To cultivate one's taste in English prose, the most effective way is to read English books extensively. Yet one may be at a loss to choose the appropriate books, especially as a beginner. I would like to share some of my experience.
My first English novel was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, recommended by many English teachers and professors as an ideal book for English learners. But my experience was somewhat disastrous1. Stumbling along the lines, I had great difficulty in understanding the novel, let alone enjoying it. It's not the vocabulary that troubled me, but rather the way Austen constructs sentences, and her way of thinking, which seemed too remote to me at that time. My fading enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway's novel Farewell to Arms. No long and complicated sentences. And I particularly liked his concise2 and straightforward3 style. So my first suggestion is, as a beginner, you'd better choose contemporary novels instead of classical ones. You can easily engage yourself in reading, get fun out of it, and gradually build up confidence. I do not mean to exclude classical novels for ever. Actually, the second reading of Pride and Prejudice greatly pleased me (probably the result of my improved English comprehension). It is only that classical novels are less accessible to beginners due to their language styles and social background. I'd like to recommend three contemporary novelists to you－Ursula Le Guin, Ernest Hemingway, and Doris Lessing. 易優(yōu)作文批改系統(tǒng)，易優(yōu)作文批改、易優(yōu)作文點評 <a href=http://www.zequeka.cn/jiaoshoulanmu/>易優(yōu)作文批改</A>
However, reading novels is not the only way to improve your English. In fact, if you restrict yourself to novels you will miss a lot of treasures. English essays can at once inform you, entertain you, and refine your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell's work. Its language is plain, yet you cannot help feeling the elegance4 and the peculiar5 sense of humor. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. The same is true of George Orwell's work. Here comes my second suggestion－essays are indispensable.
My last advice is never follow others' recommendations and opinions blindly, however famous or influential6 the person might be. Some days ago, I listened to the audiobook of Somerset Maugham's autobiography7 The Summing Up. In a chapter he regards Edward Gibbon and Samuel Johnson's style as pompous8. Though I admire Maugham's prose, I cannot agree with his view. Probably one can label Johnson's work as pretentious9, but definitely not Gibbon's. In fact, his lucid10 style makes his works highly readable, and you can hardly believe they were written over 200 years ago. Therefore, we should be open to various ideas, but always think and determine for ourselves. As a saying goes, one man's meat is another man's poison. With that in mind, we are bound to find out our favorite writers through reading and develop our fine taste in English. 在線批改作文，<a href=http://www.zequeka.cn/jiaoshoulanmu/>易優(yōu)名師作文批改</a>
1 disastrous
adj.災(zāi)難性的，造成災(zāi)害的；極壞的，很糟的
參考例句：
The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成災(zāi)。 Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投資結(jié)果很慘，血本無歸。
2 concise
adj.簡潔的，簡明的
參考例句：
The explanation in this dictionary is concise and to the point.這部詞典里的釋義簡明扼要。 I gave a concise answer about this.我對于此事給了一個簡要的答復(fù)。 易優(yōu)作文網(wǎng)名師改作文（http://www.zequeka.cn/jiaoshoulanmu/ ）,易優(yōu)作文評分系統(tǒng)，易優(yōu)作文打分系統(tǒng)。
3 straightforward
adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，簡單的
參考例句：
A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直說。 I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你給我一個直截了當(dāng)?shù)幕卮?。
4 elegance
n.優(yōu)雅；優(yōu)美，雅致；精致，巧妙
參考例句：
The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.這個房間的家具帶給這房間一種優(yōu)雅的氣氛。 John has been known for his sartorial elegance.約翰因為衣著講究而出名。
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5 peculiar
adj.古怪的，異常的；特殊的，特有的
參考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的樣子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一種很奇怪的表情看著我。
6 influential
adj.有影響的，有權(quán)勢的
參考例句：
He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他總是試圖巴結(jié)最有影響的人物 。 He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是個很有影響的人物。
7 autobiography
易優(yōu)作文網(wǎng)名師改作文（http://www.zequeka.cn/jiaoshoulanmu/ ）
n.自傳
參考例句：
He published his autobiography last autumn.他去年秋天出版了自己的自傳。 His life story is recounted in two fascinating volumes of autobiography.這兩卷引人入勝的自傳小說詳述了他的生平。
8 pompous
adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪華的
參考例句：
He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有點自大，自視甚高。 He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表雖傲慢，其實是個好人。
9 pretentious
adj.自命不凡的，自負(fù)的，炫耀的
參考例句：
He is a talented but pretentious writer.他是一個有才華但自命不凡的作家。 Speaking well of yourself would only make you appear conceited and pretentious.自夸只會使你顯得自負(fù)和虛偽。
10 lucid
adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，頭腦清楚的
參考例句：
His explanation was lucid and to the point.他的解釋扼要易懂。 He wasn't very lucid,he didn't quite know where he was.他神志不是很清醒，不太知道自己在哪里
