When there’s not defined order for reading an author’s books, I always default to publication order (as a proxy for the order in which the books were written).
An author’s thinking and writing technique usually evolve over time. Therefore, you’re more apt to notice progressions in themes, characters, and prose if you read them in that order.
* Of Mice and Men (1937)
* The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
* East of Eden (1952)
However, I am not saying that the later books are “better” or more sophisticated. Many authors’ debut novel is their viewed as their “best” book.
InevitableTry7564 on
IMHO
Grapes of Wrath – shocking history, must go first.
East of Eden – is more like american Tolstoy, not so fast and shocking, but more fundamental.
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When there’s not defined order for reading an author’s books, I always default to publication order (as a proxy for the order in which the books were written).
An author’s thinking and writing technique usually evolve over time. Therefore, you’re more apt to notice progressions in themes, characters, and prose if you read them in that order.
* Of Mice and Men (1937)
* The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
* East of Eden (1952)
However, I am not saying that the later books are “better” or more sophisticated. Many authors’ debut novel is their viewed as their “best” book.
IMHO
Grapes of Wrath – shocking history, must go first.
East of Eden – is more like american Tolstoy, not so fast and shocking, but more fundamental.