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
Nostromo may be about sailors and hidden treasure, but don't expect a simple adventure tale. The plot is complex and jumps around a whole bunch, often abruptly shifting focus and perspective from character to character and flashing backwards and forwards in time.
The end result? You get a lot of different perspectives—both temporally and character-wise—but you'll likely find it a wee bit disorienting. Every time you begin a new chapter, you have to figure out "where" you are (and with whom), and sometimes that "where" switches mid-chapter. It feels like Conrad really wants to make sure you are paying attention.
On top of all that, there's a lot of complex political talk and a whole bunch of characters to keep track of. All told, these qualities make the trek up Mount Nostromo fairly steep. However, don't fret—it's totally doable, and Conrad's narrative structure (once you've wrapped your head around it) really is kind of incredible to behold.