The German Language

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Welcome to the place to learn the German Language! Come here to discuss topics or quirks related to the German language, ask any questions about learning German, provide tips to current learners, and share your journey through the German-learning process!

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Easily written German books (self.german)

submitted 3 days ago by giriinthejungle to c/german

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hi everyone, I am looking to improve my German. I understand quite a bit by now but my spoken language is still child-like (I am somewhere B1+). Reading has always been something I enjoy. That being said: any (good) books you could recommend that are written by German-speaking writers and are "easy" to read? Just to say, I am not looking for children books - I need to be engaged with the story to read it. Thanks!

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[–] giriinthejungle 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thank you! I really don't mind teen books, I mean I read Adrian Mole many times including two years ago (I am in my thirties) and still laught out loud. I just need some plot I can connect with and which drives me to find out what happens next so that the book is not just my language textbook if that makes sense.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

ah, you being an adult makes reading Michael Ende even better imho, he wrote stories kids and teens could enjoy and relate to, but there is allways something in them i only really got as i grew older.

another thing to try would be to read translated works of authors you enjoy anyway, german book translations are often pretty good, atleast from my experience and knowing a book or author in the original language might enable you to read above your normal reading level.

maybe also try contemporary popular stuff.

If you are into thrillers Sebastian Fitzek is someone who tends produce "page turners" in the sense that they are very readable and don't require you to dig through tons of literary layers, but just enjoy a well constructed story. An old english teacher refered to books like this as "airport books", you'd buy them before the boarding the plane, read them an be entertained during the flight and be done with it.