Everything Is Illuminated vs Martin Chuzzlewit: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Grandfathers, Young men, Literature, History, Fiction

Cover of Everything Is Illuminated

Everything Is Illuminated Jonathan Safran Foer · 2002 ★★★★☆ 3.9 288 pages · ≈ 5 h 20 m · Light Find on Amazon

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Cover of Martin Chuzzlewit

Martin Chuzzlewit Charles Dickens · 1800 ★★★★☆ 3.8 716 pages · ≈ 13 h 16 m · Demanding Find on Amazon

The verdict

Ratings are close: 3.9 vs 3.8 — either is a safe pick by score.
Everything Is Illuminated is the quicker read — about 5 hours vs 13 for Martin Chuzzlewit.
Everything Is Illuminated is the easier read (Light), Martin Chuzzlewit more demanding (Demanding).

Side by side