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)
(5) Tree Line
Erik Larson's writing style isn't that difficult to navigate—the Devil in the White City is super-straightforward, alternating chapters to talk about the Chicago World's Fair and H. H. Holmes' murder castle.
Yeah, that's right: murder castle. What could have been a fusty history book about turn of the century Chicago gets all sorts of jazzed up, thanks to the fact it includes info about a murder castle. The "murder castle-y-ness" (that's probably definitely an official literature term) of this book pretty much ensures you won't fall asleep while reading.
But it's not fluffy or pulpy, either. This book includes a lengthy index and citations list, both of which point you in the right direction if there's any historical detail you want to look up.