I'm looking for a book

[Honest]

Hello, all,
I hope you will get what I'm looking for:

I usually write in simple English--simple words, simple structure :'(
I usually go back to what I wrote and change some words; like, avoid -> evade; relieve-> assuage; stick-> adhere, etc.

So, I would like to read a book, even for several times, to train myself to imitate the book and benefit from it. Either a book, or a writer. I usually prefer short books :)

Note: English is my second language.

Thanks all in advance!

[_Shannon_]

Hemingway seems like your man.

[bounty]

i agree with shannon, and oddly enough, its one of the reasons i dont like hemingway all that much.

[mal4mac]

Why not just read literature in the same way you would in your first language?! Then your English will improve anyway, and you'll have more fun. Just keep a dictionary handy! I would try a variety of authors who are renowned for writing good, straightforward English - Dickens and Twain are good (given your location Huckleberry Finn might be one to start with - it might bear a quick re-reading, if you *really* want to go that route. I just read it and would not mind reading the early 'floating down the river' chapters again today - amazing, I felt like I was actually there.)

[kelby_lake]

If you want to improve your vocabulary, try Dickens. Maybe start with A Christmas Carol, seeing as that's short so you'll easily be able to re-read it.

[Honest]

Hemingway seems like your man.

Thanks. The only book I read for Hemingway was The Old Man and the Sea. I will try to read his other famous novels:)


i agree with shannon, and oddly enough, its one of the reasons i dont like hemingway all that much.

Do you mean you don't like him because he uses "big" words? I hope they are "big" not archaic. I remembered once I wrote in my paper, the word "amongst" and the professor crossed it out because--as she said--an old word :'(


Why not just read literature in the same way you would in your first language?! Then your English will improve anyway, and you'll have more fun. Just keep a dictionary handy! I would try a variety of authors who are renowned for writing good, straightforward English - Dickens and Twain are good (given your location Huckleberry Finn might be one to start with - it might bear a quick re-reading, if you *really* want to go that route. I just read it and would not mind reading the early 'floating down the river' chapters again today - amazing, I felt like I was actually there.)

HHhmmm, Mark Twain's are full of "slang" words. I read Huckleberry Finn, and long time ago Tom Sawyer. I can't stand that!
I like Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice and Virgina Wolf's Mrs. Dallowy.
Also, I like Great Gatsby. My language changed a bit after I read those three works... I don't know if you notice any common ground between these three!

Thanks!

[kelby_lake]

Do you mean you don't like him because he uses "big" words? I hope they are "big" not archaic. I remembered once I wrote in my paper, the word "amongst" and the professor crossed it out because--as she said--an old word :'(

Hemingway doesn't use big words. I think they suggested him to you because his prose was written in a simple style.

[Honest]

If you want to improve your vocabulary, try Dickens. Maybe start with A Christmas Carol, seeing as that's short so you'll easily be able to re-read it.

I read a lot of Dickens' but I've never of A Christmas Carol. I will try reading it soon, thanks a lot!

[kelby_lake]

HHhmmm, Mark Twain's are full of "slang" words. I read Huckleberry Finn, and long time ago Tom Sawyer. I can't stand that!
I like Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice and Virgina Wolf's Mrs. Dallowy.
Also, I like Great Gatsby. My language changed a bit after I read those three works... I don't know if you notice any common ground between these three!

Thanks!

If you tell me what you liked about Pride and Prejudice and The Great Gatsby, I'll try and recommend you something.

[de Renal]

I agree with mal4mac - read books in English as if it was your first language. You don't have to read classics; when I started to read in English, classics were too hard for me, so I first read Nick Hornby - he writes in English, but you don't need to kill yourself with the structure of the sentence to understand what he wanted to say. I'm sure that in time you will be able to read more and more difficult stuff. Also, you can try to memorize some parts of the book, and what helps most is writing! If you try to paraphrase what you read and put it on paper, I'm sure that you will master the beauty of the language in no time!
Good luck!

[Honest]

If you tell me what you liked about Pride and Prejudice and The Great Gatsby, I'll try and recommend you something.


I noticed many literary words in Great Gatsby. That what I'm looking for: beautiful and strong language-that helps the reader to improve his/her writing. I read many novels, but I could not read Great Gatsby without a dictionary!

thanks!


I agree with mal4mac - read books in English as if it was your first language. You don't have to read classics; when I started to read in English, classics were too hard for me, so I first read Nick Hornby - he writes in English, but you don't need to kill yourself with the structure of the sentence to understand what he wanted to say. I'm sure that in time you will be able to read more and more difficult stuff. Also, you can try to memorize some parts of the book, and what helps most is writing! If you try to paraphrase what you read and put it on paper, I'm sure that you will master the beauty of the language in no time!
Good luck!

I really like the idea of paraphrasing and imitation. Again, my goal is to improve my sentence structure. Any suggested books to imitate? What the book of Nick Hornby was about?

[SwedishDemocrac]

Hi Honest,

I think Hemingway is a fantastic place to begin. Many of his short stories are as good if not better than his novels, so I would start there.

[AuntShecky]

Read The Elements of Style, a very slim book by Strunk and White. It presents answers to the questions you asked, and may be a logical first step before trying to write from models.

[PeterL]

There is a better way to learn to imitate or emulate the writing of an author. Read Style and Structures by Charles Kay Smith for the method.

[Honest]

AuntShecky and PeterL thank you for these suggestions :)

[acdouglas92]

Read The Elements of Style, a very slim book by Strunk and White. It presents answers to the questions you asked, and may be a logical first step before trying to write from models.

Absolutely. I found that to be an invaluable tool when I was learning to write, and now I'm writing short stories with ease...well kinda, to my heart's content. Learn the rudiments before you try your hand at the finer points of the language; not to sound condescending, but it will really help your writing in the end.

[hoope]

Why not just read literature in the same way you would in your first language?! Then your English will improve anyway, and you'll have more fun. Just keep a dictionary handy! I would try a variety of authors who are renowned for writing good, straightforward English - Dickens and Twain are good (given your location Huckleberry Finn might be one to start with - it might bear a quick re-reading, if you *really* want to go that route. I just read it and would not mind reading the early 'floating down the river' chapters again today - amazing, I felt like I was actually there.)

I agree with Mal4mac and Kelby kelt .. try starting with Dickens ( though its bit hard sometimes ) but Christmas Carol is so good and u will learn alot - its not a big book too .. Dickens Christman book contains couple short stories and they wil help increase ur vocabulary alot.


Good luck !

[kelby_lake]

I noticed many literary words in Great Gatsby. That what I'm looking for: beautiful and strong language-that helps the reader to improve his/her writing. I read many novels, but I could not read Great Gatsby without a dictionary!


Tender is The Night is another good book by the same author. Some people prefer it to Gatsby.

[Honest]

Absolutely. I found that to be an invaluable tool when I was learning to write, and now I'm writing short stories with ease...well kinda, to my heart's content. Learn the rudiments before you try your hand at the finer points of the language; not to sound condescending, but it will really help your writing in the end.

Thank you. I read about the book through amazon and noticed it is a bit old. I hope there are no outdated words!!! Thanks again!

[Honest]

I agree with Mal4mac and Kelby kelt .. try starting with Dickens ( though its bit hard sometimes ) but Christmas Carol is so good and u will learn alot - its not a big book too .. Dickens Christman book contains couple short stories and they wil help increase ur vocabulary alot.


Good luck !

Thanks, Hoope, I will read what you've suggested.
Best.

[Honest]

Tender is The Night is another good book by the same author. Some people prefer it to Gatsby.

Oh, Ok. I've never heard about the book. Is it a bit philosophical like Great Gatsby? I like that kinds of books. Thanks!!