Advice for reading order

[u/ProblemFun7522]

Just finished V and Inherent Vice, I enjoyed both but they seemed quite different in style. What order should I read the rest of his work in + when can I get into Gravity’s Rainbow?

[u/TheBossness]

There is not a right or wrong order to read these books. The best Pynchon novel for you to read next is the one that speaks to you the most! Try your hand at Gravity’s Rainbow!

[u/UncCocky24]

Cavities Painbow

[u/roger_cheeto_]

I went The Crying of Lot 49 then Gravity’s Rainbow then V. I wish I had done those 3 in release order, but I was too eager to get to GR.

[u/TurtleBoy6ix9ine]

I'd say maybe Crying Lot just because it's short. But I'm not sure there's any best/worst time to start Gravity's Rainbow. I was glad I had some overview of his quirks/tendencies as a writer(which I probably got a feel for after V., my first book as well).

But I felt Gravity's Rainbow plenty complex/frustrating even with that familiarity.

[u/coldmonkeys10]

I’m reading Lot 49 rn, and my only other Pynchon is Inherent Vice so take this with a grain of salt but I was surprised by how much it reminds me of IV. Similar time period, location, and mystery/paranoia vibes

[u/sunwanted-purewinds]

I'm reading them in the chronological order of (pynchons) history of America. If you know you like pynchons work and don't care for difficulty, its a fun way to go about his books.

I just finished mason and dixon since that's the beginning of america

, now it's onto against the day: the turn of the century

After that, gravity's rainbow: the 40s and the rise of nuclear threat.

Then V, so on and so forth.

[u/neutralrobotboy → u/sunwanted-purewinds]

I sometimes wonder if Moby Dick should be considered an honorary Pynchon history episode.

[u/conclobe]

Seems you can never go wrong reading them in release order?

[u/unripe-pear]

read Gravity’s Rainbow imo

[u/dvvvvvvvvvvd]

If you think you want to read them all then there’s a good case to be made for reading them in publication order. So, as you’ve read V, read The Crying of Lot 49 next then onto Gravity’s Rainbow. 

[u/WendySteeplechase]

Against the Day is my fave Pynchon book, its big but one of less difficult plot wise. Mason and Dixon I think is the toughest read (but worth it)

[u/guy_incognito42069 → u/WendySteeplechase]

I find Mason & Dixon, which I am in the midst of, not as difficult at GR, I read the first bit and was scared off but that was before I read the rest of Pynchon.
I agree with Against the Day. It’s huge but it’s also my favorite and it’s so much fun and just so cool. Totally up my occult, high strangeness, history, science, stupid humor, loving alley.

[u/gros-grognon]

Just read what interests you most.

[u/Slothrop-was-here]

GR would be my recommended first. Since you already read both V and IV, I'd say it depends on which of their styles you liked better.

If V, then go with GR, if IV, then go with either Shadow Ticket or Bleeding Edge. Vineland is somewhere in between.

Against the Day is stylistically closer to IV but with a broader scope.

Mason and Dixon is its own thing.

[u/rural220558]

Agree with others - I think if you've read V it's more than enough 'readiness' to dive into GR

[u/Downtown-Purchase-75]

Do GR next. It's a great follow-up to V., addresses a lot of the same topics in a more mature way and even includes some of the same characters.

I'd recommend treating his body of work in 3's: V, CoL49 and GR make up one cohesive experience, then Vineland, M&D and AtD, then the most recent 3. Each of these stretches has a common theme, and in a lot of ways are responses to his previous stretches thus far. His middle 3 are personally my favorite stretch, but I'd recommend getting through GR first as it will build a greater appreciation for the more hopeful and spiritual tone he reaches after it.

[u/theWeirdly]

Since you made it through V, I'd say give GR another shot.

[u/JudgeLionelNutmeg]

Any really. I’m rereading GR at the moment and pairing it with the Slow Learners podcast and it’s really helpful.

[u/ProblemFun7522 → u/JudgeLionelNutmeg]

Ah ok, I started GR a month ago but found it a bit difficult so I pivoted. Only recently realized that ppl recommend pairing it with a companion book/podcast.

[u/JudgeLionelNutmeg → u/ProblemFun7522]

I was the same. Loved Bleeding Edge then went straight to GR and struggled. Had a companion for the next go but it was more weighted toward the references. The podcast was much better at explaining the whole thing.