> Don't be fooled into thinking that a Nobel Literature winner is difficult to read, none of them are
Kind of a stretch there. No casual reader can handle Doctor Faustus (Thomas Mann) or the Glass beads game (Hesse) without serious effort. Sure, one can try, in the same way one can try running a marathon without training, with the same predictable results.
I've read a few books from Hesse, including The Glass Bead Game, and found the English translations rather readable. His more commonly recommended books, Siddhartha and Steppenwolf, should be fine for any high school level reader.
for those saying "The Glass Bead Game" is a difficult read, be aware there are multiple translations from the original German. One in English is simply titled "The Glass Bead Game" without the subtitle "Magisti Ludi", another it simply titled "Magistri Ludi", and yet another is titled "Magistri Ludi: The Glass Bead Game". The first one I mention was originally translated during the 60's, when Hesse was enjoying popularity with the counter culture set, and that version is written to be largely understood by a general audience. The other translations are more literal to the original German and are a more difficult read. I read the first, easy one initially, but have read the others versions over the years as well. I prefer the easy one, simply because the ideas are the same on all of them, but with the "easy one" I can discuss with non-readers of Hesse and they understand what I'm talking about. The other versions use language that is not in common usage, meaning I have to translate to easier terms to discuss the book with anyone.
Kind of a stretch there. No casual reader can handle Doctor Faustus (Thomas Mann) or the Glass beads game (Hesse) without serious effort. Sure, one can try, in the same way one can try running a marathon without training, with the same predictable results.