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 & Thematic Focus
The book "60 Stories About Life" serves as a collection of diverse, first-person narratives designed to help English learners improve their practical language usage and expand their vocabulary. Each story is based on real facts, offering engaging and relatable content to facilitate an immersive learning experience.
- Exploring complex relationships and their challenges.
- Navigating personal struggles, including betrayal and deceit.
- Journeys of self-discovery and personal transformation.
- Dealing with societal expectations and difficult life choices.
- Themes of love, trust, independence, and resilience.
- Confronting the consequences of actions and seeking inner peace.
Excerpt from the Book
16. BACKUP OPTION
I was sitting at the table, nervously stirring my cup of tea with a spoon. I felt like I was on an exam I hadn’t prepared for. Martha assured me that Arthur was “normal,” which was the highest compliment she could give me, but I still had all these nightmare scenarios [tüm bu kabus senaryoları] in my head. Maybe he would turn out to be a weirdo [Belki de tuhaf biri olurdu]? Maybe he would be silent throughout the meeting, or, worse, talk only about himself?
‘Caroline?’ I heard a warm, low voice. I looked up and saw him. He was tall, well-dressed, had a light beard and a smile that immediately disarmed me. He didn’t look like someone who would start boring me with stories about his car or, worse, about his ex-girlfriends. ‘Yes, it’s me,’ I replied and shook my hand. He shook it firmly but gently, then sat down opposite me. I was surprised at how quickly the conversation began to flow naturally. No awkward pauses, no strange comments. Just a conversation between two people who enjoyed each other’s company.
‘Martha said you had an unusual hobby,’ he said with interest. I burst out laughing [Kahkahalarla güldüm]. ‘If Martha says something, it’s better to divide it in half right away. I like taking pictures of abandoned buildings [terk edilmiş binalar], that’s all.’ ‘Sounds interesting,’ he admitted. ‘I have a completely different approach [tamamen farklı bir yaklaşım]. I take pictures of people. I like observing emotions.’ I was intrigued. I didn’t know anyone who had a similar perspective on photography. With each passing minute I felt more and more at ease with him [onunla kendimi giderek daha rahat hissettim]. There was something in his voice, in his manner, that made me feel like I didn’t have to try hard to make a good impression.
Summary of Chapters
1. Together for Better or for Worse: A woman discovers her husband's secret financial struggles and potential betrayal, leading her to question their marriage's foundation and contemplate tough decisions.
3. New Family: A woman's long-held dream of motherhood is complicated when her husband reveals he has a son from a previous relationship, challenging her notions of family and acceptance.
6. It's All About Roses: A woman uncovers her husband's infidelity after he unexpectedly starts growing roses, a flower he despised, prompting her to set a trap to confirm her suspicions.
13. The Betrayal: A wife, despite a seemingly perfect marriage, finds herself increasingly bored and drawn to a new charismatic manager at work, eventually leading to a forbidden encounter and overwhelming guilt.
16. Backup Option: A woman reluctantly agrees to a blind date arranged by a friend, finding what appears to be a soulmate, only to later uncover his hidden, complicated truth about his marital status.
28. The Evidence of Betrayal: A wife who lived in her husband's shadow discovers his long-term infidelity through a private investigator, leading her to meticulously plan her divorce and assert her independence in court.
34. There Is Only One Path: Olivia navigates her mother's persistent societal expectations regarding marriage and children, ultimately realizing and asserting her personal happiness and chosen path of independence.
45. Finding Myself: A woman faces the growing indifference in her marriage, prompting her to seek new connections and personal growth, which ultimately leads to the difficult decision to divorce and redefine her life.
50. I Can Do It Myself: A wife, feeling stifled by her traditional role, decides to pursue her own career and financial independence, challenging her husband's control and gaining respect for herself.
60. Trust Takes Years to Build: A wife discovers her husband's affair with her close friend and, instead of immediate confrontation, subtly orchestrates events to expose their betrayal and make her husband confront his actions.
Keywords
Life stories, personal development, relationships, love, betrayal, self-discovery, independence, marital issues, communication, trust, societal expectations, challenges, divorce, revenge, choices, emotional journey, language learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This book, "60 Stories About Life," is a collection of diverse, first-person narratives based on real-life facts, designed to help English learners enhance their practical language skills and vocabulary.
What are the central thematic areas?
The stories explore a wide range of human experiences including complex relationships, personal struggles, instances of betrayal and infidelity, journeys of self-discovery, the impact of societal expectations, and the many difficult choices individuals face in life.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is pedagogical: to provide engaging and relatable content that facilitates English language acquisition, vocabulary expansion, and practical usage for learners who already possess a good knowledge of the language.
What scientific method is used?
As a collection of narrative stories for language learning, this work does not employ a scientific method or research question in the traditional academic sense. Instead, it uses authentic, first-person storytelling to provide immersive language practice.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part of the book consists of 60 individual short stories, each presented as a personal account of a significant life event or period, ranging from relationship challenges and betrayals to personal growth and the pursuit of happiness.
What keywords characterize the work?
Life stories, personal development, relationships, love, betrayal, self-discovery, independence, marital issues, communication, trust, societal expectations, challenges, divorce, revenge, choices, emotional journey, language learning.
How does the book's format aid English language learners?
The book's format of short, first-person narratives makes the content accessible and engaging. The stories are written with relatively simple and common English, often including Turkish parenthetical translations for difficult terms, which supports vocabulary acquisition and contextual understanding.
Are the stories based on real-life experiences?
Yes, the book explicitly states that the "60 Stories About Life" are "60 interesting stories based on real facts, told in the first person by both women and men," offering authentic and diverse perspectives on life experiences.
- Quote paper
- Jacek Gordon (Author), 2025, 60 Stories About Life. Hayat hakkinda 60 hikaye, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1661708
