I consider myself quite literate, and (I think) can both read and construct complex sentences that remain grammatically- and content-descriptively-correct. Hav

I consider myself quite literate, and (I think) can both read and construct complex sentences that remain grammatically- and content-descriptively-correct. Having said that, when I read Thomas Pynchon, and I've only progressed through four of his more beginner-friendly books, in a number of places I feel that reading his work is something that is passively happening to me, as opposed to my actively following along with the action / description. There's something I enjoy about Pynchon's writing, but I don't think I'm picking up everything that he's putting down. Similarly with the older language used by Dickens. But damn it sounds good.