Fun Facts - Novel Writing and Book Recommendations
Have you ever thought about writing a novel? Now is your chance to do it, and join a huge community of fellow writers. November is “National Novel Writing Month".
National Writing Month is an annual project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1st and 30th. It is open to people all over the world.
Writing is a great way to learn a language. It gives you time to practice the language and use all the vocabulary you know at the same time. It also can help make you a better listener! You might find yourself listening to how people talk and what they say for inspiration.
Many authors say some of the best inspiration they've received is from other authors, and their favorite novels. Plus, reading in English will make you even more confident to write in English.
We’ve asked some of the staff at Kaplan to recommend their favorite novels for learning English to us. If you’re hoping to start a book of your own or just love reading; you might want to take a look at some of these!
| Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; recommended by Bhupinder, Design TeamThe Harry Potter series is a huge hit with everyone in the Kaplan office! It follows Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger, who are all students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The book has many themes including fantasy, adventure and romance. It has become a famous book for helping people to study the English language. They are one of the most famous British series of books of all time and are the best-selling books series in history. |
| The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger; recommended by Sara, German Team The Catcher in the Rye is an American bestseller. It is set in 1950s and is narrated by a young man named Holden Caulfield, who is a rebel. It is an American classic and the novel's narrator and main character, Holden Caulfield, has become an American icon. |
| Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut; recommended by Candida, Blog EditorKurt Vonnegut is an American writer. His books have a great reputation with people who speak English as their second language. Cat’s Cradle explores the issues of science, technology and religion. The text is full of simple sentences and is easy to read, though the concepts are complex. |
| Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; recommended by Maria, Russian TeamAlice in Wonderland tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world, which is full of strange creatures. It is a popular story with both adults and children, as it contains lots of beautiful allegories and play on words. The book has been adapted into two Hollywood films, by Disney and Tim Burton. |
Have you ever thought about writing your own novel? What is your favorite book in English? Let us know in the comments or on our facebook page.