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
Gilead follows the epistolary novel form: it's a long letter from a father to his son. While not too challenging in terms of language and style, the story doesn't follow a specific order or chronology. It's more the unfolding of a person than the unfolding of a plot. The novel is also heavy in theology, if presented conversationally. If you're unfamiliar with American Christianity, the religious content may require a learning curve.