Many people who study English, especially intermediate and advanced students, often ask their teachers what books in English they should read. In order for the book to be easy enough to understand and at the same time present a certain challenge, it was a kind of step, climbing which one could improve the understanding of the language.
In this article, you will find some tips for choosing literature for reading and a couple of vocabulary words that are often found in fiction books.
Reading is a good way to build up an active vocabulary, you see grammar in action and develop your understanding of the language. The only question is how to choose the right book.
For beginners, it is better to take something short in format and uncomplicated. It is better to put the classics aside: as a rule, most of the classical works are written in archaic language. Or you can read adapted classics. “To kill a mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Tales of mystery and imagination” by Edgar Allan Poe, “Sherlock Holmes“, “Mr, Jekyll and mr. High” Robert Louis Stevenson.
It is better to start with fairy tales and other children’s literature. Roald Dahl has written many good books such as “Fantastic Mr. fox”. Dr. Seuss’s books are rhyming, funny and sure to make you smile. “The Cat in the Hat” is probably his most famous work. If you’re reading something light, you’re more likely to finish the book.
More advanced readers can try to master “The Hobbit” by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. The book is small in scope – but not in impact – and if you’ve already seen the film adaptation, you’ll find it easier to follow the storylines and focus more on vocabulary and grammar. If historical events are your thing, “I am David” Anna Holmes is likely to be to your liking. This is a short story about a boy trying to find his mother. Events unfold during the Second World War.
If you don’t have time for a whole book, why not read the “Revolting Rhymes” stories by Roald Dahl? There are many short stories here. 5-6 pages of rhymed prose based on fairy tales will introduce you to new expressions, and at the same time you will have the feeling of completeness that you have read the story to the end.
Or take Roger Hargreaves’ “Mr. Men and Little Miss”. And although this book is designed for children aged 6-8 years, you can still learn basic vocabulary from it.
Words and expressions that are often found in literary texts:
Mercy – mercy, kindness. Stephen King also has a psychological thriller with the same name.
Show me mercy, show sympathy for me – Show kindness, mercy to me. In general, mercy is what you show towards a person or have for someone.
These phrases are often found in plots when, for example, some literary hero loses in a stubborn struggle with another character and asks for mercy. The expression “Show me mercy” is found in adventure literature and historical chronicles, for example, in stories about ancient gladiators and medieval knights.
- Misery – (n.) – suffering, torment.
- Miserable – (adj.) – miserable, nasty.
- What a miserable weather – What a terrible weather.
- Forge – to fake, illegally copy something.
- Usually used in such phrases:
- Forging money – counterfeiting.
- Forging a person signature – signature forgery.
- Maybe, when you were a child you would forge your parents’ signature. (Perhaps when you were a child, you forged your parents’ signature in your diary.)
- Disturb – disturb someone, disturb,
- Someone can come in and disturb you while you’re working. (Someone to come and distract you from work.)
- Immense – orgomic, huge, boundless, immeasurable.
- The buildings in New York are immense (extremely large). The buildings in New York are huge (extremely large).
Read what interests you – whether it’s adventure or detective stories. Read the abstract and decide if it will interest you. What genres are you interested in? Find the same in English-language literature. This way, you’ll be more likely to enjoy the book and not feel like reading is a chore.
You can find more useful and interesting information about learning English on the Grade.ua blog.
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