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
The language is dated, and you might have a hard time paying attention to Don Quixote's long, long speeches about knighthood. But if you sit down and give this book your full attention, you should definitely be able to get the gist of what's happening. The chapters even give us handy titles that summarize what happens in them. Apart from that, the greatest challenge of this book is its LENGTH. Don Quixote is long, plain and simple. But if you concentrate and stay committed, you'll become a member of the wonderful club of people who have actually read the whole thing.
There's a reason that people always refer to Don Quixote's fights with windmills when they talk about this book. It's because this fight happens only one tenth of the way into the story, and few people have the stamina to read beyond it. But you do, dear Shmooper. We just know it.