Books to read in another language
Start with a language you can already read a little. A classic can be harder than a modern textbook. Use the sample before choosing.
English
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has a clear adventure plot. Sherlock Holmes lets you work through one case at a time.
German
Die Verwandlung is short, but its sentences can be demanding. Read the opening before deciding. Faust is a harder choice because of its verse and older language.
French
Candide moves through short chapters. Its satire needs context. Madame Bovary is better suited to readers comfortable with longer descriptions.
Spanish
Lazarillo de Tormes is shorter than Don Quijote. Both use older language. Neither is a beginner course.
Polish
Try a shorter work such as Katarynka or Latarnik before a long book.
Latvian
Read a sample of Andriksons or Nāves ēnā. Pick the one whose opening you can follow.
When to translate
Try the sentence first. Ask for a translation when you lose the meaning. Then read the original again.