Pope Francis has called the faithful to read the Word of God more. For some people that seems scary but it shouldn't be. The Bible is not a big book like many people think. It's actually a tiny library with only 73 books. Many of these "books" are actually letters called epistles. Some of them are not even a page long. It isn't meant to be read straight through from beginning to end. In fact, if you attended mass every Sunday for three years, you have had 90% of it read to you already. Just remember to:
Pray before and after each time you read.
Listen to what God's trying to tell you with a faithful heart.
Know that the bible is not always meant to be interpreted literally.
The Bible is meant to be taken as a whole so don't pick out one scipture and interpret it separately.
If you get confused, feel free to ask a priest or catechist to help you understand.
These are the most commonly used translations approved by the Church:
NAB or New American Bible - originally published in 1970, this translation is used for Mass and has footnotes explaining a lot of the text. It's a very readable translation.
NABRE or New American Bible Revised Edition - originally published in 1990, this translation is just an updated version of the NAB.
RSV or Revised Standard Version - originally published in 1952, this translation is used by many scholars and is very easy to read but does not have footnotes.
NRSV or New revised Standard Version - origionally published in 1989, this translation is an updated version of the RSV .
ESV or English Standard Version - origionally published in 2001, this translation is an updated version of the NRSV.
GNT or Good News Translation - origionally published in 1976, this translation is simplified enough for kids to read. In fact, most kid's bibles use this translation.
Some people are better with Audiobooks. Here is a way to listen to the bible with a reflection at the end. This is completely free but they sell study materials if you want to dive a little deeper into it.