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
Maggie is not a tough read, but still, don't try to multitask with this one—you have to pay attention because it's quick and raw. You may have to put in a little extra muscle to figure out what people are saying at times thanks to the slang and Irish immigrants' accents. Plus, Crane throws in a few little narrative tricks, like presenting a character but not telling the reader who it is. He doesn't spell out everyone's attitude and opinion, so you'll have to read between the lines a bit.
Oh, and one last thing: Crane skips big chunks of time from chapter to chapter, so you'll have to do a little bit of work tracing the narrative. But really, none of this is a particularly big deal, and once you're swept up in the plot, it's little more than minor turbulence from time to time during an otherwise smooth ride.