What is the author's style in The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton?

The book is written in first person from the author's memory. His pace and delivery is personal and accessible, as if he's relating a story to a friend. But Merton is an educated man and a thoughtful writer, so his vocabulary and structure is meaningful and sometimes ornate. His writing doesn't convey great strength but rather great accuracy and imagination. He also shows that accuracy in memory, recounting many scenes, stories, and conversations with vivid detail.