I LOVE your suggested chronological reading order. This is precisely how I’ll approach Pynchon in 2023 (he’s on my reading resolutions list). Thank you. This video, my friend, earned you a sub!
Excellent video. Succinct but enjoyable. I think these are all excellent starting points for the Pynchon-hopefuls and I love the historical reading order. It reminds me of Vollmann’s 7 dreams in that way. Looking forward to more videos like this!
Interesting! I never thought about the chrono reading. I’d recommend starting with the story “Entropy,” but really any work would be a decent starting place.
This is the first suggestioned I've seen where it's recommended to read in historical chronological order. I bought Crying on Lot 49, and still haven't touched it recently, but I'm really digging this approach. Thanks a lot! And happy holidays!
Bravo!!! Subscribed. I think I am all three of your examples and will read the books chronologically after I finish reading his novels during this year-long obsession with Pynchon.
Just getting into Pynchon this year! (2023) I've decided to start with Inherent Vice, followed by Bleeding Edge, then Vineland followed by Crying of lot 49 and slow learner.
I'd recommend reading Vineland first if you haven't started yet! It's completely underrated by the Pynchon heads generally. Both Inherent Vice and Vineland are beautiful novels. They might be my favourites. I must read Bleeding Edge again, it is the novel of his that I remember the least about.
Fascinating approach. Thanks, Matt! I have a copy of Mason & Dixon. I’ve tried it a couple of times but I’m going to give it another shot and perhaps keep going.
I started with Inherent Vice but with the movie. 🙃 P.T.A. made a fantastic job moving the text into the screen. That's why I started to read Pynchon. But the best was for me Gravity's rainbow... The text is over the top and in that book there is everything about humanity.
Very cool video. I have all of Pynchon’s books on my shelf and slowly making my way through all of them. Read CoL49, and now I’m in Part II of Against the Day right now.
I'll suggest reading Pynchon in order of publication, for the reason that parts of the next book is always contained in the prior work in offhand ways. The obvious thing is recurring entities, like Yoyodyne or Mondaugen, and the thematic recurrence of the counterforce and preterition, but also way subtler relations like how his first novel is named 'V' and how in his second novel 'The Crying of Lot 49', when Oedipa arrives in San Narciso, she spots two (2) rockets, one on either side of an entrance to a Yoyodyne (a toy company turned defense contractor) office space: all of this of course prefiguring the prominent V-2 rocket that everyone familiar with the third novel, 'Gravity's Rainbow', knows. I will admit however, that the idea of reading the novels in their internal chronology is a fantastic idea, and is probably how I will order my upcoming reread of Pynchon.
I could not believe the film Inherent Vice had the song Vitamin C by Can in it. That's obscure and so good. Had a really good soundtrack in it. I have not read the book. Maybe I'll do that.
I started reading Thomas Pynchon with possibly the last book one should start his work. I read Mason & Dixon in a Postmodern literature class I had in college (I remember my professor stated to the class that he was impressed someone read it for their paper). I have also read a few, but not all, of his other books and really enjoyed them, especially The Crying of Lot 49. When I read Robert Downey Jr. was going to star in an adaptation of Inherent Vice directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, I listened to the audiobook, but it's probably my least favorite Pynchon book.
In my very humble opinion, the most Pynchonesque movie ever made is NOT PTA's Inherent Vice, based on an actual Pynchon's novel, but Under the silver lake. That this movie and its director fell into oblivion makes me think there's a conspiracy going on.
Honestly getting into psychedelic use and regular use of marijuana can help to understand Pynchon a lot, he himself was a regular user (living in Northern California for most of the 80’s) the way he completely subverts narratives that we are so used to is analogous to drug use (specifically what I mentioned above). I’m not saying you have to smoke weed to get it, but it certainly would help.
Also, on the Inherent Vice movie, on initial watch I thought PTA killed it, but after reading it again, the movie is very lackluster in the way of representing how fun Pynchon is. The color palette is not as bright and powerful as he writes in the book.
Great video, but I'm always surprised at how rarely I see people recommend Pynchon in chronological (publication) order. I think "V." might be one of my favorite novels of all time, and I think its difficulty and complexity to new Pynchon readers is always overstated, it's not that hard (basically alternating chapters following two types of stories) and its theme of the "inanimate" and mechanization of society, death, the search for answers where there are no answers, it's not impossible to untangle. From there you go to "The Crying of Lot 49" (shorter but probably more confounding than V.) and "Gravity's Rainbow." They form a sort of trilogy, and he was writing them all around the same time. Characters that show up in Gravity's Rainbow are introduced in V and CoL49. I would not recommend someone start with his two longest novels (Mason & Dixon and Against the Day) before they know if they like Pynchon's style or not.
GR is a breeze compared to, say, Woolf's MRS DALLOWAY, a book friends of mine abandon at page 12 or so; those same friends thoroughly enjoyed and 'got' GR at first stab.
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I LOVE your suggested chronological reading order. This is precisely how I’ll approach Pynchon in 2023 (he’s on my reading resolutions list). Thank you. This video, my friend, earned you a sub!
Started with Inherent Vice and jumped right into Gravity’s Rainbow. Halfway through and am actually enjoying it
Awesome video! New subscriber here. Looking to get into Pynchon soon. Huge Cormac McCarthy fan
Great video! So glad I found these suggestions as I was wondering where to start with Pynchon. Thank you.
inherent vice is a masterpiece full of poetry and enchanting visions
Excellent video. Succinct but enjoyable. I think these are all excellent starting points for the Pynchon-hopefuls and I love the historical reading order. It reminds me of Vollmann’s 7 dreams in that way. Looking forward to more videos like this!
Interesting! I never thought about the chrono reading. I’d recommend starting with the story “Entropy,” but really any work would be a decent starting place.
This is the first suggestioned I've seen where it's recommended to read in historical chronological order. I bought Crying on Lot 49, and still haven't touched it recently, but I'm really digging this approach. Thanks a lot! And happy holidays!
Bravo!!! Subscribed. I think I am all three of your examples and will read the books chronologically after I finish reading his novels during this year-long obsession with Pynchon.
I'm on my fourth read (and one listen) of Gravity's Rainbow. First in 1973.
V is actually the one that I liked the most due to the mood, characters and feelings. Obviously the settings is great.
I'm reading Gravity's Rainbow at the moment and its utterly amazing.
Just getting into Pynchon this year! (2023) I've decided to start with Inherent Vice, followed by Bleeding Edge, then Vineland followed by Crying of lot 49 and slow learner.
I'd recommend reading Vineland first if you haven't started yet! It's completely underrated by the Pynchon heads generally. Both Inherent Vice and Vineland are beautiful novels. They might be my favourites. I must read Bleeding Edge again, it is the novel of his that I remember the least about.
Thank you for this! I plan on taking the plunge into his catalog in 2023
The Best Review of Pynchon i've Come across ever
No 🧢 Cap🎯👌🏾
Solid💯%👍🏾
Have you ever reviewed
The Recognitions
Or JR. by William Gaddis?
Fascinating approach. Thanks, Matt! I have a copy of Mason & Dixon. I’ve tried it a couple of times but I’m going to give it another shot and perhaps keep going.
Mason & Dixon is one of the few books that have left me in tears at the end.
I love Inherent Vice. Probably his most readable novel.
It was always my dream to be the first comment in a youtube video. I guess dreams do come true
Finally some who loves Mason&Dickson as much as I do.
Really good places to start and the chronological list was interesting.
Very cool - I agree with you. I've read all his works but if I could be a first timer again I would do it in the order you suggest.
I started with Inherent Vice but with the movie. 🙃 P.T.A. made a fantastic job moving the text into the screen. That's why I started to read Pynchon. But the best was for me Gravity's rainbow... The text is over the top and in that book there is everything about humanity.
Very cool video. I have all of Pynchon’s books on my shelf and slowly making my way through all of them. Read CoL49, and now I’m in Part II of Against the Day right now.
Dove right in and started with Gravity's Rainbow... No regrets!
I'll suggest reading Pynchon in order of publication, for the reason that parts of the next book is always contained in the prior work in offhand ways. The obvious thing is recurring entities, like Yoyodyne or Mondaugen, and the thematic recurrence of the counterforce and preterition, but also way subtler relations like how his first novel is named 'V' and how in his second novel 'The Crying of Lot 49', when Oedipa arrives in San Narciso, she spots two (2) rockets, one on either side of an entrance to a Yoyodyne (a toy company turned defense contractor) office space: all of this of course prefiguring the prominent V-2 rocket that everyone familiar with the third novel, 'Gravity's Rainbow', knows.
I will admit however, that the idea of reading the novels in their internal chronology is a fantastic idea, and is probably how I will order my upcoming reread of Pynchon.
I could not believe the film Inherent Vice had the song Vitamin C by Can in it. That's obscure and so good. Had a really good soundtrack in it. I have not read the book. Maybe I'll do that.
I started reading Thomas Pynchon with possibly the last book one should start his work. I read Mason & Dixon in a Postmodern literature class I had in college (I remember my professor stated to the class that he was impressed someone read it for their paper). I have also read a few, but not all, of his other books and really enjoyed them, especially The Crying of Lot 49. When I read Robert Downey Jr. was going to star in an adaptation of Inherent Vice directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, I listened to the audiobook, but it's probably my least favorite Pynchon book.
Forget easy, start with his best!
I needed this guidance, thank you
What if you want to read his greatest work? Which would you recommend?
In my very humble opinion, the most Pynchonesque movie ever made is NOT PTA's Inherent Vice, based on an actual Pynchon's novel, but Under the silver lake. That this movie and its director fell into oblivion makes me think there's a conspiracy going on.
I want to go directly to the gutter, I’m reading Gravity’s Rainbow first, and then follow your suggestions.
Read Richard Farina's novel, Been Down SoLong itlooks like up to me. Old friend of Pynchon.
Gravity’s Rainbow is undeniably the greatest book to go in blind without any knowledge of Pynchon’s prose.
Honestly getting into psychedelic use and regular use of marijuana can help to understand Pynchon a lot, he himself was a regular user (living in Northern California for most of the 80’s) the way he completely subverts narratives that we are so used to is analogous to drug use (specifically what I mentioned above). I’m not saying you have to smoke weed to get it, but it certainly would help.
Also, on the Inherent Vice movie, on initial watch I thought PTA killed it, but after reading it again, the movie is very lackluster in the way of representing how fun Pynchon is. The color palette is not as bright and powerful as he writes in the book.
Thank you for the great video!.....it's actually pronounced "pinch-on"........My wife is a Pynchon!
Great video, but I'm always surprised at how rarely I see people recommend Pynchon in chronological (publication) order.
I think "V." might be one of my favorite novels of all time, and I think its difficulty and complexity to new Pynchon readers is always overstated, it's not that hard (basically alternating chapters following two types of stories) and its theme of the "inanimate" and mechanization of society, death, the search for answers where there are no answers, it's not impossible to untangle.
From there you go to "The Crying of Lot 49" (shorter but probably more confounding than V.) and "Gravity's Rainbow." They form a sort of trilogy, and he was writing them all around the same time. Characters that show up in Gravity's Rainbow are introduced in V and CoL49. I would not recommend someone start with his two longest novels (Mason & Dixon and Against the Day) before they know if they like Pynchon's style or not.
Why do people say Gravity's Rainbow is hard to read? I didn't find it like that at all.
GR is a breeze compared to, say, Woolf's MRS DALLOWAY, a book friends of mine abandon at page 12 or so; those same friends thoroughly enjoyed and 'got' GR at first stab.
I’m not sure how you couldn’t understand it being ‘hard to read’. Anything with a non traditional narrative structure is ‘hard to read’.