Note: The following is a "repost" of a question that originally appeared on Literature SE from one JohanL but was closed and deleted there. The two LL SE moderators agreed that it was more suitable for this site, but it was too old to be migrated outright. For this reason, we are re-posting it here, as community wiki.
I have never really read novels in my life and I am 26 years old. I recently graduated with Masters in Math and now, when I have spare time, I want to start reading novels. Of course there are thousands of places where I can start but I am thinking about giving Hemingway a chance. The Old Man and the Sea has caught my attention.
My native language is Swedish but I am more or less fluent in English and I want to read in English. At what ages or academic levels are American or English students assigned Hemingway novels to read, with the expectation that they will be understood?
I am wondering if Hemingway will be to difficult for me to understand fully? (I don't remember doing anything in literature classes in High School.)