Daniel Deronda Tough-o-Meter

(6) Tree Line

The plotline of Daniel Deronda itself is not that hard to follow, but getting through this tome can be tricky at times. We mean, first of all, it can be really intimidating to pick up a book that's over 800 pages long. Beyond that, it doesn't come as a huge shock that George Eliot was an extremely learned and well-read lady – it definitely shows in her writing. The sheer number of literary, musical, and artistic references that run throughout the book can leave you scratching your head (just check out the "Allusions" section to see what we mean). That said, Daniel Deronda is definitely a manageable, worthwhile, and satisfying read if you give yourself a little bit of time and don't get hung up in every tiny detail.