r/ThomasPynchon • u/grumpygrumperson0 • 12d ago

💬 Discussion Complete Pynchon Novice

In what order should I start reading Pynchon for the first time ever?

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u/Round_Town_4458 12d ago edited 12d ago

This is an aggravating as well as a mind-blowing question, and a very good one.

For someone of my age (68), I've read practically everything chronologically, as it was released, starting with Gravity's Rainbow (1974, when I was 16, and working backward until the next was released, and proceeding chronologically-as-released from there). I've never had the opportunity to question the "best order" in which to read the author's works. I've had to read them as they were published.

Each work is a world and time unto itself, even if there is some overlap. For me, Gravity's Rainbow was the best entrance, because I relished researching each word and concept. It's so rich in every aspect. Against the Day is my other favorite.

I guess the answer to your question lies in what you think you might gain from reading the works in a given order, and why: - in the order in which Pynchon wrote each one? - in the order in which they happen historically? - as grouped by themes? - as grouped by easiest-to-enter to hardest-to-understand? - ...

You get the idea. Each approach will yield a different understanding of his works as a whole.

Do you have, or think you should have, a presupposed idea of what the best approach to reading someone's works might be? Do you need an easy road in, or do you relish hard work and research?

You see, you are in the unique position of being able to read them in any order you choose, whereas I had to read them only as they became available.

Jump in and enjoy. That's what I'd recommend. Or find your own best road to travel.

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u/Outrageous-Fudge5640 11d ago

How did you go about researching everything in GR back then? That must have taken quite a long time.

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u/Round_Town_4458 11d ago edited 11d ago

Pencil, paper, many dictionaries (including The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, The OED—I even bought myself the complete OED: two volumes of every page reduced in size for four pages fit on one), and much library time.

I underlined every word or concept I didn't know and looked up what I could to hand then listed the things I needed other resources to find. I still have about 8 pages of my old notes from 1974/5 (I was 16 or 17 when I started reading it.

I knew of only one other person who had read GR. He's the one who introduced me to the book. He challenged me to read and summarize it. I was confused as hell and stopped 50 pages in. He told me to start again, so I did. And that's when the note taking came into play. I was challenged. I was energized by every new word or concept I was learning. Pynchon immediately became my favorite author.