The whole "beginners need simple books" idea seems misleading. Difficulty isn't just about vocabulary; it's about how a story holds your attention. I tried some classic, supposedly easy recommendations and got bored. What worked was picking up something I was already curious about, even if the prose was dense. The interest carried me through. A friend who never reads finished 'Dune' because he loved the movie, jargon and all. So maybe the best book is one tied to a pre-existing fascination—a game, a show, a historical period. That internal motivation does more heavy lifting than any curated 'beginner-friendly' list ever could.
Ignore gatekeeping about what 'counts' as a proper book, too. Graphic novels, compelling non-fiction about a hobby, even well-written fanfic can build the reading muscle. The goal is to finish something and feel that click, not to check a box on a literary ladder.