Is it important to read the Zuckerman books in order?

[[deleted user]]

I've just finished The Ghost Writer, and I kind of want to move on to The Anatomy Lesson from there, but I don't want to find out later that I should have read them in order.

[Richard]

You don't have to read them in order but I must admit that when I did I enjoyed them much more. I'd particularly recommend reading the 'Zuckerman Bound' series in order. They work really well together.

[[deleted user]]

Yeah? Thanks. I don't think I've ever read a series in order... not Agatha Christie, not even Anne of Green Gables. I'll have to give it a try. The Ghost Writer was phenomenal and I don't want to ruin my reading experience just because I'm finicky and impatient.

[Richard]

Hi Aless. It won't ruin your experience by reading them out of order - I initially did too - they all hold up as standalone novels. I did find that reading them chronologically helped to explain certain events and to understand the character more fully though. So I'd recommend reading them that way.

BTW, I'd only recommend doing that for those books in the Zuckerman Bound' series. Later novels I would say it's not so important.

[John]

I agree with Richard. It's much like McCarthy's Border Trilogy. Better in order, great as stand-alone novels, too. The Anatomy Lesson is my personal favorite of the Zuckerman books.

[[deleted user]]

I'm reading the Zuckerman Bound books in order (am on Zuckerman UNbound right now). The others, nah. I've already read American Pastoral and The Human Stain, anyway. Whatcha gonna do?

[[deleted user]]

I've been wondering this, as I'm currently reading The Human Stain and it's my first Zuckerman. Should I abandon it for now and start from the beginning of the series?

[Richard]

Hi Matthew

Each Zuckerman stands on its own so its not necessary to read the others first. It's fun to, but not essential.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Richard.

[Pedro Víctor]

last year i read the zuckerman bound, but before that i read the gohst writer and then read the exist gohst and, for me, it felt right. didn't miss any of the others. but when you do read them in chronological order you feel more in touch with roth. and i think that that is just amazing.