May 30, 2021

Great books to improve your English

Let's face it: English spelling can be tough (it can be understood through thorough thought, though 😉). That's why reading is essential. If you read and listen to the story at the same time, you're going to improve quickly and with no effort.

So without further ado, here's a list of books that are suitable for intermediate learners:

1) ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND - Lewis Carroll

We all know the story of Alice, the white rabbit and the Mad Hatter. But, believe me, this is not a children's book. This novel is full of hidden meanings and it allows for multiple interpretations. Give it a go, you won't regret it!

You can find this book HERE

2) THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME - MARK HADDON

This book is a murder mystery novel like no other. The narrator is a fifteen-year-old guy who has Asperger's Syndrome. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but one day he finds himself involved in the case of his neighbour’s ‘murdered dog’. The story is funny but also poignant and the writing style is unique.

You can find this book HERE

3) THE LORD OF THE FLIES - William Golding

A plane crashes and leaves a group of schoolboys stranded on a deserted island. There are no adults so they must govern themselves to survive.

I think you should definitely try this classic, but if you like romance and happy endings...it's not the right choice for you. Last but not least, it is more adequate for higher language levels.

You can find this book HERE

4) ANIMAL FARM - GEORGE ORWELL

Another great classic that everyone should read in their lifetime. On the surface, it contains a simple fable-like story: animals start a revolution against humans. On a deeper level of interpretation, it deals with human behaviour and the mechanisms leading to the rise of totalitarism. This book is a little more advanced in its writing style, but it is still suitable for high-intermediate learners.

You can find this book HERE

or HERE's a facing-page translation English/Italian

5) GRADED READERS

In these websites (CIDEB , ELI) you can find books of various genres that are specially created for English learners. Read and listen to the story at the same time.

Here are some of my favourite titles.

B1 level:

GULLIVER'S TRAVEL - Jonathan Swift