Adapted Literature English. We filter adapted books in English. Can a dictionary be used
Adapted books in English.
Reading books will improve:
What are adapted books in English
Adapted books in English (or Readers) are books that use simplified and commonly used words and expressions, i.e. these books are adapted for those who study a foreign language. It can be a retelling of a classic work or movie, a biography of a famous person, or the original, originally written in easy language.
Such books are divided into levels - from Starter (initial level) to Advanced (advanced level). Depending on the level, the book will contain easier or correspondingly more difficult words and grammar.
Thus, the easiest book will be marked as Starter and will contain only the most basic English words and turns of speech. As a rule, it is about 200 words. This book will be a great help at the very beginning level of language learning.
Levels and Vocabulary
What are the advantages of adapted literature
- Levels- You can choose the book that suits you;
- Exercises- In such books there are additional exercises that help you remember new words and expressions;
- Dictionary- They have small dictionaries, so you do not have to be distracted by another book or the Internet to look up the meaning of the word;
- Audio- Such books, as a rule, are accompanied by audio discs with a recording of the text of the book, read at a pace suitable for a given level of knowledge of the language (sometimes, instead of a disc, you can find a link to a resource where you can download the audio for the book);
- Additional materials- On the publisher's website you can download additional materials for the book, which will help you to fully reveal the educational potential of the book.
Information that can be found on the cover of the book (click on the picture to enlarge it)
How to choose an adapted book
Adapted literature is published by both foreign and Russian publishing houses. I would advise you to opt for foreign publishers - such as Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford, Penguin readers, Black Cat (to visit the publisher's website, click on its name). It's 100% verified, up-to-date, trustworthy study guides written by professionals in their field. It is these publishing houses that provide the most complete support to their customers - on the publisher's website you can always find additional materials - exercises, games, tests for books, download examples of books and audio, purchase e-books.
When buying, please note:
1. Is the level of the book right for you? Open the book to any page - read a few sentences.
This book is right for you if
- On one page, no more than one or two words that are not familiar to you
- You can read 8-10 lines per minute
- You understand most of what you read
- You read as you would read in your native language
Most often, when choosing a book, you can confidently rely on a level system. If you do not know your level, take a test on the website of one of the above publishers:
Black Cat test
Test from Macmillan
Test from Oxford publishing house
2. Is there a bookaudio, and in what form is it? - some publishers offer to go to the site and download the audio file, others attach an audio disc to the book itself.
4. Even if you are just starting to learn the language, do not be afraid to buy books where all tasks are given in English. Usually, in such books, everything is intuitive. And if you can't figure it out, write to me and I'll help you.
Where to buy adapted literature
Adapted literature in English can be found in most bookstores. But, of course, the widest selection is presented in the largest stores and stores focused on literature in foreign languages. You can also order books via the Internet (including on the website of the publisher itself) or download in e-book format.
How to learn better from an adapted book
Be sure to complete the exercises that are given in the book, and if they are not there, try to go to the publisher's website and look for them there (if you find it difficult to navigate the publisher's website, write to me without a doubt, I will help you).
Write new words and phrases for you in your dictionary. About what a dictionary is and how to keep it, read the article "Glossary". Repeat words regularly.
It is very good if the book has audio materials. In this case, you can listen to part of the book first and then read it, or you can listen while reading. Whichever way you decide to use audio, it will definitely help you develop your listening skills and improve your pronunciation.
An example of exercises from the book "Mystery in New Orleans" by Black Cat (click on the picture to enlarge it)
In English. Large collection of simplified artistic literature in English. Download completely free and without registration. Adapted books in English free download you can here! At present, all borders between countries are becoming invisible, the world has become closer, people of all countries need universal communication. The main tool of communication today is the English language. The question arises - where to start learning? The most effective way to learn English in the first stage is adapted books. Adapted literature is of two types: abbreviated adapted literature and simplified. In simplified adapted books in English, the original English work is written at the appropriate language level.
Adapted books in English Chak Palahnik "Fight Club"
A novel by North American author Chuck Palahniuk. The plot is based on the protagonist's struggle with his growing discomfort with the consumer society and the changing state of masculinity in American culture. In an attempt to combat this, he creates an underground fight club as a radical form of psychotherapy.
David Fincher directed the film of the same name in 1999.
Adapted Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
Harry Potter is in his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. New spells, new potions, new teachers, new subjects... All of this is familiar and Harry is looking forward to the start of the school year. But the school is suddenly hit by amazing news: this year Hogwarts will host the Triwizard Tournament, and of course everyone wants to take part in it ... Adapted Harry Potter is perfect for everyone who wants to learn English. Adapted books by J. K. Rowling "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the Harry Potter series. The new semester at Hogwarts promises many adventures and pleasures. You will find out how Harry masters new wisdom of magic, taming the Hippogryph, fighting the Boggart, and sneaking into the village of Hogsmeade. But the new school year, alas, promises many dangers. Harry is overwhelmed by the soul-sucking Dementors, and the magician Sirius Black, having escaped from Azkaban, is said to open the hunting season for our young hero. Now Harry is in danger even outside the walls of his magical school, even surrounded by friends. Harry, Ron and Hermione embark on new adventures: friends have to overcome time limits, discover the secret of Harry's past and expose the traitor.
Adapted books by John Steinbeck "Pearl"
Philosophical parable "Pearl", which tells about the collapse of the most cherished human aspirations and hopes. In the city they talk about one huge pearl - about how it was found, how it was lost again. This story was passed from mouth to mouth so often that it took root in the minds of people. And as in all stories told and retold many times and sunk into the human heart, there is only good and bad in it, only good and evil, only black and white and no halftones. If this is a parable, maybe everyone will understand it in their own way and everyone will see their own life in it. Be that as it may, they say in the city that ...
Adapted books by Ernest Hemingway "Old Man and the Sea"
For the story "The Old Man and the Sea" Ernest Hemingway received the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious symbol of literary recognition in the United States. The same work also influenced the writer's Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Ernest Hemingway published the story "The Old Man and the Sea", which dealt with a Cuban fisherman who did not have a bite for eighty-four days in a row. And then he caught a huge marlin, which he killed and tied to the boat. While he swam to the shore, the sharks ate all the meat from the fish.
Adapted books in English Ernest Hemingway "The Sun also Rises"
"Fiesta" is dedicated to the "Lost Generation". The heroes of the novel, who returned from the massacre of the First World War severely traumatized spiritually and physically, seek to escape from painful memories, all of them, unhappy and restless, each in their own way, seek support in life and do not find it. Hence - the feverish pace of their existence, the constant thirst for new experiences and hunger for cordial human communication. But they can feel renewed, fully alive only in the rare moments that selfless love and friendship, communion with nature and fiesta give them.
Adapted books in English Winston Groom "Forrest Gump"
Published in 1986, Winston Groom's novel was a huge success and formed the basis of the movie of the same name. The story of a mentally retarded young man, told by himself on the pages of this book, is the embodiment of the myth of the "American dream" and at the same time a sharp satire on American society in the second half of the 20th century. Forrest Gump's phrase "Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what filling you will get" was included in the hundred most famous movie quotes.
Adapted books in English Helen Fielding "Bridget Jones Diary"
A lyrical diary that wittily and sincerely tells how a young unmarried English woman tries to become a self-made woman. "Bridget Jones's Diary" is not only a mirror in which many women can recognize themselves with all their concerns - fashion and career, marriage and light hobbies, love and sex - but also a practical guide for those ladies who are in search of the ideal " I" find themselves in the militant feminist current. In addition, this book is a good guide for those men who do not want to get lost in the nooks and crannies of the mysterious female soul.Adapted books in English by William Steig "Shrek"
There lived a big green giant named Shrek in a fairy-tale state. He lived in proud solitude in the forest, in the swamp, which he considered his own. But one day, the evil ruler of the magical kingdom mercilessly drove all the fabulous inhabitants of Shrek's swamp. The carefree life of the green troll has come to an end. But Lord Farquaad promised to return Shrekuboloto if the giant gets him the beautiful princess Fiona, who languishes in an impregnable tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon...
Adapted books in English by Dan Brown "Angels and Demons"
Illuminati. An ancient mysterious order, famous in the Middle Ages for its fierce struggle with the official church. A legend of the distant past? Perhaps ... But - why then is the symbol of the Illuminati carved on the chest of a scientist killed under mysterious circumstances? A specialist in symbolism invited from Harvard and his partner begin their own investigation - and soon come to incredible results ...
Adapted books in English by Richard Bach "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"
This is the most important book of Richard Bach. He didn't invent The Seagull. He heard it in its entirety and wrote it down. “Most seagulls do not seek to learn anything about flight except the most necessary: how to fly from shore to food and back. For most seagulls, the main thing is food, not flight. More than anything, Jonathan Livingston loved to fly.
But such predilection does not inspire respect for birds. Even his parents were alarmed that Jonathan spent whole days alone and, doing his experiments, again and again plans over the very water.
English prose adapted for "beginners" and "advanced" from A2 to C1: books that will take you to the next level!
Many people find reading to be a slow and rather tedious process. Learning English from TV shows or songs is much more fun. But this is only at first glance! After all, if you delve deeper into the issue, you will notice the advantages of this approach to learning a foreign language; with these advantages we will begin our article.
Why is it important to read English books in the original for effective learning of English?
“The more that you read, the more that you'll know. The more that you know, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss
“The more you read, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more places you'll visit." - Dr. Seuss, American children's writer and cartoonist
Any English-speaking child will confirm: Dr. Seuss will not advise bad. If you love to read, but are afraid to start with a voluminous and full-bodied English novel, don't worry. There is a great variety of literature adapted specifically to your level of English proficiency. Yes, full view work of art you will receive a little later, but you can congratulate yourself on the first English book you read already starting from the Elementary level!
Reading is a great way to expand your vocabulary
Reading on foreign language enriches vocabulary, even if we ourselves do not realize it. Of course, in order to learn new vocabulary more effectively, it is better to read a book, writing out unfamiliar words and memorizing their translation. When choosing books to read, be guided by your learning goals: if you need colloquial speech, pay attention to modern "light" prose, but if you want to master special vocabulary, the most obvious advice is to read literature from your professional interests.
Reading improves spelling
English spelling is full of mysteries and surprises. The spelling of many words defies logic: you just have to memorize. And the best way to do this is to read more English-language literature so that the images of words are stored in memory.
Reading expands your horizons
E-books and blogs, news sites and social media feeds: reading has reached a new level in the twenty-first century. A single information space makes it possible to learn about what is happening in the most remote corners of the world, to join the world's cultural and scientific heritage.
The first book read in a foreign language is a powerful incentive to conquer new linguistic heights
Listen to how you feel when you're done last page of his first novel in English: the sweetest feeling. "She reads Orwell in the original" - sounds proud! Any psychologist will tell you that motivation is important when performing any task. So do not miss the opportunity to praise yourself once again, this one is not at all superfluous! :)
How to choose a book to read
- Choose literature adapted to your level (see the list of recommended books for levels A2-C1 later in the article).
- Choose works according to your ability: start with short stories, gradually moving to larger literary forms.
- The more exciting the learning, the more effective it is: try to find books that are interesting for you. Detectives, thrillers, mysticism - or any other subject that awakens your imagination and makes you read the book to the end will do.
Children's books
If you know only a few hundred words in English, pay attention to children's literature: many children's books are also interesting for adults. In addition, children's literature, as a rule, is generously provided with illustrations, which helps to understand the plot.
Interesting fact: the famous children's writer Dr. Seuss, who was discussed earlier in our article, wrote his best book. The Cat in the Hat("The Cat in the Hat"), using only 220 words. This list of the first children's words was compiled by the publisher, obliging the author to use them in his work: everything to earn the love of the target audience!
Free English-language children's books can be found at the following resources:
Comics
Like children's literature, comics are a great way to start reading in a new language. There are a great many genres of comics: there are comics for children, for adults, entertaining and educational.
Film scripts
One of the proven and effective methods of learning a new language, recommended by many polyglots, is to read books in the target language that are already familiar in translation. The same applies to film adaptations: it is useful to read the scripts of the films you have watched. Advantages: the context is known, the plot is clear, you can guess the meaning of new words in the course of the story.
Personal development books and professional literature
Reading books about personal development and professional specialized literature, you kill two birds with one stone: you study the vocabulary that is relevant to you in English and learn new things on an important topic for you. If you are keenly interested in something, why not read about it in English? Another advantage of such literature is that it is easier to read than fiction novels. The style is simpler, the vocabulary is limited to the topic under consideration.
3 "life hacks" for novice readers of English literature
What to do if you do not 100% understand what you read?
Relax, it's completely natural. It is not necessary to understand every word, because context is king(king - context). If you have grasped the main idea of the story, that is enough. Moreover, if you understand everything you read, most likely you have taken a book of too low a level for yourself. Try to find such books where about 70% of the vocabulary will be familiar (the rest will have to be written out and learned).
Read aloud
It may seem strange, but reading has proven itself in the tasks of improving pronunciation and listening - if it is reading aloud. By reading aloud, you tune in to the sound range of the language being studied. However, it is important to work on pronunciation and in addition to reading, otherwise the incorrectly “guessed” pronunciation of a particular word may annoy you for years afterwards.
Listen to audiobooks while reading
When learning English, in which the same combination of letters can be pronounced in a dozen different ways, it is very important to pay attention to the correct pronunciation of new words. We have already written about the book + audiobook format: when reading an English-language book, you listen to its audio version, voiced by native English speakers. Very handy for learning pronunciation!
Books adapted for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of English (A2-C1)
Level A2 - pre-threshold level (waystage level, elementary level)
The Hound of the Baskervilles - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Level: initial (elementary)
Genre: detective
Volume: OK. 45000 characters
English variant: British
A well-known, dozens of times filmed story about how a pet can become a real curse of a noble family. It's time to read it in the original!
The Fisherman and His Soul - The Fisherman and His Soul
Oscar Wilde
Level: initial (elementary)
Genre: romantic fairy tale
Volume: OK. 30000 characters
English variant: British
A poignant romantic tale about the crazy love of a fisherman dolphin and a mermaid.
Dracula - Wikiwand Dracula
Bram Stoker
Level: initial (elementary)
Genre: mysticism, horror
Volume: OK. 50000 characters
English variant: British
A chilling story of eternal love and eternal damnation: this is where all the vampire sagas of our time came from.
Million Pound Bank Note - The Million Pound Bank Note
Mark Twain
Level: initial (elementary)
Genre: adventure, humor
Volume: OK. 25000 characters
English variant: American
A witty and instructive story about the adventures of a poor man with a million pound note in his pocket.
Mr Bean in the City - Mr. Bean Bean In Town
Level: initial (elementary)
Genre: humor
Volume: OK. 20000 characters
English variant: British
Mr. Bean will always find adventure for his wild little head! The eccentric eccentric continues to amaze and amuse the reader.
Level B1 - threshold or intermediate level (threshold or intermediate)
Fantastic Mr. Fox - FANTASTIC MR FOX
Roald Dahl
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: fairy tale, humor
Volume: OK. 45000 characters
English variant: American
Foxes and farmers are eternal enemies. Who will win this time?..
The Picture of Dorian Gray - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: fiction
Volume: OK. 80000 characters
English variant: British
What is more important, the beauty of the face or the beauty of the soul? An incredible story about a beautiful mask and the terrible essence of a person. Mr. Grey, are you not the prototype of the hero of Fifty Shades of Grey? ..
Appointment With Death - Appointment With Death
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: detective
Volume: OK. 125000 characters
English variant: British
Christie, Poirot, detective. A must read!
Forrest Gump - Wikiwand Forrest Gump
John Escott
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: drama
Volume: OK. 45000 characters
English variant: American
The book is about a man whose fate makes you believe in the impossible.
Three Men In A Boat - Three Men In A Boat
Jerome K. Jerome
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: humor
Volume: OK. 50000 characters
English variant: British
Three cheerful friends decided to go on a trip. What came of it - read in the original.
Intermediate level of English (intermediate, B1-B2)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Francis Scott Fitzgerald
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: drama
Volume: OK. 45000 characters
English variant: American
A fantastic story about a man who "lived the other way around". But have you already seen the movie?
George Orwell
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: prose
Volume: OK. 150000 characters
English variant: British
A landmark work of English literature, which must be included in the reader's arsenal of every modern person. To not have to blush in a decent society.
2001: A Space Odyssey - 2001: A Space Odyssey
Arthur Clarke
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: Science fiction
Volume: OK. 150000 characters
English variant: American
Spaceships, interplanetary travel, mysterious artifacts... Science fiction at its finest!
Gladiator - Wikiwand Gladiator
Dewey Gram
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: historical novel
Volume: OK. 100000 characters
English variant: American
This book will tell about the difficult fate of the Roman gladiator. Here's someone who had a really hard job!
Four Weddings and a Funeral - Four Weddings and a Funeral
Richard Curtis
Level: medium (intermediate)
Genre: romance, humor
Volume: OK. 100000 characters
English variant: British
The best way to get to know the culture of a people is to study the customs. A funny, touching, slightly frivolous book by Richard Curtis tells about the love between a British man and an American against the backdrop of four weddings and, alas, one funeral. Is there any hope for a happy ending? Read about it yourself.
B2 - medium-advanced level (vantage or upper intermediate)
Misery - Misery
Stephen King
Level:
Genre: novel, thriller
Volume: OK. 120000 characters
English variant: British
A novel about the relationship between a writer and an admirer of his talent, so eccentric that it even scares. The plot develops like in a fairy tale: the further, the worse. But that's why we love King.
Murder Is Announced - A Murder Is Announced
Agatha Christie (Agatha Christie)
Level: medium-advanced (upper-intermediate)
Genre: detective
Volume: OK. 140000 characters
English variant: British
And again the grandmother of the English detective with a novel about a mysterious newspaper ad that indicates the exact day and hour of the future murder. Will the fatal event be prevented? You will read the answer to this question in the purest English.
Airport - Airport
Arthur Hailey
Level: medium-advanced (upper-intermediate)
Genre: thriller
Volume: OK. 180000 characters
English variant: British/Canadian
A disaster novel based on real events fascinating even half a century later.
The Bourne Identity - Wikiwand The Bourne Identity
Robert Ludlum
Level: medium-advanced (upper-intermediate)
Genre: thriller
Volume: OK. 100000 characters
English variant: American
Off the coast of the Mediterranean, fishermen caught a wounded man who had completely lost his memory. This is the beginning of an exciting romance that became the basis of one of the most successful film thrillers of our time.
The Talented Mr. Ripley - The Talented Mr. Ripley Ripley
Patricia Highsmith
Level: medium-advanced (upper-intermediate)
Genre: detective, drama
Volume: OK. 130000 characters
English variant: American
Tom Ripley is a 25-year-old young man who grew up without parents in an atmosphere of hatred and fear. Is it any wonder that his attitude to the world and people is not distinguished by special tenderness? ..
Fiction and journalistic literature enriches us with knowledge and always provides food for thought. No wonder they say: the book - best friend man, his helper and savior. And if you study English, then without reading books in the original at the intermediate level certainly not enough.
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
"If you can't enjoy reading a book over and over, there's no point in reading it at all."
Non-adapted literature at the intermediate level and above offers you "living English in action": while reading, you will see how words work with each other and deviate as much as possible from the grammatical rules in the language.
If your level is intermediate, then before choosing a book to read, answer 3 questions for yourself:
- What level book do I need?
- How long should the original book be?
- What book topics are suitable for intermediate level?
After answering these questions, make a personal commitment to yourself. Let's look at the questions in more detail.
Correspondence of the book in English intermediate level
To begin with, you should find out what level of Intermediate you have (low, medium, high), because it may turn out that the English text is too difficult for a higher level. In this case, you will not get any pleasure and benefit from reading.
A book that is too simple will mean that you are not going to level up and are in your comfort zone. For example, if your low intermediate level you can not give preference to books of the pre-intermediate level, and even more so elementary.
Simple grammar constructions and basic vocabulary will seem monotonous and boring. It's like playing in the sandbox, but as an adult: you can, but it's not interesting.
Important!
The book you have chosen should be slightly more difficult than your current level. If your level is high intermediate, feel free to choose adapted literature marked upper-intermediate.
It is worth mentioning that parallel texts in English and Russian, which have become very popular lately, are an excellent option. In our article you can find tips for reading literature with translation.
Volume of English book for intermediate level
Always truthfully ask yourself how much of your time can you spare to read a book.
For example, you have a long trip ahead of you. Think about how much time per day you can spend reading and based on this, choose the number of pages.
On the other hand, perhaps you spend a lot of time at work or school, you have family obligations and you do not have much free time, choose short stories, comics or even articles. In this case, a thick book will seem like an eternity to you and you will soon abandon it.
The volume of a modern story ranges from one to three author's sheets, stories from two to eight sheets. If the volume of the work is more than ten author's sheets, then they speak of a novel.
Also, before choosing a book, imagine when you can finish it. If you can't name any time frames right away, then it's not really suitable book, at least for now.
Style and genre of books for intermediate level
Main rule: the book should be of interest to you. Choose a topic based on your personal preferences and hobbies. If you are good at general topics, but “swim” in some narrowly focused ones, then put professional literature aside for now, you can return to it a little later.
For vacation reading, choose more serious literature, such as novels by English or American classics. Having free time will help you follow the storyline (there are usually several in a novel) and give you the opportunity to focus on new words.
For reading on the go, for example, on public transport, read short stories and novels in english small volume. It's better if they are comedy stories that will set a positive mood for the whole day or help pass the way home.
Personal commitment when you read books in the original
To achieve concrete results, you need to make promises to yourself. For example, write down the following questions and answer them truthfully:
- How many pages can/can I read per day? - The answer can be approximate.
- When are you going to finish reading the chosen book? - The date must be specific.
Suppose you have a vacation ahead of you and plan to finish the book by the end of the vacation. The book has 1075 pages that you will read for 31 days. Those. you need to read 35 pages a day. Not so much, right?!
Thanks to this, you will be able to motivate yourself and control your promises according to reading English literature. Be sure to write down whether you managed to invest in the promised time frame. This can be a simple mark on a wall calendar or a more detailed diary entry with unfamiliar words and translations written out.
You will soon see that you are on the right path to improve your English.
50 books for intermediate English proficiency
The book in the original should bring you joy and pleasure. Each page you read brings 10 to 50 new words and a few living grammatical phrases into your passive vocabulary.
In the list of "The 50 Best Books in English" we have tried to highlight books that are recommended for reading at the pre-intermediate level and above.
You can choose a book by genre (for a pleasant reading) and difficulty (for learning English).
Top 50 Books in English
| Title of book in original (year of first publication), Author | Name of the book | Genre | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington (1958), Thomas Michael Bond | Bear named Paddington | Tales and stories about animals | - |
| Alice in Wonderland (1865), Lewis Carroll | Alice in Wonderland | Children's literature, Fiction | Many mathematical, linguistic and philosophical jokes and allusions |
| The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), Agatha Christie | Murder of Roger Ackroyd | detective | Criminal vocabulary |
| About a boy (1998), Nick Hornby | My boy | Novel, Fiction | - |
| Winnie-The-Pooh and All, All, All (1926), A.A. Milne | Winnie the Pooh and all all all | Prose, children's story | - |
| Charlotte's web (1952), Alvin Brooks White | Charlotte's web | Family, children's literature | - |
| 1984 (1949), George Orwell | one thousand nine hundred eighty-four | Dystopian novel | Terminology from the field of political science |
| As Time Goes By (1998), Michael Walsh | Play it again Sam | Novel | Military theme (partially) |
| Love Actualy (2003), Richard Curtis | Real love | Novel | British English |
| Women In Business (2001), James Carl Evans | Women in business | Biography | - |
| The Chocolate War (1974), Robert Cormier | chocolate war | Teen Literature | Forbidden Literature. May cause controversy. |
| The Graveyard Book (2008), Neil Gaiman | History of the cemetery | Horror literature, Children's literature, Fantasy | - |
| Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2011), Ransom Riggs | House of Peculiar Children | Teen literature, Fantasy | - |
| A Wrinkle in Time (1962), Madeleine L'Engle | A crack in time | Juvenile literature, Science fantasy | Science fiction vocabulary |
| The Book Thief (2005), Markus Zuzak | book thief | Romance, Historical genre, Fiction | Military theme |
| An American Tragedy (1925), Theodore Dreiser | American tragedy | novel, naturalism | |
| The Catcher in the Rye (1951), Jerome Salinger | The Catcher in the Rye | Realism, Literature about growing up | Complex speech turns, advanced vocabulary |
| Eragon (2003), Christopher Paolini | Eragon | Fantasy, Dystopia, Related Searches | The names of the characters in the book |
| The Fault in Our Stars (2012), John Green | The stars are to blame | Teen Literature | Heartbreaking plot |
| The Giver (1993), Lois Lowry | Giving | Utopia and dystopia, Science fiction | Terminology |
| Emma (1815), Jane Austen | Emma | novel of manners | Complex speech turns, advanced vocabulary |
| Berlin Express (2010), Michael Austin | Berlin Express | War romance | Military theme |
| The Devil Wears Prada (2003), Lauren Weisberger | The Devil Wears Prada | novel | - |
| The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1995), Michael Crichton | The Lost World: Jurassic Park | Fiction | Dinosaur names |
| My cousin Rachel (1951), Daphne du Maurier | My cousin Rachel | Romance, Love story, Detective | - |
| Bridget Jones's Diary (1996), Helen Fielding | Diary of Bridget Jones | comedy romance | |
| A Room with a View (1908), Edward Morgan Forster | Room with a view | Novel | British English |
| Three Men in a Boat (1889), Jerome K. Jerome | Three in the boat, not counting the dog | story | British English |
| The Enchanted Castle (1907), Edith Nasbit | enchanted castle | novel | - |
| Misery (1987), Stephen King | Misery | Psychological horror | Stephen King style |
| The Bourne Identity (1980), Robert Ludlum | Bourne identification | Thriller, spy fiction | Criminal and spy vocabulary |
| Moby Dick (1851), Herman Melville | moby dick | Adventure novel, Epic, Nautical literature | Maritime terminology |
| The Adventures of Peter Pan (1904), James Matthew Barry | The Adventures of Peter Pan | Adventure novel | - |
| The Great Gatsby (1992), Francis Scott Fitzgerald | Great Gatsby | Romance, Drama, Fiction | There are archaisms |
| Gone with the Wind (1936), Margaret Mitchell | Gone With the Wind | Historical novel | Military theme |
| One Day (2009), David Nichols | One day | Novel | Heartbreaking Romance |
| On the Beach (1957), Alex Garland | Beach | Novel | - |
| Treasure island (1883), Robert Louis Stevenson | Treasure Island | Adventure novel, Juvenile literature | - |
| Dracula (1897), Bram Stoker | Dracula | Horror literature, Gothic literature | Mystical vocabulary |
| Man from the South (1948), Roald Dahl | Man from the south | Fiction | Complex revolutions |
| For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), Ernest Hemingway | For whom the Bell Tolls | military prose | Military theme |
| The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), Oscar Wilde | The Picture of Dorian Grey | Philosophical novel | Complex speech turns, advanced vocabulary. Moral inconsistency of the author's statements. |
| Staying Together (2001), Judith Wilson | stay together | Novel | - |
| The Time Traveler's Wife (2003), Audrey Niffeneger | time traveler's wife | novel, science fiction | scientific terms |
| The Gift of the Magi (1905), O. Henry | Gifts of the Magi | Story | - |
| “Harry Potter” (a series of novels since 1997), JK Rowling | Harry Potter | novel, fantasy | Words invented by the author |
| The chronicles of Narnia (since 1950), Clive Staples Lewis | The Chronicles of Narnia | fantasy | - |
| The twilight saga (2005-2008), Stephenie Meyer | Twilight | romantic fantasy | - |
| The hunger games (2008), Susan Collins | The Hunger Games | novel, post-apocalyptic | Words invented by the author |
| Girl in Translation (2011), Jin Kwok | girl in translation | novel | Words related to Chinese culture. |
10 books in English required reading (intermediate level)
Now let's focus on 10 books in English from this list, to which you should pay special attention.
In each of these books you will find:
- New words for you on completely different topics and even jokes
- Interesting grammatical constructions
- A sea of colloquial phrases that we use in modern life
- Examples you won't find in adapted English textbooks
- The experience of each hero that you can try on for yourself
"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" (The Murder of Roger Ackroyd)
"Everything is simple, if you arrange the facts methodically"
Genre: detective
The year of publishing: 1926
English: British
Undoubtedly, this book is an ideal option for fans of detective stories and mysterious, intricate stories.
The novel is set in the fictional English village of Kings Abbott. The story is told from the perspective of Dr. James Sheppard, who becomes an assistant to detective Hercule Poirot. Together they have to solve the case of a strange murder that occurred in the district.
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” (For Whom the Bell Tolls)
"The sadness will dissipate as the sun rises. It is like a mist"
Genre: novel
The year of publishing: 1940
English: American
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American fighter sent behind Francoist lines to the partisans during civil war in Spain for an important assignment.
This story tells about the hardships and cruelty of the Civil War, if you like it, then you won’t find a better book - Ernest Hemingway was a talented writer and his works are popular to this day.
"Misery" (Misery)
"In the darkness the mind is helpless and the logic is just a ghost"
Genre: novel; psychological thriller
The year of publishing: 1987
English: American
The king of horrors - Stephen King and his excellent work "Misery", recognized as a world bestseller, will help you tickle your nerves.
The plot of the work is based on the relationship between the two heroes of the book - the popular writer Paul Sheldon and his fan Annie Wilkes. Having got into a car accident, Paul gets seriously injured. Annie's former nurse brings him to her home, where the writer receives doses of pain medication and treatment. And then the most interesting happens!
“Girl in Translation” (Girl in translation)
"Louses were the only thing which overcame racial barriers"
Genre: novel
The year of publishing: 2011
English: American
The amazing story of schoolgirl Kimberly and her mother, who emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States, Brooklyn. Not knowing the language and living in terrible conditions, they are trying to adapt to a new life. However, this test makes Kimbrely stronger and more purposeful.
Jin Kwok, being Chinese herself, beautifully described the clash of two different cultures - Eastern and Western.
“The Enchanted Castle” (The Enchanted Castle)
"And yet there was time for many happenings"
Genre: story
The year of publishing: 1907
English: British
Fairy tales are written not only for children, but also for adults! You will see this by reading the magical story of Edith Nesbit. Despite the fact that the fairy tale was written more than a hundred years ago, it has not lost its relevance and liveliness.
The heroes of the fairy tales of the English writer Edith Nesbit are ordinary children who have escaped from the city to the "space" of the summer holidays. And the amazing adventure begins. A funny monster living in a sand hole, or a ring found in a castle, fulfill their every wish. However, having received what they want, children find themselves in such incredible situations from which it is not easy to find a way out.
"The Catcher in the Rye" (The Catcher in the Rye)
Girls. You never know what they're going to think."
Genre: novel
The year of publishing: 1951
English: American
The story tells about a 16-year-old American, his life and active position, namely, the rejection of common canons and moral principles.
The Catcher in the Rye is one of the top 100 English-language novels of the 20th century, so it's not to be missed.
“The Time Traveler's Wife” (The Time Traveler's Wife)
"Running is many things to me: survival, calmness, euphoria, solitude"
Genre: novel, science fiction
The year of publishing: 2003
English: American
In this novel you will find both a love story and fantasy.
This is a love story about a man with a genetic disorder that allows him to travel through time unpredictably, and his wife, who has to cope with his frequent and dangerous absences. The novel became a bestseller and won numerous awards, and was also made into a film adaptation.
"The Devil Wears Prada" (The Devil Wears Prada)
"The extra calories do not find place in their bodies, but occupy all their thoughts"
Genre: novel
The year of publishing: 2003
English: American
Do you like fashion, glossy magazines, designer clothes? The world bestseller by American writer Lauren Weisberger will reveal the veil of secrecy to you - how does fashion work from the inside?
The novel tells about a young girl who comes to work in a fashionable glossy magazine. But she could not even think that her boss was a real tyrant in a skirt.
"An American Tragedy" (American tragedy)
"People love money even more than good appearance"
Genre: novel, naturalism
The year of publishing: 1925
English: American
A long and tragic story of a young man, from a poor family, who aspired to riches.
The theme of wealth and poverty is relevant to this day; what sacrifices a person can make in order to get what he wants, whether he will take the side of good or evil.
"Three Men in a Boat" (Three men in a boat, not counting the dog)
“I like work. It fascinates me. I am able to sit and look at it for hours"
Genre: story
The year of publishing: 1889
English: British
A wonderful humorous story about the journey of three men along the river. The book does not leave anyone indifferent to this day, although the story was written already in the 19th century!
Some tips on how to read books in the original at an intermediate level
Do not despair if you come across a lot of new words. Translate only those without which you cannot understand the essence of the sentence. Over time, you will see that they occur quite often and you will quickly remember them.
Most people buy books in English with great enthusiasm and motivation. Then, after reading three pages, they quit, because everything seems very difficult to them.
Motivation disappears, and the book begins to gather dust on the shelf. You can find out how to avoid difficulties and not stop at the beginning of the journey in the article.
- Read English as if it were your own language. This means you don't have to translate every word. When you read books in your native language, you also come across unfamiliar words that you do not understand, but this does not prevent you from understanding the plot of the book. And do not be discouraged if there are more such words than you expected. Remember that you are reading for pleasure, not for torture.
- Don't stop as soon as you meet a new word or a phrase. Read to the end of the sentence or paragraph, or reread the previous sentence. Perhaps it will help you better understand the meaning of these words or phrases.
- Underline phrases, words and expressions while reading that you don't understand. Arm yourself with a dictionary to translate unfamiliar words and a notepad or notebook to write them down. But if you don't use the dictionary too often, you can lose the plot line and become uninteresting to read.
- Work actively with vocabulary that you get as you read the book. Also learn the new words you have written out every day and a little bit - do not accumulate them. Try to make small stories and situations with new grammatical constructions, words and phrases - this way you will remember them more quickly.
- Stay motivated! Be sure to write yourself obligations and make it a habit not to violate them. And read at least 20 pages a day.
Finally
Of course, this is far from full list books, but it is simply impossible to compose a complete one! remember, that reading books in the original at any level helps you not only develop spiritually, but also learn English with pleasure.
In contact with
We all know that reading is one of the most important aids in learning languages. Reading foreign literature, you better understand the specifics of the language, its features, remember some "clichés" that will help you in everyday life.
Reading - contributes to the improvement of speech literacy. I have many live examples of a person with a poor knowledge of the language began to progress sharply only because he really liked reading books in the original. As a result, it also affected the spoken language.
How to choose a book to read?
Yes, at the initial stage it is very difficult to read books in the original because of the wide variety of words that the author uses for the stylistic coloring of his text. That is why publishing houses began to release adapted books in English for various levels: elementary, pre-intermediate, (there is also for Advanced, as it turned out).
In addition to adapted literature, you can also find, that is, books in which the text is divided into two parts: in one column the English version, in the other - Russian. The disadvantage of such books, in my opinion, is that you have to restrain yourself so as not to peep into the translation.
This means that in books with adapted translations easy grammar , a vocabulary is greatly simplified and includes mainly common words and expressions. Reading such books is much easier and easier., which means that you do not have to constantly look into the dictionary, and you will enjoy the process more.
And, although I am not a supporter of adapted reading, since the language in these books is rather poor and it is not so interesting to read, nevertheless, it is better to read adapted than not to read at all - that's for sure!
Adapted books in English by levels
If you do not know your level, then you can approximately determine it by reading the article, or simply by starting to read. If you encounter unfamiliar words too often, try lower level. I read somewhere that 5-10 unfamiliar words per page are considered optimal, but I think this is too subjective. If unfamiliar words do not carry a large semantic load, then you can simply ignore them, but you should not overdo it either. If you meet an unknown word in every sentence, it is better to put such a book aside and take something easier.
Although, there are people who, in spite of everything, continue to read: with a dictionary, parsing every word and tediously and slowly, but moving forward. It is not easy, but, in the end, it is also effective. Personally, I never had enough for this kind of reading.
Where can I find adapted books?
Currently, adapted literature in English is available in almost every store of educational and / or foreign literature, both foreign and domestic publishers.
Publishers that publish adapted literature
To date, the largest publishers of English literature are:
Where can I download?
You can download adapted books in English on torrents:
Other resources
- English E-books - here you can download books in fb2 epub mobi rtf txt and mp3 format.
Where could I buy?
You can buy books in English, adapted to different levels, in various formats: fb2, txt, epub, doc and others. So, you can easily download a book to your reader and get enlightened anywhere and anytime.
