This is a major issue for me as a non-native English speaker (it even happens in my own language, but the effect is not as bad). Why do some authors go out of their way to make their books very convoluted? Like they make it so hard for you to connect the dots from different chapters or even the same chapter. What's the point? Do some readers actually enjoy this? Or is it the author trying to show off/feel superior? (This is not meant as an insult, just an assumption/opinion?). I've read several Stephen King books and they're mostly easy to understand, but sometimes he'd go on tangents where shit doesn't make any sense. I just skip all that "filling", as a I call it. Like who's whom, and what's just happened? Where did this come from? And so on. Tried with the Malazan book of the fallen, and holy shit. The beginning of the first book was a major pain to understand, so I stopped and I've been reading more English books so I can get better then go back to it. On the other hand, my wife has introduced me to this writer, Freida McFadden. The lady has the most straight forward books I've ever read. You read and you understand everything from start to end. I don't even find myself getting distracted like I do with the books that I have a hard time understanding. Her books are very clear and the English she uses is very simple in terms of vocabulary. Vocabulary...... That's another can of worms that I don't want to open.
Thanks for reading my rant.
Some of us need stimulation. A three piece jigsaw puzzle won't do it. Give me the 10,000 piece puzzle.
I rejoice in an author who writes for pleasure and meaning, who asks difficult questions, who doesn't limit themselves, who creates and exploits paradox.
It helps my intellect grow, captures my attention, and leaves delicious remnants to decipher long after completion of the material. The ability to read again with a different perspective is beautiful.
So no, it's not pretentious or confusing. It is just more difficult for some, immensely pleasurable to others.