The books in the series "Reading for English Learners" are intended for people who already have a good knowledge of English but want to improve its practical use and also learn new words through texts that are interesting to read but written in relatively simple and commonly used English.
"60 Stories About Life" are 60 interesting stories based on real facts, told in the first person by both women and men; that is; seen from their point of view.
Table of Contents
- 1. Together for Better or for Worse
- 2. Sad Spring
- 3. New Family
- 4. The River of No Return
- 5. Unwanted Marriage
- 6. It’s All About Roses
- 7. Dangerous Love
- 8. A Mysterious Neighbour
- 9. Dinner with a Stranger
- 10. The Selection
- 11. True Liberation
- 12. The Price of Being Single
- 13. The Betrayal
- 14. Broken Oath
- 15. Failed Experiment
- 16. Backup Option
- 17. The Will
- 18. Bitter Taste of a Victory
- 19. An Uncomfortable Chair
- 20. On the Path Again
- 21. Natural Beauty
- 22. A Nasty E-mail
- 23. The Tenth Anniversary
- 24. Painful Revenge
- 25. Unexpected Confession
- 26. The Case of no Significance
- 27. Winter Holiday
- 28. The Evidence of Betrayal
- 29. Too Late
- 30. The Disappointment
- 31. The Moment of Satisfaction
- 32. Mutual Respect
- 33. A Man Without Future
- 34. There Is Only One Path
- 35. The Truth Will Come Out Anyway
- 36. Successful Date
- 37. The Same Husband
- 38. Lost Chance
- 39. Unexpected Situation
- 40. True Love
- 41. I Won
- 42. Difficult Period
- 43. Pre-Wedding Stress
- 44. Forbidden Affair
- 45. Finding Myself
- 46. Ready for New Challenges
- 47. New Standards
- 48. The Man of my Life
- 49. And I Tried So Hard!
- 50. I Can Do It Myself
- 51. The Heart Is Not a Servant
- 52. What Will the Future Bring?
- 53. Internal Conflict
- 54. The Best Revenge
- 55. How to Save Man’s Pride
- 56. Inner Peace
- 57. A Plan for the Future
- 58. Nothing Happened
- 59. I Am with Him Because I Want to
- 60. Trust Takes Years to Build
Objective & Themes
This collection, "60 Stories About Life," aims to provide English learners with interesting, real-life-based narratives told from a first-person perspective to enhance their practical English usage and vocabulary. The primary goal is to offer engaging content that allows readers to improve their language skills while exploring diverse human experiences.
- Real-life personal narratives and experiences.
- Practical English language improvement and vocabulary acquisition.
- First-person storytelling from varied perspectives (men and women).
- Exploration of complex human emotions and relationship dynamics.
- Accessible language suitable for English learners.
- Themes of love, betrayal, self-discovery, and societal expectations.
Excerpt from the Book
1. TOGETHER FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
However, I was worried that something had started to change recently. Several times, quite a large amount of money used to disappear from the bank account, but Stephen reassured me that these were only temporary problems. Although I tried to trust, but my inner anxiety [a minha ansiedade interior] did not give me composure [compostura]. I felt that something was wrong.
The kitchen was our favourite place to talk. It was always full of the smell of freshly brewed coffee [o cheiro do café fresco], with warm light coming in through the window. I was sitting at the table, nervously tapping my fingers on the counter [batendo nervosamente com os dedos no balcão], when Stephen entered the room with a cup in his hand. ‘Maddie, is something wrong?’ he asked, noticing my tense posture [A minha postura tensa]. ‘You know what,’ I replied, trying to control the trembling [controlar o tremor] in my voice. ‘What’s happening with our money? It’s disappearing from our bank account, and I don’t even know why.’ ‘It’s nothing serious, really. Just a temporary problem [um problema temporário],’ he began to explain, stirring his coffee [mexendo o café]. ‘Temporary?!’ I interrupted, feeling my frustration growing. ‘How many times have I heard that? What’s really going on?’ I could see a hint of concern [uma pitada de preocupação] in his eyes, but his face remained calm. ‘I promise everything will be okay. It’s just … things have gotten a little complicated,’ he tried to reassure me [ele tentou tranquilizar-me], but his words rang hollow [soaram vazias]. He was hiding [Ele estava a esconder-se] something. I could feel that he wasn’t telling me something, that he was hiding the truth from me that could change everything. And although I tried to believe him, my inner voice told me otherwise. Could I really trust his assurances [confiar nas suas garantias]? Two days later, a letter arrived from the bank. My heart was beating fast, and my eyes were scanning the lines of text that made me increasingly worried. Arrears [Atrasos]? Credit? We didn't take out any credit! I could feel the anger starting to fill me. ‘Stephen!’ I shouted, not hiding the growing irritation in my voice. My husband entered the room and I waved the letter at him. ‘What's that supposed to mean? Why are we in arrears and have a credit that I don't know anything about?' He looked at me for a moment, his face a mixture of surprise and concern. ‘It’s not what you think. I can explain everything,’ he tried to explain, but his words brought me no comfort. ‘Explain it to me now!’ I shouted, feeling that I could no longer bear [eu não aguentava mais] this uncertainty. ‘You’re hiding something from me, and I want to know what’s going on.’ He didn’t answer immediately, and that only increased my frustration and distrust [minha frustração e desconfiança]. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff [à beira de um penhasco], not knowing what I would find at the bottom if I jumped. When Stephen left for work, I decided to act. I had to find out the truth. I searched through his files with growing anxiety [com ansiedade crescente], hoping in my heart that I wouldn’t find anything that would confirm my fears. Finally, I came across a stack of contracts and notes. My heart sank in my chest [afundou no peito] when I saw that it was about a business loan. With shaking hands, I closed the file, my mind racing with thoughts. Was Stephen really risking our lives together so much? When he got home, I was waiting for him in the kitchen. ‘We need to talk,’ I said quietly but firmly. He looked at me with concern, knowing I had discovered something. ‘Is something wrong?’ he asked, although there was already a note of resignation in his voice. ‘I found some documents. A loan for a business that didn’t work out, right? Why didn’t you tell me?’ My questions were like bullets that wouldn’t let him escape. Stephen sighed, his shoulders slumping [os seus ombros caídos] as if he’d lost all his strength.
Chapter Summaries
1. Together for Better or for Worse: A woman confronts her husband about mysterious financial discrepancies, leading to a breakdown of trust as she uncovers his hidden business dealings and debts.
2. Sad Spring: A biology teacher, accustomed to an orderly and detached life, finds her perspective on emotions challenged after a significant encounter with a student's mother, leading to a difficult personal decision.
3. New Family: A woman's long-held dream of motherhood is shattered and then reconfigured when her husband reveals he has a son from a prior relationship, forcing her to redefine what family means amidst betrayal and new challenges.
7. Dangerous Love: An ambitious manager navigates a secret office romance, constantly battling the fear of exposure and the potential impact on her career, questioning whether her feelings are worth the risk.
17. The Will: A man faces the unwelcome return of his estranged sister at their mother's will reading, where deep-seated resentment and unresolved family issues surface as the inheritance is revealed.
18. Bitter Taste of Victory: A man leaves his predictable marriage for a new, exciting relationship, only to find his divorce "victory" hollow and filled with regret, leading him to reflect on his past choices and a possible reconciliation.
24. Painful Revenge: After discovering her husband's infidelity, a woman plans and executes an elaborate revenge by exposing his betrayal to his father-in-law, ultimately achieving a triumph that leaves her feeling empty.
34. There Is Not Only One Path: Olivia, an independent professional who enjoys her single life and travels, grapples with her mother's persistent desire for her to marry, affirming her happiness in her chosen unconventional path.
46. Ready for New Challenges: A woman in an open marriage, initially driven by financial stability, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, ultimately deciding to pursue true happiness beyond her current arrangement.
50. I Can Do It Myself: Dagmar, a housewife tired of financial dependence and boredom, asserts her independence by using her husband's money to start her own successful business, challenging his traditional views and reshaping their relationship.
Keywords
English language learning, real-life stories, personal narratives, relationships, betrayal, love, divorce, self-discovery, independence, emotional challenges, human experiences, modern life, short stories, trust, family dynamics, career, ambition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This book is a collection of 60 short stories designed to help English learners improve their practical language skills and vocabulary by engaging with narratives based on real-life events and personal experiences.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central themes revolve around personal relationships, including love, marriage, betrayal, divorce, and the challenges of finding happiness and self-worth. It also touches upon ambition, family dynamics, and overcoming adversity.
What is the primary objective or research question of the book?
The primary objective is to provide an accessible and engaging resource for English learners to practice reading and expand their vocabulary through relatable, first-person accounts of diverse human experiences.
What narrative approach is used in the stories?
The book utilizes a first-person storytelling approach, where each of the 60 stories is narrated by either a woman or a man, offering their unique point of view on events based on real facts.
What is covered in the main part of the book?
The main part of the book consists of 60 individual short stories that delve into various facets of life, relationships, and personal struggles, each presenting a distinct scenario and emotional journey.
What keywords characterize the work?
Keywords that characterize this work include: English learning, real-life stories, personal narratives, relationships, trust, betrayal, self-discovery, independence, emotional growth, and modern challenges.
How do the stories contribute to English language learning?
The stories are written in relatively simple and commonly used English, making them accessible. They expose learners to practical language use and new vocabulary within engaging contexts, aiding comprehension and retention.
Are the stories focused on a specific age group or demographic?
While the experiences are diverse, they largely focus on adult relationships and life decisions, appealing to a broad audience interested in human drama and personal growth, suitable for learners with a good knowledge of English.
What makes these stories "based on real facts"?
The stories are described as "based on real facts," implying that they draw inspiration from authentic human experiences, lending them a sense of relatability and emotional depth, even if presented as fictionalized narratives.
What kind of emotional journey can readers expect?
Readers can expect an emotional rollercoaster, as the stories explore a wide spectrum of feelings from love and joy to betrayal, anger, sadness, and eventual self-liberation and peace, often presenting complex dilemmas and their resolutions.
- Citation du texte
- Jacek Gordon (Auteur), 2025, 60 Stories About Life. 60 histórias sobre a vida, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1661703
