Absalom, Absalom! Tough-o-Meter

(8) Snow Line

We can't lie: this one's a doozy. The sentences are long, the chronology is all mixed up, the story is full of flashbacks and speculation, and you can't trust the narrators. Absalom, Absalom! is known to be Faulkner's most difficult book – and his others are not exactly The Cat in the Hat.

That said, with the right tools – a family tree, a dictionary, a chronology, and of course, Shmoop – you can enjoy the book for its intricate story and eloquent writing. Here's our advice: take your time as you read this book. If you get confused, keep reading – most (most) of the story will eventually become clear.