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I wouldn't say he was difficult but he's a writer who sometimes requires you to read a line or two a couple of times. I don't think I ever had trouble understanding what was being said. There's a slight similarity to Norman Mailer's hypnotic style of writing in "An American Dream" though it is not quite as potent.
MM, I think Book I is the more challenging of the three books. I found that I'd read a part as if I was walking through fog, especially at 10:30 after teaching for a good deal of the day. I found when I went back and reread the part, it was much more clear. Fitzgerald writes beautiful prose. I was particularly struck by his description of Switzerland. It was breath taking and very vivid. I think his writing can be a little inconsistent at times. Why is Gatsby so clear and his other books less so? Just a thought.