Read in English! Top 15 books for intermediate level B1-B1+

Mastering a foreign language is primarily about immersion in the language environment, which can be achieved through reading, which can greatly improve comprehension skills, expand vocabulary and help you get used to using spoken language naturally. For those who have already reached the B1-B1+ level, books in English help further growth in language learning. In this article, we have compiled 15 exciting works that are suitable for readers with Intermediate (B1) level of English.

The importance of choosing the right books

The right book in English helps you make progress in learning the language. A book that is too complicated will contain a lot of unfamiliar words and obscure vocabulary constructions, which does not contribute to the development of language skills at all, but only makes learning more difficult. If the book is too simple, you can expect no progress. For the B1-B1+ level, it is important to find a balance: books should be interesting, contain new words and expressions, but still be easy to understand. There may be some unfamiliar words and phrases, but not too many.

Lifehacks for reading books in English

If you are an intensive learner of English, reading can help you make progress. But do not rush and try to read the whole book in one sitting, as this will only make it more difficult to memorise new words and language constructions that will be encountered in the work.

1. Choose a book that corresponds to your B1-B1+ language level. Start with the easier options and gradually increase in difficulty. While reading, don't rush to the dictionary every time you come across an unknown word. Try to figure out what the word is by looking at the context of the sentence - this will help to improve your understanding of the text.
2. To make the process of translating new words more enjoyable, use e-book readers like Kindle. They automatically translate unfamiliar words and phrases without having to look them up in a paper dictionary or app. This way, you will not be distracted from the story of the book, but will learn the meaning of unfamiliar words.
3. Write down new words you come across in the book and organise them into thematic groups. Rewriting helps those with a visual memory to remember words better. Try to make sentences using new words for better memorisation.
4. Use the method of memorising words with paper stickers. Write new words on post-its and stick them around the flat. This way you can memorise words on a subconscious level by constantly looking at the stickers.
5. Alternate between paper and e-books and audiobooks to memorise the pronunciation and intonation of new words - this will improve your perception of spoken language and make it easier for you to understand what is being said in English. To consolidate the read material, try to retell its content first in your native language and then in English. This way you will kill two birds with one stone - you will improve your comprehension of the text and develop your speaking skills.

After reading a book in English for B1-B1+, come back to it after a while and start reading again. You will see for yourself how much progress you have made in your language learning. Reading again will also help you to see the details of the work and consolidate what you have already learnt.

Top 15 books for Intermediate level (B1-B2)

To make learning English more fun, we have selected interesting works of fiction by internationally renowned authors.

Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol

"A Christmas Story" by Charles Dickens is a tale-tale about Christmas, and how human vices overshadow the joys of an already short life, as well as levelling real values. The protagonist of the work, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a gloomy and avaricious man who knows nothing but making money. Christmas he considers Christmas a silly holiday, a waste of time. And time, as we know, is money.

Returning home from work on Christmas evening, he unexpectedly meets the spirit of his dead companion, who tells him that he is wasting his precious life without knowing joy or helping people. To avoid becoming a rebellious spirit like the companion, Scrooge must revise his outlook on life and change for the better. To do this, spirits will come to him three nights in a row.

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Tale was published in 1854, but it still remains one of the best and most popular works about Christmas in the world.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - The Hound of the Baskervilles.

"The Dog of the Baskervilles" by English writer Arthur Conan Doyle is a classic detective novel, where the main characters are the widely known Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr Watson. They are investigating the case of the death of Sir Baskerville, who died under mysterious circumstances. Having travelled to the scene of the crime, the heroes soon witness the legend of the ghostly dog come to life.

The story "The Hound of the Baskervilles" can be an excellent guide to learning classical English, even if you have previously read this work in your native language, and the exciting plot of the work will brighten the routine of memorising new words. We have an adapted edition available for purchase

George Orwell - 1984

The novel-anti-utopia "1984" by the British writer George Orwell is about the consequences of brainwashing and the construction of a totalitarian society. Many critics agree that the author described a totalitarian society modelled on Nazi Germany and the USSR during the Stalin era. But many of the features described can be seen in some modern states as well.

The novel-anti-utopia "1984" is an ideal book for learning Intermediate English, as the author is famous for skilfully presenting complex topics in simple words. In addition, the structure of the society described by George Orwell is interesting and informative, as are the terms coined by the author back in the 40s of the last century, but which are still relevant today. 

Arthur Golden - Memoirs of a Geisha

The novel Memoirs of a Geisha is an acclaimed bestseller by American writer and expert on Japanese culture Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The book tells about Japanese traditions, as well as reveals to the public secrets about the culture of geisha. Events in the novel unfold in Kyoto in the period before, during and after the end of the Second World War. The story was made into a feature film, which was released in 2005.

Olivia Atwater - Half a Soul

The fantasy novel Half a Soul is the first part of the Regency Tales trilogy written by Canadian author Olivia Atwater. The book is about a girl, Dora, who lives with her aunt, uncle and cousin Vanessa in an English village.

One day walking through the forest, Dora comes across a lord who is an evil wizard. The villain tries to steal the girl's soul, but at the last moment she manages to hit him with scissors. The lord escapes, but takes with him half of the heroine's soul. From that time on, the world around her becomes black and white, she loses the ability to feel and express emotions.

People close to Dora believe that she is cursed and try to hide this fact from others, so as not to cause great misfortune. Soon the sisters reach the age of majority and go to London in search of suitors. Will the heroine, who has lost her emotions, be able to recognise love, having only half a soul? Read about it in Olivia Atwater's novel Half a Soul in English for B1-B1+.

David Walliams - Awful Auntie

British author David Williams' book for children, "Terrible Auntie" is the perfect piece of writing for reading in Intermediate level English. It is written in simple language and is full of interesting words and phrases.

The book is about a girl, Stella, who finds herself in the care of an overbearing and eccentric aunt who wants control of the Saxby family castle. Stella's parents disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and she has to confront the evil aunt alone, who has set cunning traps. The story is filled with humour, exciting scenes and riddles. Here good and evil are opposed, friendship is tested for its strength and family values are put at the centre.

Ana Huang - King of Wrath

A fascinating work by an American writer tells about the complex relationships between representatives of the elite. In this society, money, influence and power rule the ball. The heroine of the novel enters into an arranged marriage between families. Her spouse becomes a powerful billionaire. He is against the agreement between the families and at first treats his wife with coldness, but gradually a spark ignites between them.

The characters balance their sense of duty and their own desires. The whole plot is permeated with the characters' emotional experiences and their inner struggles. We recommend reading this beautiful novel about love, passion, intrigue and fears in the world of the rich and powerful.

J.M. Barrie - Peter Pan

This story is described by the Scottish writer James Matthew Barrie. Its main character is a boy from the mysterious country of Neverland. He lives in a sense of boundless freedom and does not want to grow up. The hero's childish selfishness sometimes borders on madness, but this does not prevent him from being sweet and easily making friends.

One day a boy enters the Darling family home and meets his sister and two brothers. He invites them to his land of adventure and fantasy. Once there, the children are constantly getting into stories. They meet the fairy Tinkerbell and encounter the terrible pirate Hook. Hard trials, which fell to the share of the heroes, expose their character traits and show who is really a whole person among them.

There are deep philosophical meanings embedded in the book. For example, that growing up is an inevitable process. And also about how important it is to find a balance between freedom and commitment, family values and escape from reality. The story may be of interest to children and adults learning English. The book contains wonderful descriptions and lively humour with many interesting words.

Tony Morrison - Beloved

This is a story about a woman who was a slave in the past. Although years have passed since then, the ghosts of the past do not let her go. She had to commit a terrible act in the past and the guilt of the crime has been haunting her ever since. The irreparable loss has weighed heavily on her heart and given rise to mystical visions. But one day everything changes when the one who was thought to be dead appears on her doorstep.

The novel has become a classic of modern American literature and earned the Pulitzer Prize. It skilfully intertwines reality and mysticism. The non-linear plot gradually reveals all the details and helps to penetrate the feelings of the characters. This is a book about love and sacrifice, past trauma and healing. It makes you think about how the past affects the present.

Agatha Christie - Death on the Nile

This classic detective novel tells the story of the murder of a young woman. Together with her husband and a friend, she went on a wedding trip along the Nile. Nothing foreshadowed trouble, but she was found dead. For the investigation takes the famous Hercule Poirot. The detective encounters many witnesses, each of whom has his own motive and becomes a suspect. This further confuses the case. Who is the murderer?

The author has created an elaborate plot, where the smallest unimportant detail can become decisive. It is impossible to guess the identity of the criminal until the last moment. This book in Intermediate level English is for those who love suspenseful detectives, where the intrigue is kept until the last page.

Kate Atkinson - Transcription

The novel's protagonist is recruited by the British intelligence agency MI5 during the Second World War and is engaged in deciphering recordings of conversations between suspected Nazi spies. After the end of the war, she retires from the business, but even in a calm and measured life, the shadows of the past do not let go of the heroine.

The plot intertwines themes of betrayal, manipulation, and political intrigue. Because of the spy games, the characters constantly face moral qualms about working for the government and their relationships with each other. Lies are used for both self-preservation and mission accomplishment. All of these actions subsequently have an impact on the future.

This book in English for B1 level will appeal to fans of spy thrillers. Throughout the story, it keeps you in suspense and makes you empathise with the characters.

Stephen King - The Shining

This is a classic horror from the maestro of mystical literature, Stephen King. The story centres on the Torrance family who have taken up residence at the Overlook Hotel, where the head of the family has been given a job as a winter caretaker. The hotel is a gloomy place with an oppressive atmosphere. It gives the impression of a living organism, constantly watching the occupants with a clear threat.

The head of the family has long suffered from alcoholism, and within the walls of this strange hotel all his hidden demons are gradually coming out. The father's madness is opposed by his five-year-old son, who has the gift of seeing the past and the future. The boy feels the presence of supernatural forces in the hotel, he is visited by terrible visions. 

All the inner fears of a person under the influence of a gloomy and tense atmosphere come out in the form of aggression and the desire to destroy. Only a child can find a way to save the family. The author managed to convey the atmosphere of the dark hotel and the psychological experiences of the characters.

Tayari Jones - Silver Sparrow

"Silver Sparrow" by American writer Tyari Jones tells about two girls who have the same father but live in different worlds. Their father, a successful businessman, has two families at the same time - official and secret. The secret family knows about the existence of the official one, but the first family is unaware of the second.

A girl from a secret family experiences deep psychological distress, believing herself to be second-rate in the eyes of her father, while her mother has long since resigned herself to this position. The strange two-house relationship is revealed one day when the two girls meet by chance and become friends.

The novel "The Silver Sparrow" is a story about deception and family secrets, a difficult balance between truth and lies, betrayal and parental love. The author created a work deeply saturated with emotions, deep feelings. He raises the heavy theme of his own identity and the consequences of secrets that destroy the fragile world of the family.

Donna Tartt - The Goldfinch

The novel "The Sorcerer" by American writer Donna Tartt won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014. The plot of the book revolves around a teenager who lost his mother because of an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The protagonist finds solace in the painting "The Sorcerer", accidentally obtained during the same incident.

The work is about the complex psychological aspects of growing up, the influence of the past, the pain of loss and the solace found in art. For lovers of psychological drama with an unhurried plot and multi-layered characters, this book in English for B1 level is a godsend.

Kent Haruf - Our Souls at Night

Kent Haruf's novel Our Souls in the Night was published in 2015. This is a story about two lonely people of old age who found an outlet in quiet meetings under the cover of night. The characters lost their spouses long ago and suffer desperately from loneliness. Night dates bring them comfort and fill their lives with meaning. But the relationship is threatened when the neighbours find out about the night meetings.

Although the novel has a linear narrative without leaps into the past and future, the beauty and simplicity of the plot keeps the reader's attention. The author writes in a minimalist style, far from sentimentalism, which lacks dramatic events, but beautifully reveals the inner world of the characters and their experiences.

The book raises the problems of loneliness, loss of loved ones, love and intimacy at the end of life. The author shows that it is never too late to seek your happiness, even if it seems that life has already passed. In 2017, a film was made on the novel with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, which also received positive reviews.

FAQ

What to do if you don't have time to read but still want to improve your language?

If you don't have time to read books but want to improve your English, listen to audiobooks in your free time, watch TV series and films with subtitles, install a language learning app on your smartphone such as Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise. You can also switch the interface on your mobile phone or computer to English, write down new words in a notebook and repeat them in your spare time.

Why do beginners need to read books in English?

Reading books in English helps you expand your vocabulary, understand language rules and grammatical structures, and experience the culture of English-speaking countries. Reading in the original reveals the beauty of the work, which often loses its zest in translation. If a book in English is read aloud, pronunciation improves and the accent disappears. Also, regular reading of even a small passage helps to develop a habit of learning the language, which will eventually lead to significant progress in the future.