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I'm looking to improve my German by reading a book, translating it as I go. That's pretty much how I learned LaTeX, C, Python, and Bash, so why can't it work with normal languages as well, right?

Are there any good sci-fi/fantasy novels or novella which aren't especially difficult to read that also have English translations (so I can compare my translation)? I tried The German version of An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire, but I think that was a bit above my level. I figure something more in the young adult section would be better.

I took German in college, so I do have a decent enough grasp of the grammar (or so I think). It's more my vocabulary, and familiarity with the conjugations that need work.

Tsundoku
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Nero gris
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    We cannot recommend "good books" because "good" is entirely subjective. Fortunately, there are many web sites that do provide this service. Amazon and Goodreads come to mind. I suggest looking up book reviews on these sites to find books you are likely to enjoy in your target language. – Flimzy Apr 23 '17 at 07:32
  • You can recommend books that you feel are good. As for these services, I've never really found such things to be useful. Personal recommendations have always been what I've found to use helpful. – Nero gris Apr 23 '17 at 15:44
  • Unfortunately, subjective recommendations are strictly off-topic on this web site. We focus on objective questions and answers as much as possible. – Flimzy Apr 23 '17 at 16:04
  • Apparently, you need 20 reps to use the chatroom. Posting a good answer or a good question should help. – Tsundoku Apr 25 '17 at 17:25
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    There is a related question on German.SE – Arsak Apr 25 '17 at 17:42
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    You can try almost anything by Cornelia Funke, her German is close to the spoken variety (not too "bookish") and not particularly difficult. Of course, there are some typical triggers of fantasy language in there. Another recommendation: Tschick by Wolfgang Herrndorf. – Sir Cornflakes Apr 27 '17 at 15:33
  • @jknappen I can also remember reading some of the Kalendergeschichten and the Geschichten vom Herrn Keuner by Bertolt Brecht. And later Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. – Tsundoku May 01 '17 at 19:11
  • Could you add a more precise description of your level? And replace "good" with that level as a selection criterion? See also Recent German novels (and other literature) for level B2. – Tsundoku May 16 '17 at 16:31
  • @Flimzy: This query is specifically about bi-lingual German sci-fi and fantasy literature or novellas that can be used as a learning resource, i.e., the name and/or authors of books that have or include [ English? ] translations of the printed text. Such resources clearly will enable the questioner to cross-check his/her own translation of the German text being read so that any mistakes he/she has made in his/her translation can be corrected. I have an excellent German grammar book that has a chapter titled "Bi-lingual Reading Exercises" that does that, but I can't answer a frozen query. – К. Келлогг Смиф Jul 28 '17 at 14:09

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