What classic texts and/or authors are best to read for building a strong SAT/GRE vocabulary?
I am an SAT tutor, and I have been asked this question a number of times by my students. I have inevitably replied: Dickens, Hawthorne, (F. Scott) Fitzgerald, and (James Fenimore) Cooper, because these are the authors whose works have forced me to crinkle my dictionary’s spine. Does anyone agree/disagree, or know of any other authors that should be added to my list?
Those are all good, I guess you could add Stevenson.
I recently read the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon. I kept a running list of words I had to look up, and I believe the total number of words was around 40. Don’t get me wrong- I’m not a well-seasoned English professor, but I do pride myself on my vocabulary.
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The Valley of the Dolls could be a surprising choice.
Hello! I’ve read somewhere that some classic books have been modified with embedded vocabulary to help prepare for the SAT exam. These vocabulary notes may be added as footnotes, written on the opposite page, or part of the book’s glossary.
The following books by Prestwick House, Inc. have the abovementioned modifications:
- Frankenstein (by Mary Shelly)
- Heart of Darkness (by Joseph Conrad)
I strongly agree with your choice of Dickens. I’ve read A Christmas Carol and found myself fumbling for the dictionary!