You could also consider 'Dead Stars' by Paz Marquez - Benitez. It's a relatively short story that is well - written and can introduce readers to the themes and writing styles often found in Filipino fiction, such as themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
I would recommend 'Noli Me Tangere'. It's a great starting point as it gives a good overview of the Filipino society during the Spanish colonial era. The language is accessible and the story is engaging with themes like love, betrayal, and social justice that are easy to understand.
The 'May Day Eve' by Nick Joaquin is considered among the best. It beautifully weaves together elements of Filipino superstition, family, and love. Also, 'Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa?' by Lualhati Bautista is a significant work that touches on the life of a modern Filipino woman, dealing with themes like motherhood, relationships, and social expectations.
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, 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien is a great choice. It has an exciting adventure with Bilbo Baggins and his encounter with dwarves, a dragon, and all sorts of magical creatures. The language is not too difficult and the story is really captivating.
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.
A good starting point could be 'Johnny Tremain' by Esther Forbes. It's set during the American Revolution and is easy to understand. Another one is 'The Sign of the Beaver' which gives a good look at the relationship between a white boy and Native Americans in colonial times.
For beginners, 'La sombra del viento' (The Shadow of the Wind) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a great choice. It has a captivating plot set in Barcelona that involves mystery, love, and books. The language is accessible and it draws you into the world of Spanish literature.
For beginners, 'The Martian' by Andy Weir is a great choice. It's easy to follow and has a really engaging story about an astronaut stranded on Mars. It's full of science and survival elements. Another good one is 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline. It has a lot of 80s pop - culture references which are fun, and it's set in a virtual reality world in the future.
I would recommend 'I, Robot' by Isaac Asimov. It's a collection of short stories that introduce the famous Three Laws of Robotics. The stories are simple yet thought - provoking, and they give a good introduction to Asimov's ideas about robotics and artificial intelligence. 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells is also a good choice. It's a short novel that explores the concept of time travel in a very imaginative way. And 'Starship Troopers' by Robert A. Heinlein is an accessible read. It's about a future military and the fight against alien bugs, with some interesting ideas about citizenship and duty.