The Best English Books

A2

The Best English Books

Introduction

The Guardian newspaper made a list of the 100 best books in English.

Main Body

The newspaper asked 172 experts for help. These people are writers and teachers. Each person chose ten books. The newspaper counted the votes to find the winners. Now, the newspaper shows books 100 to 81. They will show the other books slowly. This is like a countdown. People can also help. Adults can send the names of three books they like. The newspaper wants to hear from everyone.

Conclusion

The newspaper is sharing the list and asking for more ideas now.

Learning

💡 The 'Who' and 'What' Pattern

Look at how the text describes people. It uses a simple pattern: Person \rightarrow Job/Role.

  • These people are writers and teachers.

Why this helps you reach A2: To speak basic English, you don't need long sentences. You only need: [Person] + [is/are] + [Job].

Quick Examples to Copy:

  • I am a student.
  • They are doctors.
  • She is a writer.

🕒 Now vs. Later

Notice these two phrases from the text:

  1. ...shows books 100 to 81.
  2. They will show the other books...

The Simple Rule:

  • Use the base word (shows) for things happening now.
  • Add WILL (will show) for things happening later.

Pattern: Now \rightarrow I read \nFuture\n`Future` \rightarrow$ I will read

Vocabulary Learning

list
A number of things written or spoken in order
Example:The newspaper made a list of the 100 best books.
newspaper
A printed paper with news
Example:The Guardian newspaper asked 172 experts for help.
expert
A person who knows a lot about something
Example:The newspaper asked 172 experts for help.
writer
A person who writes books or articles
Example:These people are writers and teachers.
teacher
A person who teaches others
Example:These people are writers and teachers.
votes
The act of choosing by counting
Example:The newspaper counted the votes to find the winners.
winner
The person or thing that wins
Example:The newspaper counted the votes to find the winners.
adult
A grown‑up person
Example:Adults can send the names of three books they like.
names
The words used to identify a person or thing
Example:Adults can send the names of three books they like.
idea
A thought or suggestion
Example:The newspaper is sharing the list and asking for more ideas.
B2

The Guardian's List of the Best English-Language Novels

Introduction

The Guardian has published a ranked list of the 100 most important novels written in English, based on the opinions of experts from around the world.

Main Body

To create this literary ranking, the organization collected data from 172 participants, including authors, critics, and academics. Each expert had to provide a list of their top ten favorite titles. The final rankings were then decided by analyzing how often each book was mentioned and using a scoring system based on the order of preference given by the experts. The results are being released gradually, starting with the books ranked from 100 to 81, which include works such as 'My Ántonia' and 'Buddenbrooks'. The Guardian plans to reveal the remaining titles in a sequential countdown. Furthermore, the organization has created a way for the public to get involved. People aged 18 and over can use a secure online portal to suggest up to three authors and novels, which encourages a wider discussion about which genres and writers should be included.

Conclusion

The project is currently releasing the data in stages and inviting feedback from the general public.

Learning

🚀 Moving Beyond 'And' & 'But'

At an A2 level, you likely connect your ideas with simple words like and, but, or so. To reach B2, you need Logical Connectors. These are words that act like bridges, showing the reader exactly how two ideas relate.

🔍 The B2 Upgrade: Furthermore

In the text, the author doesn't just say "and the organization created a way..." Instead, they use Furthermore.

What is it? It is a formal way to say "also" or "in addition." Use it when you have already made a point and you want to add a second, stronger piece of information to support your argument.

A2 Style: The book is long and it is boring. B2 Style: The book is incredibly long; furthermore, the plot is quite boring.

⚙️ How to use it (The Mechanics)

Unlike "and," Furthermore usually starts a new sentence or follows a semicolon. It is almost always followed by a comma.

  • Pattern: [Sentence 1]. Furthermore, [Sentence 2].

🛠️ Other 'Bridge' Words found in the text

To sound more like a B2 speaker, notice how the text handles sequence and result:

  • Gradually: Instead of saying "slowly," use gradually to describe a change that happens in small steps over time.
  • Based on: Instead of saying "because of the opinions," use based on. This is a professional way to explain the origin of a decision or a list.

Pro Tip: Next time you write a paragraph, find one "and" and try to replace it with Furthermore, to instantly elevate your writing level.

Vocabulary Learning

ranked (adj.)
arranged in order of importance, size, or value
Example:The ranked list shows the top ten songs in popularity.
literary (adj.)
relating to literature or written works
Example:Her literary career began with a short story that won an award.
participants (n.)
people who take part in an event or study
Example:The participants in the survey answered questions about food habits.
critics (n.)
people who evaluate or judge artistic works
Example:Critics praised the film for its originality and depth.
academics (n.)
scholars or university teachers who study and teach
Example:Academics often publish research papers on climate change.
scoring (n.)
the process of assigning scores or marks to something
Example:The scoring of the exam was done by two independent teachers.
preference (n.)
a liking or choice for one thing over another
Example:Her preference for tea over coffee is well known.
gradually (adv.)
slowly over time or in stages
Example:The plant grew gradually throughout the week.
sequential (adj.)
arranged in a logical order or sequence
Example:The sequential steps lead to the final result of the experiment.
portal (n.)
a website or gateway that provides access to information or services
Example:The portal allows users to submit applications online.
encourages (v.)
motivates or supports someone to do something
Example:The teacher encourages students to ask questions during class.
discussion (n.)
a conversation about a particular topic
Example:The discussion lasted for an hour and covered many viewpoints.
genres (n.)
categories or styles of artistic work
Example:He enjoys all genres of music, from classical to hip‑hop.
wider (adj.)
broader or more extensive in scope
Example:A wider audience will appreciate the show if it is accessible.
involved (adj.)
actively engaged or participating in something
Example:She was involved in the community project for several months.
feedback (n.)
information about performance or quality, often used to improve
Example:The feedback from the users was positive and helped refine the app.
general (adj.)
common to all or most people; not specific
Example:The general public is invited to attend the open‑air concert.
C2

The Guardian's Compilation of Preeminent English-Language Novels

Introduction

The Guardian has released a ranked index of the 100 most significant novels published in English, derived from global expert consensus.

Main Body

The methodology employed for the construction of this literary hierarchy involved the solicitation of data from 172 participants, comprising authors, critics, and academics. Each respondent was required to provide a prioritized list of ten titles. The final rankings were determined through a quantitative analysis of the frequency of nominations, supplemented by a weighting system based on the ordinal preference assigned by the experts. Initial dissemination of the results has commenced with the publication of titles ranked 100 through 81, featuring works such as 'My Ántonia' and 'Buddenbrooks'. The publication has structured the release of the remaining titles as a sequential countdown. Concurrent with the disclosure of the list, the organization has established a mechanism for public engagement. This involves an encrypted submission portal allowing individuals aged 18 and over to nominate up to three authors and novels, thereby facilitating a broader discourse on the inclusion and exclusion of specific genres and authors.

Conclusion

The project is currently in the phase of incremental data release and public consultation.

Learning

The Architecture of Nominalization

To transcend the B2 plateau, a learner must shift from process-oriented language (verbs) to concept-oriented language (nouns). The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization, the linguistic process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to create an objective, academic distance.

⚡ The C2 Pivot: From Action to Entity

Observe how the text avoids simple subject-verb-object constructions. Instead of saying "The Guardian asked 172 people for their opinions," the author writes:

*"...the solicitation of data from 172 participants..."

The Transformation:

  • Verb (B2): To solicit \rightarrow Noun (C2): The solicitation
  • Verb (B2): To disseminate \rightarrow Noun (C2): Initial dissemination
  • Verb (B2): To disclose \rightarrow Noun (C2): The disclosure

🔍 Why this defines C2 Mastery

Nominalization allows for Information Density. By transforming an action into a noun, the writer can then apply adjectives to that noun, creating complex layers of meaning without adding new clauses.

Example analysis: "incremental data release" Rather than saying "the data is being released slowly over time," the phrase compresses the time, the action, and the method into a single noun phrase. This is the hallmark of high-level academic and bureaucratic English.

🛠 Sophisticated Collocations

Notice the high-precision pairings that support these nouns. C2 proficiency is not just about the noun, but the collocational environment it inhabits:

  • Quantitative analysis \rightarrow (Precision of method)
  • Ordinal preference \rightarrow (Technical specificity)
  • Sequential countdown \rightarrow (Temporal structure)

The Scholarly Takeaway: To move toward C2, stop describing what happened and start describing the phenomenon of what happened. Replace your verbs with conceptual nouns and anchor them with precise adjectives.

Vocabulary Learning

Preeminent (adj.)
Surpassing all others; superior or distinguished.
Example:The preeminent scholar in the field was invited to speak at the conference.
Compilation (n.)
A collection of works or items gathered together.
Example:The compilation of essays spans over thirty years of research.
Quantitative (adj.)
Relating to measurable quantities; expressed numerically.
Example:The study employed a quantitative analysis to measure the impact.
Frequency (n.)
The rate at which something occurs or is repeated.
Example:The frequency of the word 'the' in the novel was unusually high.
Supplemented (adj.)
Enhanced or completed by adding something else.
Example:The dataset was supplemented with additional surveys.
Weighting (n.)
The process of assigning relative importance to items.
Example:Weighting the votes ensured a fair outcome.
Ordinal (adj.)
Relating to order or rank; arranged in a sequence.
Example:The ordinal preference indicates the order of choices.
Dissemination (n.)
The act of spreading information widely.
Example:The rapid dissemination of the findings sparked debate.
Sequential (adj.)
Arranged or occurring in a logical order.
Example:The sequential release of the books kept readers engaged.
Mechanism (n.)
A system of parts working together to perform a function.
Example:A mechanism for public engagement was established.
Encrypted (adj.)
Converted into a secure form that cannot be easily understood.
Example:The submission portal used encrypted communication.
Portal (n.)
An entryway or gateway, especially a website interface.
Example:The portal allowed users to submit their nominations.
Engagement (n.)
The act of participating or being involved in an activity.
Example:Public engagement increased after the announcement.
Inclusion (n.)
The act of including or being included.
Example:Inclusion of diverse voices enriched the discussion.
Exclusion (n.)
The act of leaving out or not including.
Example:The exclusion of certain genres was controversial.
Incremental (adj.)
Increasing gradually or in small steps.
Example:The incremental data release allowed for continuous feedback.
Hierarchy (n.)
A system or organization in which people or things are ranked one above another.
Example:The hierarchy of novels reflected their cultural significance.
Solicitation (n.)
The act of requesting or urging for something.
Example:The solicitation of opinions ensured a broad perspective.
Comprising (adj.)
Made up of; consisting of.
Example:The list comprising ten titles was carefully curated.
Respondent (n.)
A person who replies or answers in a survey or interview.
Example:Each respondent provided a ranked list of ten novels.