Reading a book is the easiest way to explore new worlds and gain wisdom. Books show a variety of worlds to their readers. Foreign books in particular lead their readers to a fresh and unfamiliar point of view. For people who want to enter new worlds and improve their English skills, Pharos will recommend four English books in the original according to level of difficulty. 

[ Beginner's Level ]

The Funny Life of Pets by James Campbell 

 This book creatively expresses the thoughts and behaviors of various pets. It contains lots of illustrations to make it readable. Also, every sentence is short and uses easy vocabulary. Therefore, it is good for beginners or young children. Even if you are not a beginner or young child, it is still recommendable because it is a cute picture book. It is basically for everyone.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (‘No Fear’ edition

 Romeo and Juliet is a story known all around the world, but the original version can be hard to understand since it uses old English words and expressions. The ‘No Fear’ edition is a solution to this problem. It provides the original text alongside a modern translation. Readers can experience the fluent writing style of Shakespeare and still follow the story easily by comparing the two texts. 

[ Advanced Level ]

Atomic Habits by James Clear

 This is a self-improvement book about how small habits can change people’s lives. With its inspiring stories, people can develop an everyday reading habit. The book’s structure is helpful for this as well because the contents are cut into short chapters. Since visual materials such as diagrams and graphs are presented, readers are able to learn from the book without difficulty, making it a good book for mastering practical, everyday language. 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

 This novel shows the struggling life of Korean residents in Japan from the Japanese colonial period to the 1980s. Interestingly, a Korean-American author published it in America and it became a bestseller. Later, a Korean translation was published in Korea. Although the original edition is in English, it is easy to understand the circumstances and emotions as the main characters are Korean-Japanese families. However, it is suitable for people who can patiently read a serious story that has depth to it.

 "Many parts are paraphrased in translations, so a precise understanding of the author’s message can be possible when reading the original. In addition, unique English expressions can be found only in the original. How about finding a suitable English book for yourself and feeling the joy of reading?"

76th Reporter • CHOI BO YOUN • invierno.y@kyonggi.ac.kr