What is the hardest English novel to read?

For me, 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville can be extremely difficult. It has long, detailed descriptions of whaling, which can be quite boring for some readers. Also, the language is very elaborate and old - fashioned. It's not an easy read if you're not used to that style of writing.

Some of the hardest English novels include 'Infinite Jest' by David Foster Wallace. It has a huge cast of characters, long footnotes that are often as important as the main text, and it delves into complex topics like addiction and entertainment. 'Absalom, Absalom!' by William Faulkner is also challenging. Faulkner's use of long, convoluted sentences and his non - linear narrative style can make it really difficult for readers to follow the story.

Well, it could be the complex vocabulary. For example, old English words or very specialized terms. Also, the sentence structure might be really convoluted, like long, nested clauses. And if it has a lot of cultural references that are not common knowledge, that would add to the difficulty.

One of the hardest fiction books could be 'Finnegans Wake' by James Joyce. Its complex language, stream - of - consciousness style, and dense allusions make it extremely challenging. Joyce uses a made - up language at times, and the narrative jumps around in a way that is difficult to follow.

I think 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is among the hardest. It deals with the mental breakdown of a woman, and the way it is written, with the narrator's increasingly erratic thoughts, can be quite disorienting. The story is also a powerful critique of the treatment of women's mental health in the 19th century, but the reader has to work through the narrator's unreliable perspective to fully understand the deeper meaning.

Deep and abstract themes can make a short story hard to read. For instance, if a story is exploring the nature of consciousness or the meaning of existence at a very philosophical level, it demands a certain level of intellectual engagement from the reader. Another factor is the lack of clear character development. If characters are not well - defined and their actions seem random, it becomes hard for the reader to empathize or even understand what is going on in the story.

Read it multiple times. The first time you might just get the gist, but with each reading, you'll pick up more details. Also, look up any words you don't know immediately.

Start with a good annotated edition. For example, if you're reading 'Ulysses', an annotated version can help you understand the many allusions. Read slowly and don't be afraid to look up words frequently. Make notes as you go along.

The middle part can be extremely difficult. This is where the plot has to thicken, characters need to develop, and there's a risk of getting lost in sub - plots. It's like navigating through a maze while also building the maze as you go. You have to keep the momentum going without losing the reader's interest.

Well, one characteristic could be complex and convoluted storylines. For example, some 'hardest visual novels' might have multiple branching paths that are difficult to predict and follow. They often require careful attention to details in the dialogue and the scenarios presented. Another aspect could be deep and abstruse themes. These novels might deal with philosophical concepts, moral dilemmas, or psychological intricacies that are not easy to fully comprehend at first glance.