I would also suggest 'The Guns of August' by Barbara Tuchman. Although it's more of a historical account with some fictional elements, it's very accessible. It gives a great overview of the early days of the war and the political and military build - up.
For beginners, 'All Quiet on the Western Front' is a must - read. It's straightforward in its narrative and really makes you feel what the soldiers went through. It's not overly complex in terms of language or plot.
'Regeneration' by Pat Barker is great for beginners. It focuses on the treatment of shell - shocked soldiers in a military hospital. It gives an insight into the psychological trauma that many soldiers faced during the war through the stories of the patients and the doctors treating them.
One more is 'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien. It's a collection of short stories that are semi - fictionalized accounts of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, but it has a lot of parallels and lessons that can be related to World War 2 in terms of the psychological and physical burdens soldiers carry.
I would say 'The Winds of War' by Herman Wouk. It's a sweeping epic that follows the Henry family through the events leading up to and during World War II. It covers a lot of different aspects of the war, from military strategy to the personal lives of the characters. It's really good at showing how the war affected the whole world.
One of the most famous is 'All Quiet on the Western Front' by Erich Maria Remarque. It vividly portrays the horror and futility of war from the perspective of a young German soldier. Another is 'The Red Badge of Courage' by Stephen Crane, which shows the psychological journey of a young soldier in the American Civil War.
'A Farewell to Arms' is also extremely well - known. Hemingway's writing style is so engaging. The relationship between Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley is complex and moving, and it's all set within the context of the war, showing how war affects personal relationships.
Definitely 'The Man in the High Castle'. It has been highly regarded and even adapted into a TV series. It makes people think about how different the world could be if the outcome of the war was different.
For beginners, 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' is a great start. It's a simple yet powerful story about a young boy who befriends a boy in a concentration camp, told in an accessible way. It gives a basic understanding of the horrors of the war.
One more is 'A Rumor of War' by Philip Caputo. Caputo was a Marine in Vietnam, and his book is a memoir - like novel that details his experiences, from the initial excitement of going to war to the disillusionment and horror he witnessed.
Well, 'The Quiet American' by Graham Greene is quite well - known. It's set during the early days of the Vietnam War and explores the political and cultural clashes. It's a thought - provoking read.
'The Naked and the Dead' by Norman Mailer is a great World War II fiction book. It shows the experiences of soldiers in the Pacific theater during the war. It delves deep into the psychology of the men at war, their relationships with each other, and the harsh realities of combat.