mature readership but is deliberately written with simple vocabulary and grammar and with a minimalist approach to punctuation. If any of our French MR members would like the ebook versions (PDF only, I'm afraid), please just email me and I'd be happy to send them free of charge. Best wishes. Neil ntmarrATbewrite.net (use the @ sign)

12-29-2009, 01:14 PM	#5
A4- Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 1110 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Netherlands Device: iRex iLiad v2	You might want to take a look in this tread: Recommendation in order to improve his English level I would suggest you to get a book (maybe young adult) which interests you and make sure there is a dictionary within reach. 'Have Space Suit Will Travel' by Robert A Heinlein might be something for you. It has a good story, and it's a fairly easy read.

12-30-2009, 06:49 AM	#6
trixky Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 150 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-600	Well, i take note about books you propose to me, thanks for your answer. Does anyone can give me some american/english famous reading blogs you read because i think it's a wonderful sources to find ideas for books

12-30-2009, 07:10 AM	#7
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	My first "real" book in English - after I finished all Simplified Editions that were available in my town library was a detective story by Dick Francis. His English is very easy to understand, books are fast paced and well written, Mr. Francis does not use complicated words, idioms, he does not "play" with language. He simply tells a good story. I borrowed book by Dick Francis from a sheer desperation, because there were no more simplified editions, and the last one - The Call of the wild by Jack London proved to be unreadable by a mere beginner. Only much later I have realized how lucky I was. Had it been, for example, Thomas Harris, I might have abandoned my attempts to improve my English by reading fiction. Another excellent candidate is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And now that I think about it, books by Dan Brown are written in an easy-to-comprehend-for-a-beginner English.

01-08-2010, 02:30 AM	#8
mikelvdb Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 266 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Belgium Device: cybook gen3, cybook opus, sony prs-350, sony prs-t1	James Rollins Barbara Michaels Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child: Pendergast serie Sue Grafton Michael Scott: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel look for details at http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

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