...all of a sudden I'm making a connection with my own experience. My first read was Hapgood and I found it tough going in places but enjoyed it anyways. My second read a year or so later was FMA and I found it a much easier read - but I assumed it was just because I'd done it once before and also had spent a year in the fandom, and those combined factors made it easier. I'm thinking I didn't place nearly enough emphasis on the difference in translation!