I've read four Thomas Pynchon novels, probably the shortest and most accessible four:
The Crying of Lot 49, Bleeding Edge, Inherent Vice, and Vineland.
I have Gravity's Rainbow and Against The Day sitting in my bookcase, intimidating me with their voluminousity. I dare not start them for fear of how long they will take to finish.
Despite this, I look forward to any new Pynchon publications. This new one will take its place on my bookshelf, no doubt.
P.S. Inherent Vice is a great movie. Somewhat of a spiritual sequel to The Big Lebowsky.
Against the Day is by far my favorite. It has the same sweep-of-history as Gravity's Rainbow and some others of his epics but I think it's the one where I actually feel for the characters more than them being mostly a vehicle for the historical braiding.
Probably the best to lead into Shadow Ticket too since that is pre-WWI.
Bleeding Edge is a big book, but very easy to read for Pynchon. Crying is tiny, but dense. Vineland isn't huge but I found it hard going (but entertaining and worthwhile). Inherent Vice is a similar size to Vineland but an easier read.
The Crying of Lot 49, Bleeding Edge, Inherent Vice, and Vineland.
I have Gravity's Rainbow and Against The Day sitting in my bookcase, intimidating me with their voluminousity. I dare not start them for fear of how long they will take to finish.
Despite this, I look forward to any new Pynchon publications. This new one will take its place on my bookshelf, no doubt.
P.S. Inherent Vice is a great movie. Somewhat of a spiritual sequel to The Big Lebowsky.