Hello everyone,

Well I got a dictionary like many people suggested, the CEED by J.C. Wells. I saw a lot of places that generally sold them for $80, and I just got mine for $6, yippee!

And I got Robinsono Kruso. What are some other esperanto books that would be good to read?

In general, I suggest reading works composed in E-o rather than translations. There are plenty of recommendations in the library section of this website, but if you are having difficulty making a choice, here's a suggestion, assuming that you have already thoroughly read Gerda Malaperis:
1. Vere aŭ Fantazie
2. La Verda Koro.
After that (or during) I suggest taking out a subscription to Juna Amiko.

I really liked the novel "Kredu min, Sinjorino!" ("Believe me, Madam!") by Cezaro Rossetti.

It's a semi-autobiographical story of a traveling salesman who uses all kinds of not-very-honest ploys to get people to buy stuff. It was written originally in Esperanto.

I generally recommend short stories for beginners, though. If you're at the point in the language where your reading is still slow and you need to look up a lot of words, it is incredibly frustrating and demoralizing if it takes you days to get through just a few pages of a 200-page book. Short stories are good because the payoff is a lot quicker. For short stories, I recommend the books by Sten Johansson, who has written several books of stories in original Esperanto. You can also find some of his stories online, if you do a search; it is a good way to see if you like his stuff before buying a book.

The only Esperanto book I have read cover to cover is 'La Aventuroj de Jonatano Gullible'. It's a translation of the english 'The Adventures of Johnathan Gullible', but I think it's great for a first book. The chapters are only three or four pages long (don't worry, there are many to get through, it's still got a lot of content in it), and each chapter is almost stand alone. So if you don't completely understand a chapter, it won't mean you can't understand the rest of the book, due to missing the plot or anything.

I found it a LOT more pleasurable reading than 'Paŝoj al plena posedo', which is an original esperanto learners book. I really think it's a good idea to get a book that interests you, rather than a learners book. It gives you a lot more motivation. La Adventuroj is a book about libertarianism, so if you are interested in it, or can take criticism to collectivist ideas, then I really think it will be of huge interest. On the other hand, you might dismiss it as dirty-capitalist-pig-propaganda and burn it after the third page. But I really reccomend giving it a try!

By the way, just in case I didn't express enough, this book is easy enough for a beginner. The translators did a really good job, of converting the more tricky english words into esperanto ones. It was the first thing I read in Esperanto, so it's perfect for beginners.

J.H. Sullivan wrote a few engaging children's adventure stories in Esperanto, short enough to be published as booklets bound with staples. These include La junaj detektivoj and La Junaj Trezorserĉantoj.

You can read La junaj detektivoj for free (and many other books) on the following website:
http://donh.best.vwh.net/Esperanto/Literaturo/Nove...

Thanks a lot everyone Great advice and suggestions

quickstopme:
And I got Robinsono Kruso. What are some other esperanto books that would be good to read?

One of my first books was Winnie-La-Pu. I bought my copy from Kinko's for $5.62.

Here's the secret for finding books if you can't afford them. There are hundreds of esperanto novels, self teaching books, readers, etc., scattered throughout the U.S., including public libraries and University libraries, and some government libraries. If you know a title, say, Winnie-La-Pu, and it isn't in your library, walk boldly up to the librarian, and say "here on this paper is the name of a book, its author, date of publication, name of publisher", and any information you can dig up. "Please get me this book by means of an inter-library loan". I went to the librarian at the marvelous little public library in Marysville, TN (population somewhat over 3) and she let me know a few days latter that she located Winnie-La-Pu in the Chattanooga public library. I picked it up in Maryville, read it, liked it, found another copy at Kinko's. I returned the book to Maryville library, they returned it to Chatanooga. All transportation expense born by the library . Neat, cxu ne? I have also done this with a reference in a footnote to some obsure journal. Nashville public has a whole department of librarians eager to do this thing. A few days later I had a copy of the original work! - to take home and study.

I agree, pick a book that has an interesting subject. If it is difficult, that just means you attain fluency sooner, if you persist. Although, I laid La Alta Akvo aside for over five years, before I persisted. Life is interesting. All the online books that you can download and print out, gee, it's so hard to choose. And so cheap, if you don't like one, toss it and get another!

Oh great tip thanks!

At first I was like Marysville?? I live near there! But guess not, I'm in WA not TN