Tough-O-Meter

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)

(6) Tree Line

Sturgeon's Modernist techniques can make things a little complicated. The story is told out of order as characters fight to mature by processing their memories. An important character pops up and then disappears for a hundred pages. Gerry remembers his and someone else's memories out of order, and neither he nor his psychotherapist can figure everything out exactly, and by this time, neither can you. Sturgeon doesn't give you many hints.

But you probably won't put the book down in favor of Facebook, because the sci-fi content is cool, and you really can get the overall gist reading it straight through once or maybe twice. It's also short enough to read over a long weekend. But if you try too hard to understand precisely what's going on, More Than Human can become More Than a Pain. Don't worry; we were crazy enough to figure it all out for you.