Postby jeffers » Tue Jun 29,
A lot of the discussion on this thread has focused on pretty high level literature, which is great but not necessarity a good starting point. I found it helpful when I read these suggestions in an article by a controversial figure who nevertheless seems to produce some practical advice. The advice is probably aimed at upper beginner to lower intermediate learners, but the general tone could apply to learners at any level:
Lower your standards. Read only material in the second language that is genuinely fun and interesting, material that is so easy that you probably feel guilty reading it in your primary language. This is your excuse to read comics, magazines, detective stories, romances, etc. There is no shame in reading translations.
Reading at this stage does not have to make you a better person, does not have to give you insight into other cultures, and does not have to improve your knowledge of history or science. But if you do enough narrow reading, you will be much better prepared to read "demanding" texts.
Don't worry about pushing ahead rapidly to harder and to different material. This will happen on its own. The best way to expand might be a gradual movement from one field to a closely related field, taking advantage of the overlap in context and language.
If the book or magazine is too hard, or not really interesting, stop reading and find something else. The goal is to find material that is so engaging, and so easy, that you will forget that it is in another language. You want reading material that requires no self-discipline to read I don't think this has to be strictly followed. Personally I find it useful to vary the relative difficultey: sometimes read things which are too easy, sometimes read things which are too hard and sometimes read things which are just right. Each one has its own benefits.
For me, I always find joy in reading French when I am reading from the Petit Nicolas series. When I get stuck or bored with anything else, I can revive my delight in French by picking up one of these books.
Thank you so very much for your guidance.
After this disaster with M. Proust, I have been adrift and I think you are correct.
I studied my French for about 6 years and read an awful lot of books, but none of them prepared me for Proust. I must say in all honesty that it is not Proust's fault. Reading him in English on Gutenberg, I would not IMHO have enjoyed him anyway if I could have read him.
Rick is right, life is too short for "German or Proust."