"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" by John Gray - entertaining reading for women i think "Parliament of Whores" by PJ O'Rourke - the US government explained using humour (to be read with an open mind) "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy - Russian classic and very realistic novel filled with intrigue at every turn "Born for Love" by Leo Buscaglia - insightful and inspiring

Hi. To read classics in foreign languages could be a practical way to enlarge your vocabulary but do remember you have to be very patient than ever. Some of them are not as entertaining as those best-sellers which you see from the bookstore windows. In this case, my suggestion would be some biographies though I myself don't read too many of them. Most of these biographies could provide you with more vivid and more trendy language and are more helpful than mere learning materials. Don't get too disturbed with these heavy books only if it is necessary. So here my recommendation would be: Marguerite Duras-A Life by Laure Adler and Anne-Marie Glasheen Good luck.