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
The action of The Assistant mostly takes place in or around the Bober family store and focuses on the deeds and desires of the three family members, plus the troubled clerk, Frank. The plot is easy to follow.
For the most part, Malamud describes and explains thoughts and actions in clear, explicit language, only occasionally hinting at what has just occurred. The major difficulty for readers will be the untranslated Yiddish expressions spoken by the Bobers. None of these, however, hide major plot points.