The most complex literary works of the world: are you weak? Conquer the Top: The Most Difficult Books to Read Difficult Readings.

Life without books is impossible. But not all of them are easy to read and understand. We offer you a list of books that are difficult to read because of the plot, style of writing or originality of the author of the work.

L. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

Many people and literary scholars consider this book to be the best book of all time. But at the same time, most people didn't read it at all. Also, some people read it only to say they did it.

The complexity of the novel lies in the fact that it does not have a clearly defined protagonist and the main storyline. As a result, the reader wanders through the storylines that could have been separate books, and after that the reader feels that instead of reading one story, he has read many of these stories. And, of course, this is the kilkiness of the pages of the book. Not everyone can read more than 1200 pages.

A. Rand "Atlas Shrugged"

This is a dystopian novel in which the authorities are trying to control production more and more (General Motors, AIG, etc.), to use the labor of workers for the “public good”. In other words, he is trying to build socialism.

But there are many people who do not agree with this situation and decide to unite under the leadership of an unknown thought leader John Galt. They are trying to convey to the authorities that the economy and society will collapse without a motive for profit and the efforts of rational and productive representatives. The book closely reflects the philosophy of objectivism, which emphasizes that governments should not interfere in economic affairs.

G. Melville "Moby Dick"

Therefore, some Melville fans advise reading this book in an abridged version. And most of those who have read this book say that this book could have been made much shorter (no more than 200 pages) and still this book would be one of the most outstanding books in the world.

A. Solzhenitsyn "The Gulag Archipelago"

Solzhenitsyn's description of the persecution, imprisonment and torture of dissidents that took place in the Gulag forced labor camp evokes deep sympathy for those who experienced it first hand.

It cannot be said that this is an objective historical book or memoir. It is an endless web of stories that the author spins. And in this web, as in the usual one, it is very easy for an unprepared reader to get bogged down and confused. Yes, it causes many readers to show up without finishing.

U. Eco "Foucault's Pendulum"

Umberto Eco is a highly educated and well-read author who spent a lot of time in the library. This he demonstrates to his readers in his works, and he demands the same from them. The author admits that he deliberately and consciously saturates his books with many historical facts. Fans of the writer's work are advised to read his works with a dictionary in hand.

In the book Foucault's Pendulum, the author seems to mock the reader, making you feel like a real ignorant fool. In the middle of the book, U. Eco, realizing that you have already suffered enough, adds to the plot exactly what you can feel and understand thanks to perseverance.

N. Hawthorne "The Scarlet Letter"

Hawthorne's masterpiece is set in 17th century Puritan Boston. The story is about a married woman, Esther, who lives by herself because the man has been away for several years. Everything would be fine with this woman, but Esther has an illegitimate child. One day, she was caught by the priests of the church, while they were forcing sinners to wear a large bright red "A" on their clothes as a sign of sinfulness.

Even fans of this book will admit that you may need a dictionary to read, because you can easily get lost in the many and complex digressions from the main plot.

T. Eliot "The Waste Land"

"The Waste Land" is a modernist poem that consists of 5 parts, during which the author jumps very sharply from one character to another, travels to different places, moves in time and uses 5 languages: English, Latin, Greek, German and Sanskrit . And to understand this, the reader needs to rely only on his ingenuity and intelligence.

Eliot is a very well-read author and will not compromise with himself to convey his thoughts in a simpler way. Often, the author uses literary allusions to such authors as Homer, Sophocles, Dante Alighieri, Shakespeare, etc. There are many books and websites dedicated to this book that try to understand and describe everything that the author had in mind, but they do not really then it turns out.

W. Burroughs "Naked Lunch"

The story of how this book came to be is much more interesting than the book itself. Burroughs (a member of the so-called Beat Generation) lived in Tangier and became addicted to heroin. So he wrote the story. Then he cut the resulting book into pieces and assembled it again piece by piece, but in random order. Burroughs sent the result to his friend Alenn Ginzburg. Oddly enough, the book was published.

However, it is very difficult to read, because sometimes sentences just end without warning, and new ones begin quite unexpectedly. This is a book that needs to be read from start to finish to finally get the big picture. While this will be one of the most difficult books you will ever read, it is truly worth the effort and time.

W. Faulkner "The Sound and the Fury"

The book is about a family from the south who is trying to survive after the reformations that took place after the civil war.

The book is difficult to perceive because in the post-war period, writers always try to pay more attention not to the storyline, but to the experience, thoughts of the characters, the way they see and perceive the surrounding reality. So, the author, in order to better convey the randomness of the thoughts of the heroes, practically does not use punctuation marks.

Also in this novel, Faulkner uses italics to indicate a transition to particularly significant moments from the past.

J. Joyce "Finnegans Wake"

Finnegans Wake is considered the most difficult book to understand and read. Yes, and Joyce himself is considered one of the most difficult authors to perceive. Joyce pays a lot of attention to the form of the story and language - the book is full of neologisms, metaphors, puns and old slang expressions.

Some scholars believe that the book was written as an unsolvable hoax, there are even many books and websites to help readers decipher the incomprehensible text, but it is still a very difficult task.

For many of us, reading literary works ended successfully at the level of the school curriculum. For others, books are almost the main joy in life. It is amazing to watch how intricately the canvas of letters is woven into surreal lives with such real experiences. But there are not only women's novels and detective stories that are "swallowed" in one sitting, but do not leave any trace. Serious literature requires a special approach, and in some way - perseverance. It is not so easy to get through the jungle of Sartre's existentialism or Dostoevsky's polyphony. The quality of the technical translation from German into Russian, for example, also plays a role. Therefore, a rating of the most difficult books to understand and read has recently been created. Agree, you can look at it from the other side: “challenge accepted, dear writers”!

TOP difficult books for the most daring

To master the texts below, you need remarkable willpower. Reading these works can be not only difficult, but even unpleasant! But the power of thought, of course, is amazing.

1. Djuna Barnes wrote Nightwood, which has been repeatedly voted one of the greatest books ever written by a woman. This novel is filled with monologues, descriptions, ideas and reflections. Gothic style is not for everyone, so take heart.
2. Tale of the Barrel, written by Jonathan Swift, demonstrates what most book lovers hate: a huge amount of obscure words. Outdated concepts and phenomena provoke a situation where the text of links seems to be larger than the work itself.
3. If you are a real intellectual, pondering the meaning of being, then the philosophical battle between Kant and Hegel is pure honey for you. The idealistic position of the latter, demonstrated by him in the folio Phenomenology of the Spirit, will make you think a lot.
4. The amazing Gertrude Stein, the author of the well-known term “lost generation”, wrote quite good works herself. "The Making of the Americans" is one of them. The text will seem boring and painful, but it's like aged wine - time-tested.

These books are just a small part of a larger story. Each of them will surely leave its mark on your soul and influence the worldview. And if you want to make your own translations or editing, in order to simplify the perception of the text, you can contact special services. Learn new things!

We've put together a list of 25 profound books about the world, society, politics, fantasy, history, and human potential that have stood the test of time.

The next time you want an exciting read, check out this list.

1984 George Orwell

First published in 1949, George Orwell's dystopian novel has become a timeless classic of the dystopian genre.

In this book, for the first time, the idea of ​​​​the existence of a "Big Brother" and a totalitarian regime appears, which remains relevant today, as well as at the time of writing the work.

Orwell presents readers with his vision of the world, captivating from beginning to end.

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

In this powerful fantasy masterpiece by Huxley, the "world controllers" create an ideal society.

Most people are content with a world based on genetic engineering, brainwashing, and strict castes. But there is always someone who yearns to break free.

Huxley's gripping story takes readers through a frightening and thought-provoking fictional world endowed with the hallmarks of modern society.

"Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus" by Mary Shelley

This is a novel by an English writer about the scientist Victor Frankenstein, who achieves his goal and creates a living being from inanimate matter, but it turns out to be so terrifying that the doctor is frightened and runs out of the laboratory in disgust.

Tormented and isolated, an innocent creature will hate its creator. The story then unfolds like a gothic thriller that touches the hearts of readers and evokes reflections on the dangers of scientific research and human judgment.

The Process, Franz Kafka

Kafka wrote The Trial between 1914 and 1915, but it was not published until 1925, after the writer's death. This is a unique story about a bank employee, Josef K., who was arrested for an unknown reason and he is struggling to find out what he is accused of.

Kafka wanted to burn the novel, but the writer's friend Max Brod prepared the manuscript for publication, organizing the disparate chapters of the work after the author's death.

Neuromancer, William Gibson

The cyberpunk fantasy novel Neuromancer was the first in its genre to win three of the most prestigious awards - Nebula (1984), Hugo (1985) and the Philip Dick Prize.

This book contains the definition of a matrix, as well as the ideas of cyberspace, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the worldwide computer network, which subsequently attracted close attention from both writers and readers.

"Things They Carried With Them" Tim O'Brien

The Things They Carried With Them is a groundbreaking reflection and powerful narrative of war, memory and imagination.

Tim O'Brien uses many metaphors to weave an in-depth study of the state of men in the war, based on his own experiences in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970.

With his "semi-autobiographical" characters, O'Brien creates a style that blurs the lines between fiction and non-fiction.

"Slaughterhouse Five, or the Children's Crusade" by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse Five is one of the greatest anti-war books in the world. This is the story of the bombing of Dresden, seen through the eyes of Billy Pilgrim, a man abducted by aliens.

The story is woven from different phases of the pilgrim's life, showing the heartbreaking events seen by the hero and based on the writer's own impressions, who, being an American prisoner of war, was in Dresden at the time of the bombardment by Allied forces.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 is a chillingly prophetic novel about a dystopian future where there are no books.

To the main character, Guy Montag, all this seems normal until he gains insight into the past and joins an underground group of outcasts.

The book surprisingly draws readers into its fictional world with a gripping plot and compelling characters.

"Collusion of Dunces", John Kennedy Toole

The key character in the book is Ignatius J. Reilly, a 30-year-old man who lives with his mother in New Orleans. This is a hero that has no analogues in world literature. He is an intellectual and an ideologue, a glutton and a quitter. Tool perfectly combined comedy with deep melancholy in Reilly's character.

"In Cold Blood" ("Ordinary Murder"), Truman Capote

In Cold Blood is a novel based on a true story that took place in 1959 when four members of the Clutter family were murdered in Holcomb, Kansas.

The motives of the crime and the evidence were practically absent. Capote, having interviewed local residents and investigators, collected a huge amount of information and wrote his story in the style of "new journalism".

This work by Truman Capote has earned many positive reviews for its eloquence, high level of detail, and layered storytelling.

"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

William Golding's allegorical novel Lord of the Flies became a best-seller and was included in the required reading curriculum of some colleges and universities in the 60s. This is a story about a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. With the emergence of problems, the cruel features of human nature immediately begin to appear.

This book has always received mixed reviews. In 2005, Time magazine named it one of the 100 best novels in English since 1923. Although the American Library Association included it in the list of the 100 most controversial books.

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

A story of self-discovery and an inspiring tale of an Andalusian shepherd who wants to find worldly treasures. But his desire leads him to wealth, which he never dreamed of.

Motivational, wisdom-filled story about how following your dream, you can come to the discovery of great miracles.

"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie is a touching story about Mitch Albom and his mentor Morrie Schwartz.

Many of us part ways with our mentors and their ideas slowly fade from our memory. But Mitch gets a second chance to meet his sociology professor, who has only a few months left to live. And he starts visiting it every Tuesday.

This documentary book has become one of the most widely read memoirs of all time. It is made up of key life lessons that were the subject of weekly meetings.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde

Wilde's philosophical novel originally appeared as a short story in Lippincott's Monthly in July 1890. Moreover, the editors, fearing an “improper” reaction from readers, removed part of the text before publication.

In response, the writer revised, supplemented and published his work as an intellectual novel in a decadent style.

This is a story about a man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. The book provoked a scandal in society and sharp criticism, but does not cease to arouse public interest and has been filmed more than 30 times.

A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess

A Clockwork Orange is a classic nightmare in which the future is filled with criminals roaming the streets after dark. A chilling tale of good and evil and what it means to be free.

The novel's central character, Alex, was named the 10th greatest movie villain by the American Film Institute (AFI).

Stanley Kubrick's cult 1971 dystopian film of the same name is based on this novel by Anthony Burgess.

"Think Slowly... Decide Fast" by Daniel Kahneman

Decades of research in psychology led Daniel Kahneman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002 "for his application of psychological methodology to economics."

He delved into the two systems that govern our thinking: system #1, or fast and emotional thinking; system number 2 or slow and logical thinking. Kahneman exposed the flaws and biases of some thought processes.

The book challenges readers by examining our ability to control our reactions, judgments, and choices.

The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco

Umberto Eco's first novel quickly became an international sensation. 50 million copies of The Name of the Rose have been sold worldwide.

This is a historical novel, a detective story, and a philosophical and cultural reflection, where the action takes place in 1327. The plot centers on a character named William of Baskerville who is investigating a murder. He uses the logic of Aristotle, the theology of Thomas Aquinas and the ideas of Roger Bacon to decipher the secret symbols and manuscripts.

"Outsider" (or "Stranger"), Albert Camus

The Outsider explores what Camus called "man's nakedness in the face of the absurd" through the story of a man accused of murder.

This story by Albert Camus takes first place in the list of "100 books of the century according to Le Monde". The writer raises in it difficult questions that echo in existential philosophy; explores the themes of alienation, fear, spiritual doubt, and the qualities that underlie human character.

"Geniuses and outsiders" ("Outliers"), Malcolm Gladwell

In the book "Geniuses and outsiders: Why is everything for some and nothing for others?" Malcolm Gladwell explores the world of the brightest, most successful and famous people on the planet, and also answers the question of how they differ from others.

We pay too little attention to successful parenting. The author discovers certain patterns that explain the secrets of the success of billionaires in the field of software; reveals what it takes to become a great footballer; why Asian students excel in math; which allowed the Beatles to become the greatest rock band.

Ender's Game Orson Scott Card

In the militarized reality of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi universe, a group of children are trained in a special program to prepare for a fight with insectoid aliens. One of the future commanders, Andrew Wiggin, suffers from the isolation, rivalry, pressure and fear that are present in this community of young soldiers. But it is in him that the qualities that made it possible to become the tactical genius of the group are combined.

Catch-22 (Catch-22), Joseph Heller

Joseph Heller's classic story about the loss of faith and sanity as bureaucratic power rises.

The key character Captain Yossarian serves in Italy in a bomber regiment during World War II. But his main enemy is not the Nazis, but the army in which he serves. The Bombardier finds himself in a stalemate with a Catch-22 preventing him from leaving the service.

Catch 22 is ranked 11th on the BBC's 200 Best Books list and 7th on the Newest Library's 100 Best Novels list.

Animal Farm, George Orwell

Animal Farm is another book by George Orwell that has become a brilliant political satire on rotten ideals, class conflicts, the 1917 revolution and subsequent events in Russia.

The farm animals rise up in rebellion to overthrow the power of the people and take matters into their own hands, but over time they realize that things are not going the way they expected.

This satirical story-parable is actually endowed with a deep meaning.

Einstein walks on the moon. The Science and Art of Memory, Joshua Foer

Einstein Walks on the Moon is the story of Joshua Foer's attempts to improve his memory. His experiments continued for a year. The author turned to advanced research, to the history of memorization methods and mnemonics.

He studied the ancient methods used by medieval scholars to memorize entire books and other methods to unlock the potential and greatly improve his memory.

This fascinating book will not only help improve memory, but also remind you how our memories affect us.

Watchmen (Sentinels), Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (illustrator)

Many critics call Watchmen the greatest graphic novel ever. He has received a number of awards, including the Hugo Award.

You were given a life sentence and there is only a piano in the cell? Then we have something for you... From Liszt to Scriabin - 10 of the most technically complex pieces ever written for piano.

1. Franz Liszt - La Companella

The work La Campanella, which means "bell" in Italian, is a piano transcription of the violin piece of the same name by Niccolò Paganini. The etude is considered one of the most difficult compositions ever written for the piano. The texture of "Campanella" includes huge jumps in the left hand, while the right gets complex passages at a very fast pace.

In this video, virtuoso pianist Lang Lang plays this piece so easily, as if it were not much more difficult than "Dance of the Little Ducklings".

1. Maurice Ravel - "Night Gaspard" ("Night Visions")

When Ravel was working on the Gaspard de la Nuit suite, he deliberately wanted to make it the most technically difficult piece in the piano repertoire. He said that when writing, he was guided by Balakirev's Islamey, wanting to surpass him in complexity. One of the leading pianists said that playing this piece "is like solving endless quadratic equations in my head."

1. Kaikhosru Sorabji - Opus Clavicembalisticum

Playing this piece is even more difficult than pronouncing its title. Opus Clavicembalisticum consists of 12 actions with a total duration of more than 4 hours. The composer himself described his composition as follows: "The last 4 pages are as disastrous as everything I have ever done - harmony stings like nitric acid, and counterpoint grinds like the mills of God."

1. Conlon Nancarrow - "Etudes for Mechanical Piano"

The works for mechanical piano by the American composer Conlon Nancarrow are some of the most deliberately complex, frantic pieces of music in the piano repertoire. They are designed to be played on a mechanical instrument, not played by live pianists. But that doesn't mean no one has tried...

1. Fryderyk Chopin - Etude Op. 10 no. 4

Unlike Chopin's tender nocturnes, this etude leaves the pianist no opportunity to rest. Marked presto con fuoco (fast, with heat), it requires an extremely fast pace and constant mobility in both hands.

Daria, Jam`s cool piano teacher:

“The hardest part of playing this piece for me was the coda, after which there is a crazy passage all over the keyboard up and then down. By the end of the story, you are usually exhausted, but here the climax falls on the last page. And, of course, like any study, No. 4 took a lot of time to develop the necessary technical skills.”

1. Charles Valentin Alkan - Concerto for solo piano

Alkan's concert is rarely played live, and for good reason. An epic 50-minute job requires unprecedented technique and physical endurance. Alkan's melodies are not as pleasant and catchy as those of Chopin or Liszt, but he certainly knows how to best demonstrate virtuoso technique.

1. Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin - Piano Sonata No. 5

Alexander Scriabin's Fifth Sonata makes the most of the technical capabilities of both hands, but the main load falls on the pianist's brain. The sonata was received with bewilderment by many contemporaries. For some of them, it became the line from which they refused to accept the composer's work.

1. Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky - 3 fragments from "Petrushka" for piano

3 fragments from "Petrushka" are called one of the most difficult piano compositions. All parts include numerous glissandos, tremolo and fast 2-octave shifts. As they say, it's not for the faint of heart.

1. Sergei Sergeevich Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 2

The second piano concerto is Prokofiev's most dramatic work. Of particular difficulty is the cadenza of the first movement, which consists of three steps and requires the pianist to make frequent and wide leaps with both hands. And yes, it lasts a full 5 minutes followed by 2 more intense parts.

1. György Ligeti - "Devil's Ladder"

Well, what is the list of the most difficult works for piano without Ligeti. The etudes of this Hungarian composer frighten novice pianists. Of particular horror is the "Devil's Ladder", and not at all because of the name. The work is a masterpiece of dynamics, which develops from pianissimo to 8(!) forte.

On February 2, 1882, the maestro of modernism, the Irish writer and poet James Joyce, was born., who wrote such cult things as "Ulysses", "Dubliners" and "Portrait of the Artist in his youth". Like any controversial author, he has both a sea of ​​​​fans and the same sea of ​​\u200b\u200bits opponents. Someone reads his books excitedly (as far as possible) and assures that an educated person who has not read Ulysses is nonsense. Someone throws the novel before reading even a hundred pages, and is affirmed in the opinion: complete nonsense.

In any case, in honor of the birthday man - five books that are as difficult to conquer as Everest.

Without it, any such list does not make sense by default. Although some readers believe that this whole huge, almost unbearable book also does not shine with meanings. This, of course, is not true. But it's hard to argue with the fact that not everyone is able to master "Ulysses", not to mention "Finnegans Wake". Yes, this book is not for everyone. Yes, it sounds like we're all snobs here, but you can't argue with the facts. Bloomsday - this is how you can briefly characterize the plot of the novel "Ulysses". Although, of course, one day in Bloom's life is still not the most important thing in the book. And what is really important is that everyone must decide for himself. As a last resort, one can always refer to the detailed commentary that accompanies many editions.

Detractors often claim that Umberto Eco is haunted by the fame of James Joyce. They say that this is precisely what caused the desire to use the richest metaphors, complex structures, non-linear forms and original style in their works. Right, this is nonsense. Although Eco's books do have all of the above. Foucault's Pendulum is based on detailed research work on topics such as conspiracy theories, esotericism, religion, and more, more, more. To adequately deal with all this, you must either have the intellect of Senor Eco, or constantly keep Google at hand to make inquiries about unfamiliar concepts and hypotheses.

Jelinek is a very peculiar writer. For her originality, she even received the Nobel Prize in Literature. But if most of her books are still quite successfully read, then "Children of the Dead" is something with something. Neither The Pianist nor Lust are as dense and complex as this conceptual novel. The plot in it always flickers somewhere on the periphery, nothing more. And the semantic canvas invariably comes to the fore a la a very large and polythematic essay. It is here that Elfrida Jelinek mercilessly juggles innovative stylistic finds, creating a lacy fabric without dialogues, pauses and smooth plot transitions. A magical language that is not so easy to master.

One of the best novels of its time mercilessly breaks the boundaries of the genre, for which it gets into this list. Of course, it is still not as difficult to read as "Ulysses" or "Children of the Dead." The novel has a coherent and even exciting plot, several completely transparent ideas, accessible even to inexperienced readers who decide to immediately take on something powerful and large-scale. The pursuit of the White Whale is already a household word for the world of literature. Familiar even to those who have never read the novel. Its complexity lies in the fact that the book has many branches from the main plot - and the "whale encyclopedia", and reasoning, and semi-fantastic facts disorient the reader. But if you tune in to thoughtful mental work, the pleasure of reading will not keep you waiting.

We say: "postmodernism" - we think of Hess. We say: "The Glass Bead Game" - we think about postmodernism. The times in the novel are mixed up, but in short, we are talking about a certain future and a certain order of intellectuals from a fictional province, which then becomes a country. The essence of the very “bead game” in which the characters are engaged and which is included in the title of the novel is universal art. Creation of a metatext that synthesizes all branches of the art world into one whole magical brew. It is also difficult to explain in a few words the idea and plot of the novel, as it is to read it without having sufficient reading experience behind one's back. Of course, this is not the kind of book that should be taken in a playful mood or with nothing to do. But in itself it is from the category of must read.

If you have read one or more books from this list, share your impressions in the comments!