I love English and I'm from south-south Nigeria. Like many over here,I started speaking English and pidgin English from my earliest childhood. The problem with some of us from West Africa is that we do not get enough imput of the English language during our childhood. So, even if we say English has been our 'ligua franca' -- first language, you may have a little doubt. Reading, recently, has been my be-all-and-end-all where imput is concerned. It's dragging when I read old classic books and they seem not to help much in making me as fluent as I wish. Please tell me what're best to read and assimilate enjoyably with ease. Such, if any, will be the end of my quest. I'm looking forward to your assistance.Thank you
WHAT SORT OF NOVELS ARE BEST FOR THE ENGLISH-HUNGRIES?
Well, You should read novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. They are awesome in terms of gripping you till the end. He is my favorite novelist.
Probably you should also try reading novels of Stephen King, Dan Brown and Elmord leanord. To be honest, you should try those novels in which you should forget the language and instead feel engrossed in the plot. That's what we call "interesting input". It'd be equally great if you could listen to such novels as well. I found listen-read method quite useful for learning English. So you need to buy audiobooks as well.
Probably you should also try reading novels of Stephen King, Dan Brown and Elmord leanord. To be honest, you should try those novels in which you should forget the language and instead feel engrossed in the plot. That's what we call "interesting input". It'd be equally great if you could listen to such novels as well. I found listen-read method quite useful for learning English. So you need to buy audiobooks as well.
I agree with Guest about Elmore Leonard. Nobody writes contemporary American dialogue as well as he does. Carl Hiaasen is also good, and quite funny.
For British English you can try the Harry Potter series. Not just for kids!
For British English you can try the Harry Potter series. Not just for kids!
I'd agree with the Harry Potters, Stephen King, Dan Brown, basically go for anything relatively modern. If you start reading classics, or Conan Doyle, you will come across a type of English that just isn't spoken any more, which will not be very helpful at all.
Someone who's hungry for English, I suppose.
I'd stick to modern novels, Jack, unless you really like period prose. For most of us, that's more of an acquired taste.
Is there a particular subject or genre you like? That might help us point you in the right direction.
I'd stick to modern novels, Jack, unless you really like period prose. For most of us, that's more of an acquired taste.
Is there a particular subject or genre you like? That might help us point you in the right direction.
There's a famine going on in Nigeria as we speak, and so the poor people there have to eat books that were send by the American humanitarian aid.
Thanks for your response, though from three: Guest, Guest2 and Uriel, it feels like getting it from a thousand experts ready to be of some help to me. Thanks once again. On a different note, Guest, did you say there's famine in Nigeria? Well, I haven't heard of such. I don't think my country has ever gone through famine since I was born. You can say that there are poor people scattered here and there because, like the South-south region, they're maginalized. I'm not saying that there are not the well-to-dos in this area too. Or book-hugary are what Nigerians are experiencing?
Uriel, do you want to help any further?
Uriel, do you want to help any further?
lol it's a really stupid metaphor in many countries. books are considered "delicious" or "saliva-inducing" and you "avariciously eat" when they're "tasty"
According to Webster dictionary there are three different spellings: chile, chili and chil·li.
What about Nigerian writers? Have you tried any of these?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nigerian_writers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nigerian_writers
As a complete break from all the usual and abundant "classics" in the English Language, and for really up to date contemporary action, why not try the novels of Ian Rankin? His hero (and mine) is Inspector Rebus. But I am more than just a we bit prejudiced - all his novels (and they are pretty numerous) are set in my own home area. :-)