Today’s quote:
If you are looking to strengthen your English reading skills, the list below is for you. The 10 fiction books I selected contain simple language and engaging plots.
If you are looking for a list of more advanced fiction books that I would recommend, check out my previous post here.
Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the top 10 fiction books for beginners.
The Archer by Paulo Coelho
The Archer is full of magnificent art, both on pages with and without text. Colorful paintings inserted between the pages of text convey stories in and of themselves. It is a quick read if you only observe the words on the pages. When you read through The Archer, slow down. Read the words, then turn the page. Observe the pictures while pondering the words.
The language in The Archer is simply complex. (There’s a good oxymoron for you.) Each chapter breaks down different aspects of archery, all corresponding with various aspects of life.
Coelho is better known for his work titled The Alchemist, a philosophical adventure novel. While the language in The Alchemist is more complex than in The Archer, I’m sure you will enjoy the story.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Imagine a colorless world. Imagine infinite contentedness. In a world without pain, without emotion, where everything and everyone is reduced to sameness, what is there to worry about?
Lowry’s 1994 children’s novel was the winner of the Newbery Medal. The Giver presents a dystopian world in which 12-year-old Jonas is selected to be the one to question whether ignorance is bliss. Read The Giver to find out how such a young boy carries the burdens associated with his lifetime appointment as Receiver of Memory.
And ask yourself, is ignorance bliss?
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Rich with sarcasm and dark humor, the 13 books in this absurdist series follow the (mis)adventures of the Baudelaire siblings. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives are filled with bad luck and misery. Follow them on their journey beginning with book number 1, The Bad Beginning.
Explore the author’s notes on each book on goodreads.com. Be advised that the comments on Goodreads may contain spoilers.
Side note: Goodreads is a social media platform that allows you to connect with friends and see what books they are reading, what books they have read, and what books they want to read. Create a free account and add me as a friend!
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The story of George and Lennie takes place in California during the Great Depression. For further commentary on John Steinbeck, check out my other post here.
Of Mice and Men, arguably Steinbeck’s most recognized piece, contains language that may be considered offensive and/or racist. In listing this book as a recommendation, I do not wish in any way to promote hurtful language. Rather, I would challenge anyone who reads this book (and any book in general) to notice social injustices depicted in writing and in turn understand that offensive and racist language is not to be used or tolerated.
It is my belief that each individual must do their part to recognize social injustices and act in ways that exhibit love, respect, and equality to others.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The narrator is Death. The scene is Nazi Germany, 1939. The Book Thief takes a zoomed-in segment of history and magnifies moments of little joys during a time of global war. Zusak’s novel shines light on a fictional stage set amid dangerous and horrible times.
The way Death as a character is created and developed throughout the storytelling is astounding. After The Book Thief’s publishing in 2005, Markus Zusak received several awards, including the Printz Honor prize in 2007, which is awarded to the best book for teenagers. Anyone – adults and teenagers alike – can enjoy this work of historical fiction.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
To what lengths would you go to solve a mystery? What about a murder mystery?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (The Curious Incident…) is a tale for those with curious minds. Written from the perspective of young Christopher Boone, a child who has no understanding of human emotions, The Curious Incident… is about Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog.
Mark Haddon does an excellent job of displaying consistency in the main character’s narrative voice throughout the story. You will come to know and love Christopher’s personality quirks. Dive deep into the narrative, and you will see the world through a new and interesting set of eyes.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Would you be able to chase down and catch a kite after its string is cut and the wind brings it plummeting to the earth on an unpredictable course?
The Kite Runner is a brilliant historical fiction piece based in 1970s Afghanistan. The story follows Amir and Hassan, two young boys, as war and strife invade their country. Explore themes of friendship, redemption, and perseverance within Hosseini’s creation, and find out which of the two boys is known as the kite runner.
Trigger Warning (TW) – Before reading, please be aware that there are scenes containing extreme violence, brutality, vulgarity, etc.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Any book list is incomplete without at least one classic. To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960 and is still relevant today. Millions of American students in the public school system have been encouraged or instructed to read this book during middle school or high school – between the ages of about 11 and 18 – for several decades now.
Lee’s most popular novel received a Pulitzer Prize only a year after it was published. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior – to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos.
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Fantastic Mr. Fox is a clever children’s novel about a clever protagonist. It is somewhat rare for me to enjoy the film adaptation of a book more than the book itself. If you read Dahl’s story, you must also watch the movie. Or vice versa – watch the movie, then read the book – that’s okay, too.
The 2009 film of the same name was directed by Wes Anderson. The film takes a comedic approach to the novel and adds fantastic little details that enhance the plot. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the film is the cinematography. Anderson decided to utilize stop motion animation, which features captured images of puppets amidst miniature recreations of life-sized settings.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Set in Barkley Cove, North Carolina, Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of Kya Clark, the “Marsh Girl.” You’ll get a little bit of everything in this book – drama, action, romance, comedy, suspense, biology, geography, and history.
The novel was recently adapted to fit the silver screen. As inferred in a previous comment, film adaptations can be hit or miss. Thus, I am hesitant to watch the movie. Regardless, I can still unashamedly recommend the book over the movie.
TW – Before reading, please be aware that there are scenes containing extreme violence, brutality, vulgarity, etc.
Brain teaser:
If 66 = 2, 99 = 2, 888 = 6, 00 = 2, 7777 = 0, 667= 2, 276 = 1, 833 = 2, then what does 2876 equal?
A+
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