What is a high standing, interesting, readable book by an English author?

Question

Hello, I am going to be a senior, and for our summer English assignment we are to chose a book by and English author to read. This book has to be somewhat high standing and serious, no Harry Potter :( I have considered reading 1984 it's kind of long though, if you think 1984 is worth reading let me know also. Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

If you are interested in shorter 'classic' books by eminent authors, what about one of these:



Frankenstein by Mary Shelley



Robinson Crusoe by daniel Defoe



The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson



Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley



A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens



Black Beauty by Anna Sewell



The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley



The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray



... any of these books would be wonderful and enjoyable for your reading pleasure, a great introduction to English literature and a terrific focus for an assignement!



Good luck :-)

Answer 2

If 1984 is too long for you then how about Animal Farm, also by George Orwell. In Animal Farm the satire is closer to the surface and it's easier to read. Also there are characters who will remind you of Trotsky, Lenin, etc.

Answer 3

SHOGUN by james clavell is easily the best book ive ever read. its twice the read as the da vinci code(2nd best book ive ever read). however, if you arent looking for a long book, shogun is not for you. its about 1200 pages long, but i figure that is the reason i like it so much. it gives you plenty of time to get to know the characters. the first time i opened it, it took me about three days to read, because i could not put it down. if you are interested in japenese culture, and samuri and their honor code AT ALL, this is the book for you. (note: this book does not accurately portray samuri, but then again neither does any other work of fiction.) the 2 major setbacks to this book are time, and the ability to picture 30 different characters in your head. it is in depth. the previous person suggested ivanhoe. also a long one. if you want short and to the point, i would suggest the da vinci code. dont get too involved with the factual(or not?), and stick to the story.

Answer 4

'1984' is excellent. Other possibilities include:



'Lord Of the Flies', by William Golding

'Oliver Twist', by Charles Dickens

'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens

'Heart Of Darkness', by Joseph Conrad

'The 39 Steps', by John Buchan

'Brave New World', by Aldous Huxley

Answer 5

1984 is worth reading. Its a little dense but its a good level and importantly interesting with twists.

But if you dont want to do that I would recommend something y dickens as well

Answer 6

I would recommend Oliver Twist or Great Expectations. Both are fairly easy to read and very entertaining. I think you might enjoy Oliver Twist a lot. Pax - C

Answer 7

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

1984 is good though

one of Shakespeare's plays? like Hamlet, Macbeth or Othello

Answer 8

The Notebook?

A walk to remember?

The wedding?



They are some of Nicholas Sparks' novels. they're very nice! but I prefer, A walk to remember! coz it tals more on the purpose of life and the different faces of love.



So, try it.

Answer 9

Note:



Mark Twain is as AMERICAN as they come, so strike him off the list!



No one has yet mentioned Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.



(you've gotten a lot of great options!)

Answer 10

Ivanhoe?



Sir Walter Scott was Scottish, but it's close enough I say.