One way is to read the story multiple times. This helps in getting familiar with the new words and sentence structures. For example, if there's a story about shopping, you'll start to remember the words for different items and how to ask for prices. Another way is to write down the new vocabulary from the story and practice using them in your own sentences.
Adult English stories can expand vocabulary. For example, in a story about a detective, you may learn words related to crime investigation like 'clue', 'suspect', and 'alibi'.
English adult stories frequently have a more nuanced plot. They might not have a straightforward happy ending. Take 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy ends in tragedy. Moreover, they often incorporate elements of history and society. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee is set in the racially divided South of the United States and tackles issues of racism and injustice. And the use of symbolism is common, like the green light in 'The Great Gatsby' which symbolizes Gatsby's dreams and hopes.
They usually deal with more profound themes compared to children's or young adult novels. Such as in 'The Great Gatsby', it delves into the themes of wealth, class, love, and the American Dream. The characters' pursuit of the American Dream is shown through Jay Gatsby's lavish parties and his unrequited love for Daisy. Adult novels can also have a more sophisticated writing style, with a wider range of vocabulary and more complex sentence structures.
One way is through immersion. When you read an adult story, you are immersed in an English - language environment that is more complex and diverse compared to simpler texts. This forces your brain to work harder to understand the plot, characters, and underlying themes. You can also practice summarizing the stories in your own words, which improves your ability to convey ideas in English. Additionally, looking up new words and phrases as you read and then using them in your own sentences helps to solidify your knowledge of English.
One of the oldest English books in adult fiction could be 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer. It was written in the 14th century and contains a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on a journey. These stories cover a wide range of themes from love and lust to morality and social satire, and it gives a great insight into the society of that time.
One interesting adult English story could be 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's about a young couple, Jim and Della. Della sells her long, beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's precious watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. It shows their selfless love in a simple yet profound way.
One benefit is vocabulary expansion. Adult English stories often use a wide range of words that can help you learn new terms. For example, in classic stories, you may encounter archaic or literary words.
Love is a very common theme. For example, in many stories, love can be selfless like in 'The Gift of the Magi' or it can be full of complications and sacrifices. Another theme is social class. In 'The Necklace', the main character's desire to fit into a higher social class through borrowed finery leads to her downfall.