Der Nachsommer vs Shelter: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Bildungsromans

Cover of Der Nachsommer

Der Nachsommer Adalbert Stifter · 1900 ★★★★☆ 3.8 927 pages · ≈ 17 h 10 m · Challenging Find on Amazon

vs

Cover of Shelter

Shelter Jayne Anne Phillips · 1994 ★★★★☆ 3.7 320 pages · ≈ 5 h 56 m · Moderate Find on Amazon

The verdict

Ratings are close: 3.8 vs 3.7 — either is a safe pick by score.
Shelter is the quicker read — about 5 hours vs 17 for Der Nachsommer.
Shelter is the easier read (Moderate), Der Nachsommer more demanding (Challenging).

Side by side