I haven't read a book on my own will in years. What are some good starter books?

[Miles1]

I haven't read a book on my own will in years. What are some good starter books for a newbi to read thanks?

[Mortis Anarchy]

What kind of books do you like??

[Miles1]

Thats the problem, I tried to find a good book, but couldn't. So I picked up bodybuilding books now I have a $ 20 late charge. lol

[grace86]

Are you looking for some in-depth, intellectual reading, or something more for fun? Literature, poetry, philosophy??

Can you give us some hints on what type of books or maybe your interests, otherwise I am sure we could all recommend our favorites and then you would get as many books as there are members! ;)

Hope we can help you out. Glad you're pursuing reading.

[Miles1]

I think I would like adventure, romantic, or something just fun to read.

I know this isn't much help, but I need a first good book so reading with become fun and not just a chore.My interests are music, powerlifting, anime , and mangas/comics.


Thank you for your time !

[grace86]

Adventure I can recommend! :p

Personally, I've really liked Henry Rider Haggard. Some adventure books of his I loved are King Soloman's Mines, The Ivory Child, She, and Allan Quatermain (which is on my list to read next). His books are classic, but aren't too tasking on the mind to enjoy. You might really like them.

A friend of mine has recommended Rafael Sabatini, also adventure. He's told me to read Captain Blood first.

I am currently reading Don Quixote, a rather large classic, but it has a bunch of small adventures that are bound to make you laugh at the same time.

Good luck with your search and I hope I've helped.

[Mortis Anarchy]

Music- Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield (a little love a little loss and a whole lot of music!)

Anime/Manga(sorta)- Tithe by Holly Black-its kind of got a bit of fantasy...but it might work for you...its sort of a teen book though...easy read.
oh and
Romance-The Year of Yes-Maria Headley-its a memoir also Straight up and Dirty- Stephanie Klein -both are girly but funny.

Gary Paulson is a good writer for adventure...again kind of easy...or Cross Country by Robert Sullivan

or Chuck Palahniuk...easy reads, but interesting. Check out Survivor by him or Choke.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut and I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan.

[Dori]

I don't recommend Don Quixote. Both my friend and I couldn't get through it. I suggest starting with some short stories (Edgar Allan Poe comes to mind).

[kilted exile]

I am going through a similar situation with my younger brother currently. He never reads & often didnt read the books required at school. The only book he had ever attempted to read was Hannibal while we were on holiday in Turkey 8yrs ago. He was recently back in Glasgow visiting the father and had nothing else to do on the flight back, so he read Da Vinci Code and then came to me looking for more things to read.

He requires a plot and things happening to keep him interested, and from reading your posts I would guess you are looking more for that currently. A lot of people will disagree with this (on the grounds of writing ablility/commercialism/elitism) but I gave him a couple of Grisham & Kellerman novels. At the moment the important thing is to keep reading interesting, once he finishes them I suggested some Brett Easton Ellis stuff like American Psycho which as well as being an excellent story in itself, also has some deeper meanings behind it.

[Adolescent09]

I would suggest a shorter book for reluctant readers before advancing into mid-level books and tomes. Explicit starting books for junior readers would come along the lines of John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemmingway (heck, even Roald Dahl) and certain Kurt Vonnegut books.

I'd typically suggest Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, The Old Man and the Sea and Of Mice and Men for you to begin with.

[papayahed]

I'd say The Three Muskateers, perhaps something by Chrichton, like Jurassic Park.

[bibliophile190]

I'd recommend the Scarlet Pimpernel. I know I've heard a lot of people saying they didn't like this book, but I thought it was quite good, and it's short. It's a good adventure story set during the French Revolution. Also, the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is good, and also, anything by Agatha Christie. Her mysteries are fantastic, especially "And Then There Were None."

[Adolescent09]

I'd say The Three Muskateers


I'd recommend the Scarlet Pimpernel.


Are you two being real? He said he hasn't read a book of his own accord which most likely suggests he hasn't read anything very difficult. I'm not saying that Alexandre Dumas and Barroness Emmuska Orczy (sp?) have written the most difficult pieces of literature on earth, but I'm not sure that their styles are appopriate for a reader beginning on his own.

But hey, that's your opinion. I just thought differently :)

[bibliophile190]

Are you two being real? He said he hasn't read a book of his own accord which most likely suggests he hasn't read anything very difficult. I'm not saying that Alexandre Dumas and Barroness Emmuska Orczy (sp?) have written the most difficult pieces of literature on earth, but I'm not sure that their styles are appopriate for a reader beginning on his own.

But hey, that's your opinion. I just thought differently :)



I thought The Scarlet Pimpernel was very simple to read. Of course, I am completely obsessed with reading, so what may be simple to me, might not be for someone else.

[Video Drone]

The Three Musketeers is a very light book if you ask me. A very fun book, too. And I haven't read a book in a year myself with the exception of school books.

You may want to read Stephen King (Hearts in Atlantis, The Dark Tower), he's pretty light.

I also found The Lord of the Flies light.

[applepie]

I agree with Video Drone. The Lord of the Flies is a nice light book to read. Good message but short. Animal Farm is another good one. I would recommend almost anything by H.G. Wells. Some of my favorites are The Time Machine and The Island of Dr. Moreau. If you wan't something else light try Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. It is longer, but it really catches the reader. I know everyone raves about The DaVinci Code, this is actually the prequel, but since it was written second it is much better. Good luck in your search.

[Stieg]

What about Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn?

Or Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes and Farhenheit 451?

[Lyn]

I have recommmended Richard Matheson's 'I am Legend' to people who haven't read much at all before and they've loved it.

[JADJARHD]

How about Treasure Island. That is a fun book. Or maybe The Hunt for Red October (a little dated, but really entertaining.)

[Stieg]

I have recommmended Richard Matheson's 'I am Legend' to people who haven't read much at all before and they've loved it.

Great choice, I would suggest The Incredible Shrinking Man by the same author, the story contains shocking deep themes yet quite easy to read. A five star book!

And try his three volume set of Collected Stories, he is a very influential writer. Many of his stories have been adapted into films, television movies, and Twilight Zone episodes. He has even wrote original scripts for television too.

He also wrote an excellent novel based on his experiences as a eighteen-year-old replacement in the 87th Division during the latter part of the war in Europe titled The Beardless Warriors about a squad of teenage U.S. infantryman in heated battle in Germany. Another five star novel.

Hell House might be abit much depending on your age pretty gruesome subjects in it.

But try Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived In The Castle.

[Nossa]

Start with short stories, would be my advice.
D.H.Lawrence, O.Henry, James Joye (Dubliners), Anton Chekhov and as mentioned before Edgar Allan Poe, would be my recommendations for short stories.
IF you wanna read something bigger, as in a novel or a play. You might wanna start with something both easy and fun, like Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Miller(not exactly FUN..but very good read). Hope that helped.

[Pensive]

Harry Potter series

Stephen King's works

The Hobbit (There and Back Again)

Lord of the Rings

[Stieg]

Jules Verne has great books that fall under the catagories requested.

A Journey To The Center of the Earth
From the Earth to the Moon
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Around the World in Eighty Days
The Mysterious Island

Great 19th century SF that anticipated 20th century technology. And one can usually find these books in a inexpensive collection or at a library.

[Miles1]

Thanks everone for being very kind! I think I am going to pick up Richard Matheson's 'I am Legend' and maybe a Stephen King book.

I HAVE BEEN TO MANY FORUMS AND YOU PEOPLE ARE THE KINDEST OUT OF ALL OF THEM !

[Video Drone]

Lord of the RingsI found that really heavy in terms of wording.

[Pensive]

I found that really heavy in terms of wording.

It's heavy (heavily good) when it comes to material as well! :D