Best Novels to Improve English

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Novels are a getaway to escape our monotonous lives and immerse ourselves in a world full of imagination. With our hectic and tiring schedules, getting curled up with a great novel and a cup of coffee in hand can be a perfect opportunity to liven up our minds.  While there are innumerable benefits of reading books, the most indispensable one is that it can provide you with an entertaining way to enrich your English language skills and vocabulary. Whether you’re preparing for an English proficiency test or just studying to improve your language skills, reading is a fantastic way to explore new language structures, discover complex and difficult words, etc. And for that, you must need a list of the best novels to improve English. In this blog, we have curated an extensive list of best novels to improve English. Let us take a look!

Must Read: Importance of Reading- Lesser-Known Benefits of Reading

Best Novels to Improve English: Beginner Level

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time- Mark Haddon

“Let’s call it…let’s call it a project. A project we have to do together. You have to spend more time with me. And I…I have to show you that you can trust me.”

To start our list of best novels to improve English, we have this amazing book by Mark Haddon. The plot of this novel follows the adventures of a 15-year old boy, Christopher Boone, suffering from high functioning autism, who sets out on a challenging mission to investigate the murder of his neighbor’s dog. Since this novel is written from the point of view of Christopher, the language is very compelling and easy to understand. The excellent use of grammar and vocabulary wrote in a casual language helps the readers in expanding their lexicon.

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Fantastic Mr. Fox – Roald Dahl

“I think I have this thing where everybody has to think I’m the greatest. And if they aren’t completely knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I don’t feel good about myself.”

A great way to enhance your English vocabulary is through reading a children’s book and nothing’s better than reading one of the greatest children’s authors of all time, Roald Dahl! It would be a sin if we haven’t included him or his books in our list of the best novels to improve English. It is a tale of trickery carried out by the family of Mr. Fox, who tries to outsmart three dimwitted farmers, in their number of attempts to grab their food and feed his family. The language structure of the book is very easy and filled with amusing and convivial dialogues which keep the reader engaged and also assists with vocabulary building. 

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The Giver – Lois Lowry

“Even trained for years as they all had been in the precision of language, what words could you use which would give another the experience of sunshine?”

The Giver by Lois Lowry is a quintessential novel that captivates both young and adult readers with its dystopian themes. The story revolves around a 12-year old boy Jonas, who lives in an ideal and utopian society until he comes to the realization that it is filled with conformity and lacks individuality. This novel is a must-read for people looking to improve their English as it comprises short sentences with simple grammar and an attention-grabbing style of writing.

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The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemmingway

“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”

This novel follows the excursion of a Cuban fisherman and his mission to land a giant fish and the obstacles and hurdles he faces along the way, exploring the themes of courage, defeat, ultimate triumph, etc. This novel is the most appropriate example of Hemingway’s simple and straightforward style of writing. The language structure of the book, consisting of short sentences, is perfect for readers to improve their English proficiency, while also adding new words to their vocabulary like phosphorescent, fathom, etc.

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Best Novels to Improve English: Intermediate Level

The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald

“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.”

How can we not include The Great Gatsby on our list of the best novels to improve English? This novel is the perfect reflection of the beauty of words and the power that language possesses, hence making it next on our list of the best novels to improve English. It is a social commentary on the combined forces of triumph and tragedy, in the life of the protagonist, Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire. His desperate attempt to rekindle his past romance with his former beloved Daisy Buchanan puts him on the path of crime and deceit. It is a great book to pick up a more enhanced style of reading and writing.

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Harry Potter series- J.K Rowling

“It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” ― Albus Dumbledore

Well, this one has to be on our list of best novels to improve English. You might be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of the Harry Potter series! J.K Rowling has created an incredible adventure of witchcraft and wizardry, culminating in the chronicles of life of an ordinary boy named Harry Potter, whose life turns upside down when he discovers the magical world of Hogwarts. The author uses many new words that can be incorporated into the reader’s daily vocabulary and provides a technique to learn a more advanced level of English for intermediate-level readers. 

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To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

This classic American novel follows the grotesque issues of rape and the sad reality of racial inequality prevailing in society. The story advances through the eyes of two young children, whose lawyer father represents a black man accused of rape, so the language is not at all complex, and yet it is intensified with great vocabulary like ‘malevolent’, ‘assuaged’, etc, making it a great novel for readers looking to enhance their English language and diction.

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Lord of the Flies – William Golding

“He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one’s waking life was spent watching one’s feet.”

Set on an inhabited island, this novel explores the tale of a group of boys who find themselves isolated on an island, without the supervision of any adults. They create their own society but very soon, things start to worsen, descending into ruthless behavior. This piece of modern classic literature reflects a dramatic and descriptive style of writing that is almost too realistic. This novel has been used in the Cambridge Advanced Exam, thus proving that it is a great option to improve your English language skills. 

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Best Novels to Improve English: Advanced Level

Ulysses- James Joyce

“The movements which work revolutions in the world are born out of the dreams and visions in a peasant’s heart on the hillside.”

This literary masterpiece is considered to be one of the most difficult but one of the best novels to improve English. James Joyce distills an amazing command over the English language and his writing structure is remarkable throughout the whole book. A modernist classic work of unparalleled literary brilliance, Ulysses is considered controversial and challenging, but rewarding to read, hence making it into our list of best novels to improve English.

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Nineteen Eighty-Four- George Orwell

“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.”

Another cult favorite, making into our list of the best novels to improve English is Nineteen-Eighty-Four. It is a classic ‘big brother’ novel, describing a  depressing and tragic vision of the author that offers a shocking prophecy of the future that is dominated by the ruling party after a perpetual war. It tells a captivating tale on the perils of a world where there is no freedom to even think and express those thoughts. The story revolves around Winston, whose job is to rewrite old news stories and takes on a dangerous mission in his quest for rebellion against the government he works for.

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Emma- Jane Austen

“Nobody, who has not been in the interior of a family, can say what the difficulties of any individual of that family maybe.”

Each and every novel by Jane Austen is a classic work of art. Austen is known for her witty and satirical social commentary on the Georgian aristocracy. While you can choose any Jane Austen novel like Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense, and Sensibility, etc, to enrich your vocabulary and develop your language skill, Emma is her most accomplished novel that describes the tale of the mischievous schemes of Emma Woodhouse, who is always meddling in people’s affairs that results in disastrous consequences when it comes to romance. Thus we have Emma to end our list of best novels to improve English.

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Are you tired of reading academic books for English proficiency? Reading novels provides you with an interesting approach to unravel new worlds, while simultaneously consolidating your knowledge of the English language and further developing your vocabulary.  If you want to take your love for literature to the next level, Leverage Edu can help you find the best university to satiate your passion. For the latest updates around study blogs, you can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & also subscribe to our newsletter.