For a more light - hearted read, 'Paddington' by Michael Bond is a good option. The story of the bear from Peru arriving in London is both charming and gives a different view of the city. It shows London through the eyes of an outsider, which is quite interesting.
Peter Ackroyd's 'London: The Biography' is a remarkable work. It's not a traditional novel but reads like one in parts. It delves deep into the history of London, exploring different periods and events that have shaped the city. Through Ackroyd's writing, you get a sense of London as a living, breathing entity with all its quirks and charms.
One highly recommended London - set fictional book is 'Howards End' by E.M. Forster. It examines class differences in London society. 'The Invisible Man' by H.G. Wells also has a connection to London as the story unfolds in the city. And 'The London Train' by Tessa Hadley is a more contemporary look at the lives of people in London, their relationships and their daily experiences.
For beginners, 'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thomas is a great 2017 fiction book. It's written in a very accessible style and deals with important themes like racism and police brutality. It also has a strong and relatable main character.
For beginners, 'High Fidelity' is a good start. It's easy to read and really gets you into the world of music lovers. The characters are relatable and the music references are fun. Another is 'The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto'. It has a simple yet engaging story that can introduce you to the idea of music - centered fiction.
For beginners, 'Fiction Writing for Dummies' can be useful. It simplifies the concepts of teaching fiction.
For beginners, 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' is an excellent choice. The stories are relatively short and easy to follow. Holmes' deductive reasoning is fascinating to read about as he solves mysteries around London.
For beginners, 'Sherlock Holmes' stories are a great start. They are easy to follow and Holmes is such an iconic detective. His adventures around London are really engaging.
One of the great London - set fiction books is 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens. It vividly portrays the slums and social strata of London in the 19th century. Another is 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess, which gives a unique and often disturbing view of a future London. And 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf is also a classic, exploring a day in the life of a London woman and the city around her.
For beginners, 'Chandamama Kathalu' can be a great start. It contains short and simple stories that are easy to understand. These stories often have moral lessons and are set in a traditional Telugu backdrop, which helps in getting a feel of the Telugu culture.
A really interesting one is 'Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non - Monogamy' by Rachel Krantz. Although it's a memoir - style book, it reads like a novel in many parts. It's very honest about the author's experiences in non - monogamous relationships, which can be really helpful for those new to polyamory in fiction.