It’s typical of childless couples to think “oh we would never allow our kids to do that!” … but then years later should children come along, they find kids aren’t so easy to control. I remember a line in the movie “Parenthood” where the mom says “by the 3rd kid, you’re letting them juggle knives”.
Most difficult novel I pretended to read that was written in English is probably Tristram Shandy — 9 volume fictional autobiography. Nothing much happens, written in mid-1700s as a parody. I was assigned to read volume 1 (300? pages) in high school, the first 3 years of the “author’s” life. Couldn’t get past page 50. My “book report” was a test of my inventiveness. Which I failed.
Impressive.