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)
Snow Line (7)
When it comes to language, North and South isn't the most difficult book you'll ever read. Sure, it has the weird old-timey vibe to it, with a lot of long winding sentences and words like "heretofore." But it's easy to get into the swing of the language, and almost as easy to look up any antique-sounding words you might not know.
The content, on the other hand, can be a bit of a bear. The book's original editor, Charles Dickens (yup, that Charles Dickens) thought that the book was unnecessarily long. We repeat: Charles Dickens, who was paid by the word and has written some of the world's most beloved doorstops, thought that North and South was too long.
This is kind of like Rapunzel saying "Hey, not to be a jerk or anything? But you kinda need a haircut."
Reading this novel can be a slog, for sure. But it isn't like a trek through the Andes. It's more like a really long walk through a huge park. So pleasant, and so pretty, but just… long. And sometimes meandering. It can be tough at times to stay with Gaskell because some of the writing isn't relevant to the book's plot. She detours.
But even though your inner editor might want to take out a red marker or a pair of scissors and start chopping off blocks of text, this is an enjoyable book. You can really get immersed in the world of North and South, and that's half the fun of these kinds of 19th Century big ol' books. Just put aside your 21st century need for speed, grab a cup (or pot) of tea, and settle in.