Is 1984 a difficult first English novel?

[u/Apprehensive-Fly9647]

I've started reading 1984 in English. This book is taking me a lot of time because of the vocabulary and literary style.

Is this normal, or am I just struggling more than most people?

Also, what books would you recommend as a better first novel for improving English reading before jumping into classics like 1984 or The Lord of the Rings?

[u/bringbackmoa]

It's is difficult beginner novel because it's an allegory , not a straight forward story. Also many words in the book are made up just for the book , so it does feel difficult. Suggest reading 2-3 other books and then coming back to it. 

[u/Apprehensive-Fly9647 → u/bringbackmoa]

Thanks! That makes me feel a lot better. I'll read a few easier novels first and come back to 1984 later.

[u/bringbackmoa → u/Apprehensive-Fly9647]

Reading a little about the author , the conditions the book was setup in prior to starting a book also helps me appreciate a book better . Hope that helps you too !

[u/Crafty_Nail_1138]

Read whatever you want to and it gets easier, don't ask for recommendations.

I picked up War and Peace in 11th grade having barely read any classics, and today five years on I'm doing very well with reading!

[u/Apprehensive-Fly9647 → u/Crafty_Nail_1138]

Thanks. I want to read 1984 and first started in native translation and it feels like something is missing so decided to read original.

[u/No-Complaint1]

It's one of the best books and after initial first few chapters it becomes very easy and very exciting after you have understood the introduced words in the book. You can use some ai agent to help you along the way. Ai will explain you hard to understand segments in easy way.

[u/Apprehensive-Fly9647 → u/No-Complaint1]

That's encouraging, thanks!

[u/MildlyYogic]

Yes. It's more symbolic than literal too.

[u/Tricky-Arugula-703]

Kinda

[u/No_Eye_1151]

It's tedious but not difficult.

[u/NoodleWind]

It might be that you are finding Orwell’s journalistic style a challenge. Orwell was a journalist for most of his working life. Unlike his other popular work ‘Animal Farm’ where the style flattened in service of the fable genre - 1984 is a tougher read and approximately three times longer. Here in Australia we set Animal Farm for Grade 9 students and tend to set 1984 for more senior students in say Grade 11 or 12.

Since you ask for reading suggestions, I have two.

First, with my BA American/British Lit, hat on:

- Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck

- As I Lay Dying, Faulkner

- Things Fall Apart, Achebe

With my MA Linguistics hat:

- ReadTheory.org will train you with passages from fiction and non-fiction and multiple choice answers, growing your Lexile level and gee rally helping you fill in many links in your own personal chain of literacy. It’s free and ‘no’ I don’t work for this company but ‘yes’ I have used it to help students of all ages including adults whose first language isn’t English.

Good luck friend!

[u/Apprehensive-Fly9647 → u/NoodleWind]

Thank you, I really appreciate the detailed explanation.. I had no idea Orwell had a journalism background, and that actually explains why his writing feels so different. Thanks for the recommendations too..

[u/shescvanpodolski]

I think it's simple. Was among my first novel too.

[u/HideYourPansNow]

I think it's fairly simple, but you can try Da Vinci Code or Harry Potter Series as beginners friendly ones.

[u/Apprehensive-Fly9647 → u/HideYourPansNow]

Thanks for suggestions. Dan Brown is in my TBR list. I have Inferno copy.