Books to read in English

Reading books in English is the prerogative of those who know a fairly large number of words and are able to understand complex sentence structures. Undoubtedly, there are special, adapted books, but it is much better to read exactly the text that the author himself wrote. 

In learning English, reading takes up most of the time, as it helps to diversify the lexical composition and introduces how native speakers think and write. Reading books by English-speaking authors is also useful for understanding the train of thought and sentence structure. Special turns in the English speech of the literary language cannot just be heard on the street, so it is important to get acquainted with them with the help of works of fiction. 

 

Culture in Literature 

Beginners can try their hand at reading Shakespeare's plays or sonnets, learning about the history of England through his writings. The books will be useful for those who seek to understand the course of English thought, as well as to get to know the structure of English sentences better. Particular attention will be drawn to the literary turns of the time, which now can only be found on the pages of books. 

Geoffrey Chausser's «The Canterbury Tales» can be safely called a literary monument. He is rightfully considered the father of English poetry, and his work - anticipating the literature of the English Renaissance. Being a patriot, he was the first to write poetry in his native language, instead of Latin, conveying his thoughts to the reader more precisely in this way. 

The military events were described by E. Hemingway in the book «Farewell to Arms». This is a love story set against the backdrop of World War I. The novel is partly autobiographical, since the author himself served on the Italian front and had an affair with a nurse in Milan after he was wounded. The line of love and the description of historical events are a feature of this novel. 

George Mikesh «How to be a Brit» is a book not only for language training, but also for getting to know the culture of England, which may seem strange to travelers and those who want to move there. The author, being originally someone who was not born in England, described his experience of getting to know the culture briefly and concisely, along the way giving advice on how to easily adapt to a given situation. Written with humour, this book is great as a quick reference guide on how to be "British". 

 

Classical English Literature 

The years go by, but the classic remains. This is exactly what one should say about the books of great writers who understand universities and are considered the literary heritage of Great Britain. 

Let's start with the famous Sherlock Holmes and his adventures. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle described the work of a private detective and his friend so captivatingly that you simply won't notice how you were drawn into that world. There are tons of translations, a variety of adapted series, and even a popular BBC project that modernized the characters and brought them to our time. The books are definitely considered classics of English literature. 

Women in English literature are among those who have made a huge contribution to it with their works. Among the most famous are "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, Charlotte's Sisters, "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, and "To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf. 

Separately, we note such classics as "Vanity Fair" by William Thackeray, "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens and "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Dafoe. 

Let now many refer to the classics with distrust, but all human problems and experiences are described just there. The classics are in no way inferior to modern literature in terms of plot and content, and sometimes even surpass them in some way. Therefore, do not look down, but simply choose a book to your liking. 

 

Classical American Literature 

In America any book is the best novel according to the New York Times, or just a bestseller, right? But now I would like to talk not about tabloid novels, but about something more serious. About what the states consider classic literature. 

So, the first book on the list will be Margaret Thatcher. Her "Gone with the Wind" is not known only to babies. Hundreds of performances were staged based on the book, it has a film adaptation and worldwide fame. The novel has been translated into many languages and is taught in American schools. 

Another famous American writer is Jack London. Don't let the last name fool you, the writer is an American. His book "Martin Eden" tells the story of a man who rose from the bottom and achieved everything by himself. Love for a girl from high society gave him the incentive and desire to educate himself, and helped him become what he eventually became. 

At the end of the last century, the writer Harper Lee released a novel that quickly gained popularity and gave her the Pulitzer Prize. «To Kill a Mockingbird» is a story told from the perspective of a little girl. In general, this story is suitable for both adults and children, because there is a lesson for everyone there. The novel had a huge impact on the development of American culture. 

«Moby Dick» by Herman Melville is an example of classic nineteenth-century American romanticism. Start reading only if you have a good level of patience and perseverance, as the story stretches over many pages. The plot of the book is based on real events. 

You probably already know some works, then be sure to read the books in the original. Who knows how much you can discover while reading. After all, it is one thing to read a translation, and quite another to read the original. 

 

For genre lovers 

If you prefer to read books of a certain genre, and have a sufficient vocabulary, then here is a selection of the most popular works by genre that may interest a novice traveler to the world of English literature. 

The famous "Lord of the Rings" R.R. Tolkien, on which there is a series, films and even cartoons have been made. Hobbits are a very interesting topic that comes from the books. And amazing adventures with a lot of magic, battles between good and evil and a test of friendship will surely appeal to many. Only the lazy do not know the book, and many have probably seen a series of films, maybe even more than once. The writer made a huge contribution to the world of English literature, creating not just a new world, but even his own language, which his characters spoke. 

Following is the well-known story about a boy with a scar. You don't even have to mention the title of the book, you'll guess for sure. JK Rowling turned the world upside down with her story about wizards, Muggles and incredible magical creatures, planting faith in magic in the hearts of both children and adults. 

Perhaps the most famous horror movie in the world is Stephen King. Do you know him? Of course, you do. Movies are based on his books. Children dress up as his characters for Halloween, and adults learn many life lessons from his books. The Green Mile or The Shining is a great start to get to know the author and his works. 

For those who love thrillers and chilling stories, take a closer look at the stories of Michael Scott. The Irish writer works in the genres of fantasy, horror and science fiction. Among his most famous books are The Alchemist, The Magician and The Sorceress. The adventure stories of Nicolas Flamel are captivating and must-read. 

More serious and at the same time simple literature includes the works of George Orwell. The dystopian novel "1984" was loved by many for its plot. The author describes the main "demons" of that century, causing powerful criticism from the heads of many states. 

Douglas Adams is a series of books "for hitchhikers in the galaxy". The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy can rightly be called an interesting and informative satire. Under the images of clumsy aliens, the realities of modern life are hidden, and the incredible kind of adventure of the protagonist on a hundred other planets is very interestingly described. Novels in the style of humorous popular science fiction were written a long time ago, but the plot of the author was clearly ahead of the development of that time. The names of the planets, the names of the characters and so on - so unusual and interesting. And, the most important link that connects the entire series is the “Main Question”, the answer to which is “42”. In general, connoisseurs are in the know, and for those who are not in the know, we advise you to read. 

Everything described above is just the tip of the iceberg. A very famous top. Undoubtedly, there are separate collections of adapted books by English levels: for beginners, intermediate and confident readers. Nowadays, people read descriptions for photographs or news headlines more often than full-fledged books. But sometimes it's good to remember the past, brew fragrant tea and sit in an armchair, reading a good book and inhaling that same library smell.