People read for a variety of reasons: entertainment, knowledge, understanding. There is no better way to acquire a larger vocabulary than by reading novels of all types and genres. Your high school teachers may have considered the classics to be the only true literature with educational value, but there are plenty of modern tales that can help you learn new words to throw in cocktails.
here are seven novels, both classic and modern, that will allow you to expand your vocabulary. you may want to keep a dictionary handy while you read!
You are reading: Books that will help with vocabulary
the count of monte cristo
Alexandre Dumas’ famous adventure novel explores the classic and timeless themes of betrayal, hope and revenge, as well as the consequences of those actions. It’s also a great novel for vocabulary purposes, throwing around words like fiery, prodigious, cosmopolitan, and stroke. Despite this, it’s not a difficult read, which makes the story a great starting point for someone working on expanding their vocabulary.
shakespeare plays
okay, maybe this is cheating a bit. If you only read one of shakespeare’s plays, read hamlet. many of the references in modern literature are based on the bard’s works, and the english language itself owes much to shakespeare.
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Did you know that he invented some of the words used in everyday language?
love in times of anger
This modern love story by Gabriel García Márquez was originally written in Spanish, but it loses none of its beauty in translation. telling the story of two lovers separated by distance and circumstances, the book includes admirable words for their sheer beauty, as well as phrases that recall the liquidity of Spanish.
game of thrones
The growing popularity of the series is mainly due to the television adaptation. However, the written Game of Thrones far exceeds the film version: not only is the story over 1,000 pages long, but George R.R. Martin’s talent with language is something to be admired. In addition to using terms dating back to Middle English, Martin describes the world of Westeros in such detail that all authors can learn a little about the use of adjectives and adverbs.
gulliver’s travels
jonathan swift’s scathing satirical work on elite culture and the catholic church is one of the greatest novels ever written. Learn for yourself who the Lilliputians and Yahoos are, as well as the meaning of words like lingua franca, inure, demesne, and declivity.
Ulysses
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ulysses, one of james joyce’s best works, is a huge tome. at 265,000 words in length, with 30,030 unique words, it is considered one of the most difficult novels to read in existence. however, it is also ranked in the top 100 English novels of all time. joyce is happy to use words like scruffy, omphalos, and ineluctable. the novel’s length is compounded by the fact that readers must have a dictionary and notebook by their side. Perhaps the best choice for vocabulary expansion of any novel on this list, Ulysses will challenge even the most seasoned readers.
slaughterhouse five
“everything was beautiful and nothing hurt”. The most famous line from vonnegut’s last work succinctly wraps up the mood and theme of the novel. A tragic examination of the life of a soldier in World War II, Slaughterhouse Five challenges readers to deeply examine his preconceptions about war and life. Using words like absolute, grotesque, and magnanimity, Slaughterhouse Five’s vocabulary is of more modern origin.
if you want to acquire a larger vocabulary, whether for the study of gre or simply for conversational use, there is no better way than to read. there are so many novels that can help you; don’t feel like you just have to read the classics!
what is your favorite word and where did you learn it?
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