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)
(9) Mount Everest
We're not going to lie to you: this book ain't easy. The beautiful but ornate language takes longer to read than your average chick lit or spy thriller, but it's worth it: Nabokov examines what it means to be a person, a child, an émigré, a scholar, a lover, and an orphan, putting himself on the front lines so you don't have to. A good memoir tells the story of a very particular life with enough thought and care that any reader can see him or herself in its words. And this is a good memoir. So open up a dictionary tab in your browser, turn to a fresh page in your notebook, and prepare yourself for a truly wise reading adventure.