I hold in my hands two books, and I'm about to hand you one, and only one. (now doesn't that just sound dramatic?)

One book is a joy to read; it will transport you to a new amazing world populated with characters that you will love and hate, and a story that will amaze you. It's well written, but not particularly hard to read. You know, one of those books that stay with you once you've finished them. However, the author never planned for it to have much of a deeper meaning. It doesn't have much to say about our world, or any lessons to teach (well, all books have something to say, but the author didn't intentionally put them there). It's simply a book to be enjoyed, not one to be studied.
The other book is the complete opposite to the first one. You don't care for the characters, it lacks a plot, and it's a pain to read. You need notes, a dictionary, and a lot of patience to read it. It really REALLY asks a lot of its readers. However, it's deeply allegorical; it has much to say about our world and about life. It's a real eye opener. It might not change your life, but it'll certainly get you thinking.

Now be completely honest here, which one do you think you would choose? Don't choose the difficult book just because you want to seem smart or whatever, try to be honest with yourself (and us). Why would you choose that particular book?

The difficult book is tempting, but I'd go for the easier book. I read fiction for entertainment, learning things by doing that is a side effect.

Why do you find the difficult book tempting?

But yeah, I'm the same way. I read fiction mainly for entertainment, any learning/thinking that comes with that entertainment is a positive side effect.
I need fiction to stir up some emotions in me though. I hate to sit down with a book, and just not feel anything, or to simply feel frustrated. Emotion makes me want to think, it makes me interested in the book and makes me want to dwell deeper into the story/hidden meanings.

The difficult book is tempting because, once I finished reading it, I could then say "I've read the important book"

Good point.

I'd choose the easier book too. I don't see the point in reading a book that's overly difficult to read/that I don't enjoy if I don't have to.