BTT: Hard To Get

What’s the hardest/most challenging book you’ve ever read? Was it worth the effort? Did you read it by choice or was it an assignment/obligation?

Hmm, I think the hardest, but still enjoyable, book I’ve read was Gravity’s Rainbow. That or Ulysses. No, neither were assigned; they were both post college “fun” reading. I’d probably liken reading both to delivering a baby without an epidural: you know it’s good for you (and, of course the baby) but it’s going to hurt and it’s going to be hard. In the end, though, it’s totally worth it. Ok, so may that’s not the best analogy but it’s the best I could come up with.

I think that, also, my definition of “hard” books tends to be a little bit oddball, though, those two are likely to top anyone’s list. I generally like strange, “challenging” books and think Umberto Eco is great fun and very easy to read.