Books

[Terry&Tigger 4]

Hi guys,

Anyone willing to offer suggestions on what books by American authors one can read to get better knowledge of the culture/history/whatever? Any books you personally like? Thanks.

[eekee 182]

I think Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, is a good book for this purpose because it addresses a lot of different aspects of American history/culture through the lens of one family's history.

Other American authors I like are Fitzgerald, Bellow, Roth, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Cheever. I like Norman Mailer and E.B. White's non-fiction. What are you interested in, specifically?

[ADAMandKAREN 15]

I agree with the above but I would like to add Mark Twain, Harper Lee, Truman Capote, and (although not really considered a classic) I think David Sedaris books are a pretty fun to read.

[Dan and Judy 614]

I think the reading level would be critical to your choice of books. If english is a 2cnd language the vocabulary is going to be an issue.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Fiction is hard. We use a lot of colloquialisms and word play that makes it difficult for someone who has a limited grasp of the English language. It's hard to make recommendations without knowing her level of English, but it might be a good idea to start with magazine articles if she's not too proficient. Work up to young adult books if her grasp on the language is ready for it, and then just keep going from there. What she decides to read will be dictated by her interests more than authors, so don't try to force something on her that she won't enjoy.

Might be a good idea to take her to a library and let her browse. Talk with a librarian, they're bound to steer you in the right direction.

Best of luck to you!

[Y&E 12]

Along the lines of suggestions in young adult I would recommend Cynthia Voight (sp, sorry it's been years).

[sea-monkey 13]

I think the reading level would be critical to your choice of books. If english is a 2cnd language the vocabulary is going to be an issue.

This is why I got my girl a Kindle ebook reader for valentines day. She is fluent in English but there are still words she does not know. It has a built in electronic dictionary. If she is reading and comes across a word she doesn't know, she just needs to press next to the word and a little dictionary will pop up on the top or bottom of the book page. Before, she always had to look it up on her dictionary or mobile.

She can also save any words or sentences and look at them later. Plus the digital ebooks are cheaper and a lot of classics are free. That was the reason I bought myself one also

Kindle device:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Y27P3M?ie=UTF8&tag=moncas-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002Y27P3M

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck. This is a must read. All the kids in school read this also.

http://tinyurl.com/4oyxgta

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

by Laura Hillenbrand. Great book about WW2 in the Pacific. Also explains why we call old people from that era "Greatest Generation".

http://tinyurl.com/47nkodp

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anything by James Michener.

[dogspot 90]

F. Scott Fitzgerald

John Steinbeck

J.D. Salinger

My fiancee and I read Tender is the Night together in English. She has a pretty good grasp of the English language but it was still a challenge. Still, it was much easier than reading Slaughterhouse Five; although Vonnegut uses a pretty basic vocabulary, his colloquialisms and style of humor often flew over her head like a 747.

[eekee 182]

Tender is the Night takes place in France, though. It is my favorite book nonetheless. But as far as being a good introduction to American culture, only if you're specfically interested in the Lost Generation's European adventures.

[eekee 182]

Along the lines of suggestions in young adult I would recommend Cynthia Voight (sp, sorry it's been years).

Blecch. I remember being forced to read a book by her for summer reading.

I think Tery & Tigger's reading level, from what I recall from her posts here, means that adult books will suit her just fine.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Jack London, Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Stephen King to name a few.

[Terry&Tigger 4]

Wow soo many replies!! Thanks a lot, guys, you are awesome!

I would dare say my reading level is kinda above average

I love reading, and the American authors I enjoyed the most are J. D. Salinger, Garrison Keillor, Fitzgerald, Twain, O'Henry, Hemingway, Stephen King (especially "Hearts in Atlantis"), William Golding ("Lord of Flies")... I have read a bunch of books by Mickey Spillane, John Grisham and the like, the "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, the wonderful "Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger, a pile of Jack London's and Theodore Dreiser's books and numerous magazines with short stories...

Nevertheless, there are always books which might not be very popular, their authors not famous, but somehow the book stays in one's memory for no particular reason - and this is what I would particularly like to ask you to share, your personal preferences, even if they never made it to the Best-selling Top Ten or high school Books To Read list.

Thanks a lot to those who did share, I appreciate it very much, and am entering all the authors and books you mentioned into my own personal Books To Read list.

[Terry&Tigger 4]

Anything by James Michener.

I have only read "The Drifters" so far, and it did strike me as almost a scientific research on human lives depending on where and under what political and social circumstances a person is born and raised, a very profound and interesting book. Thank you for the input!!

[Captain Hammer 113]

Wow soo many replies!! Thanks a lot, guys, you are awesome!

I would dare say my reading level is kinda above average

I love reading, and the American authors I enjoyed the most are J. D. Salinger, Garrison Keillor, Fitzgerald, Twain, O'Henry, Hemingway, Stephen King (especially "Hearts in Atlantis"), William Golding ("Lord of Flies")... I have read a bunch of books by Mickey Spillane, John Grisham and the like, the "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, the wonderful "Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger, a pile of Jack London's and Theodore Dreiser's books and numerous magazines with short stories...

Nevertheless, there are always books which might not be very popular, their authors not famous, but somehow the book stays in one's memory for no particular reason - and this is what I would particularly like to ask you to share, your personal preferences, even if they never made it to the Best-selling Top Ten or high school Books To Read list.

Thanks a lot to those who did share, I appreciate it very much, and am entering all the authors and books you mentioned into my own personal Books To Read list.

Oh wow, that's a nice reading list! I'm assuming you're reading all of these in English? If so, your English reading level's fantastic, if I were you I'd just go into your local library with some subjects that interest you and see what a librarian recommends.

I'm about half way through Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. It's historical fiction centered around World War 1, and very good. The other books I've read from this author are Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. All highly recommended. Good luck!