We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(5) Tree Line
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter has a generally straightforward style (it's actually a pretty quick read) and there's not too much to the plot: a deaf/mute dude befriends an eclectic mix of people, yet none of them really understand one another. Seriously, that's it.
So what's the catch? Well, the simplicity of the whole thing might just trick you. See, you can breeze through it really fast, but when you're done you may have the feeling that you missed something. This novel has some really complicated themes and ideas swirling around in it, as well as some graphic content that can be hard to stomach. Basically, reading this novel isn't very hard, but understanding it takes a little more work.
Our advice? Don't try to blow through this one – take your time and, well, get deep.