I usually read horror manga (Japanese comics) and normal manga. I want to try out “classic” books, so what books do you recommend for a beginner, that’s not to boring? I’ve heard people say “how to kill a mocking bird”, “pride and prejudice” and “lord of the flies”, but I’ve never tried them. Thanks in advance!
by CasualTheGreat
11 Comments
> “to kill a mocking bird”, “pride and prejudice” and “lord of the flies”
All good options, enjoy
The Hobbit
Pride and prejudice is pretty dense, I found it boring as a teenager but maybe you’ll like it. Lord of the flies and to kill a mockingbird are good, I also read flowers for Algernon and catcher in the rye around that age.
Please read The Count of Monte Cristo. It will not disappoint.
Find an author that grips you and read a few, at your age (i’m an old fart now) I loved Stephen King (start with Carrie, it’s accessible and quite short) and Bernard Cornwell’s “Sharpe” novels along with Tolkien and a few others. Also if you have a library near you join it and just browse. Jaws by Peter Benchley is also about right for 13 y.o, if you’ve seen the film it kinda helps get through the book if that makes sense.
Eragon is a bomb book, as well as TSiaSoS
Kidnapped! and Treasure Island by Stevenson.
Rocket Ship Galileo by Heinlein.
The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Weir.
Citizen Soldiers by Ambrose.
I would always recommend reading the Bible, but for your age specifically, read the book of Proverbs. I spent a lot of time in that one and it has always helped me.
I’d say don’t worry about classics for now, you can read them later when you’re a more experienced reader. For now read whatever grabs your attention.
I work at a school and some books that the kids get real obsessed with are:
Skulduggery pleasant by dirk Landy (I’ve read these books and can confirm that they’re dope.) This is about an Irish girl your age kicking the crap out of supernatural threats. Her mentor is a skeleton with a handgun.
Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan (I’ve read the first one as well and it’s great. Nothing like the movies.) Supernatural summer camp. Kid your age beating up gods.
The grand master of demonic cultivation series and the heaven official’s blessing series. Both amazing Chinese series that are now manga, comics and anime, but both started as novel series. Basically about beautiful, gay, immortal, ghost fighting Taoists.
If you’re ok with romance, you could start with the heartstopper graphic novels, then move on to the novellas and novels.
Try both the book and the movie of *Howl’s Moving Castle* by Diana Wynne Jones (book) and Hayao Miyazaki (movie). Your library may have them.
For shorter classic books: *Anne of Green Gables* by L. M. Montgomery. Ebooks are available free on Project Gutenberg Canada.
I really liked *To Kill a Mockingbird*.
*Sabriel, Lirael* and *The Abhorson* by Garth Nix.
Big cudos to you man. That is impressive. Stick with it. The thing is that some literature unpacks itself as you mature and that you might not be attuned to all of it yet. There are certainly some – if not many – you’ll read just fine, and can enjoy. My point is: don’t be discouraged if you feel things are getting a bit lost on you.
Don Quixote is long but really funny and *absolutely* classic! It’s from the start 1600’s but it reads like a modern novel – it was the first novel as we know ‘em today, I think.
The Bridge on the Drina by Bosnian author Ivo Andrič. Very powerful, very good. Covers a looong long period of time and informs you of the spirit of a Bosnian mountain town by the river Drina.
For a quick-ish read (not too verbose, engaging content)
– Percy Jackson series (and all others) by Rick Riordan
– Contest, Hover Car Racer by Maththew Reilly
– Miss Perigrine’s house for Peculiar Children (series) by Ransom Riggs
Something more “classical”?
– Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
– Ender’s Game (series) by Orson Scott Card
– Rendezvouswith Rama, Songs of distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke
– Neil Gaiman (novels and comics)
Since you like horror, also try works by HP Lovecraft.