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)

(4) Base Camp

Like other Graham Greene novels, The Quiet American is concisely written and plotted. You don't get bogged down in details or descriptions. The action moves quickly and a lot of the text is crisp dialogue that keeps you moving. Greene jumps around in time a bit, so you might have to take a moment to get your bearings, but most of the action takes place during a few set chronologies, so after a while you get the hang of the ride.