<p>^^^ Scoring high on the verbal will require more than high school reading. Yes, you should read – a lot – but your selections should require a higher level of vocabulary and concentration than reading Salinger or Vonnegut. Henry James and Edith Wharton – yes. Pearl Buck, Salinger, Vonnegut – for fun and edification only, not for improving reading comprehension or vocabulary.</p>
<p>I recommend reading a wide variety of challenging literature: scholarly articles and classic literature. If your sole goal is to improve your score on the verbal GRE, avoid articles targeted to a broad, layman, or popular readership. Try to read both in your field and outside of it, to expose yourself to vocabulary you might not otherwise encounter. Context can teach you the nuances of certain words, something that memorization cannot always accomplish.</p>