Tough-O-Meter

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)

(6) Tree Line

We love D.H. Lawrence for his short sentences and clearly expressed thoughts. The guy talks a lot about flowers, but his language never gets overly flowery. But don't let the transparent language trick you into thinking this is an easy read.

Take it from us: it can sometimes be really tough to pay attention when you're reading Lawrence's novels. His writing is really, really repetitive; he'll hash the same scene out over and over. Just look at how many times Paul and Miriam talk to each other about being together and not being together.

Now, this is not to say that Lawrence is boring. He just returns to the same character conflicts and themes over and over, as he attempts to work through them. But even though the setup is mostly the same, the details of each successive attempt are different.

Kind of like in real life, you know? You don't just slay the Dragon of All Commitment Issues with one mighty jab. So, while it's tough to stay with Lawrence at times, we think that if you do, you'll be rewarded.