Begin with movement
A first classic should give you a reason to turn the page before it asks for patience. That may mean a short book, a clear mystery or a voice you enjoy immediately.
Length is not the only measure of difficulty. A long novel with visible scenes can be easier to continue than a short work built from dense abstraction.
Read for orientation first
On a first pass, notice who wants what, where the pressure comes from and what changes by the end of a chapter. You can return for symbols and arguments after the book has a shape in your mind.
Use a stopping rule
Give a book two focused sessions or roughly ten percent of its length. If nothing has caught, choose another entry point without treating the attempt as failure.
