[Bleak Lemming]

Hi all,

I'm no literature student or anything, in fact I rarely read books at all. When I do read I tent to stick factual books based on science. I'd like to branch out a little bit and perhaps read some classics. I've actually got the complete works of Shakespeare but I was having a read of one of his plays last night and I didn't really understand. The book has all the meanings of the words he uses at the bottom of each page but it was taking far too long to read.

Can anybody recommend something which isn't too difficult to read as Shakespeare which they have enjoyed reading themselves? Please don't just rattle names of random books off, I'm after books which people enjoyed to read and would do so again.

Much appreciated.

[Booyah]

1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell the, of the best books I have ever read. Mein Kampf is also recommended if you enjoy the rantings of Hitler, quite an extraordinary read if you ask me. And lastly My family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

[senator88]

Theres a huge thread dedicated to recommendations on here. What you could also do is go onto amazon and have a browse, click the category you're most interested in I usually do this

[longey]

For classics, three books which are hard to beat, in my opinion, are
Wuthering Heights
Jane Eyre
The Major of Casterbridge

I've read each of these several times and I find them hard to put down once I start. I'm no lit student either. Hope it helps.

[techno836]

1984 is good ... also classics go with how to kill a mockingbird , lord of the flies

for plays like shakespeare you could read blood brothers thats more modern but theres a whole variety of books out there to read :-)

[canŵio]

(Original post by Bleak Lemming)
Hi all,

I'm no literature student or anything, in fact I rarely read books at all. When I do read I tent to stick factual books based on science. I'd like to branch out a little bit and perhaps read some classics. I've actually got the complete works of Shakespeare but I was having a read of one of his plays last night and I didn't really understand. The book has all the meanings of the words he uses at the bottom of each page but it was taking far too long to read.

Can anybody recommend something which isn't too difficult to read as Shakespeare which they have enjoyed reading themselves? Please don't just rattle names of random books off, I'm after books which people enjoyed to read and would do so again.

Much appreciated.

1984 (suggested above) was really good and not hard to read.
what you could do is go to the library and get out one of the 'easy read' type versions of shakespeare - you can get some that are 'translated' into modern english so you can appreciate his plays whilst being able to understand! they're actually really helpful.
I'm the King of the Castle (i think by susan hill?) was really good, it's a bit depressing but amazingly well written.

[Conor_HD_John]

If you haven't read Bad Science by Ben Goldacre then read that....admittedly it's factual but very good. Also, the Hobbit is great (as a light read).

[Bleak Lemming]

Thanks all, I've went for 1984 seeing as a lot of people have recommended it Also thanks for the Shakespeare suggestion, I'll keep an eye out for them books

Thanks again

[Riotvan]

The Outsider/The Stranger by Albert Camus is a great novel in my opinion! I'm also a Joyce fan, particularly Dubliners. Agree completely with George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 - great books! Also, Harry Potter. It might be stereotyped as a childs series of books now, but nearly everyone enjoys them!

[medigirl]

(Original post by Bleak Lemming)
Hi all,

I'm no literature student or anything, in fact I rarely read books at all. When I do read I tent to stick factual books based on science. I'd like to branch out a little bit and perhaps read some classics. I've actually got the complete works of Shakespeare but I was having a read of one of his plays last night and I didn't really understand. The book has all the meanings of the words he uses at the bottom of each page but it was taking far too long to read.

Can anybody recommend something which isn't too difficult to read as Shakespeare which they have enjoyed reading themselves? Please don't just rattle names of random books off, I'm after books which people enjoyed to read and would do so again.

Much appreciated.

One of the best books I have ever read is F. Scott Fitzgerald the great gatsby.
It is such a compelling novel and you will be captivated from the first chapter. The book is being amde into a movie and it will be out at the end of this year, but you should definately read the book first!