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)
(7) Snow Line
To be perfectly honest, reading this book is no easy cruise. Conrad was never one to write a perfectly chronological book, and Lord Jim is no exception. There are flashbacks, flashbacks within flashbacks, and even flash forwards to boot. There are multiple narrators, a huge ensemble cast of minor characters. When you add to that Conrad's tricky habit of making sentences so complicated that they'll have your head spinning, it's clear that navigating Lord Jim is not for the faint of heart. Still, with its awesome story, emotional scenes, and gorgeous writing, the novel is well worth the trip. May we suggest you get an edition of Lord Jim with a good set of footnotes before you start reading?