Lila discussion

You definitely do not need to read them in the order they were published. Each book is from a different character's perspective. I would call them "companion" novels, as opposed to a trilogy.

Gilead is written in first person, while the other two are written in third person limited.

Lila is reminiscent of Robinson's first novel, Housekeeping, a novel not set in Gilead.

Lila is actually written in third person close with stream of consciousness elements, not limited. Most novels are third limited. This makes Robinson stand out because we are IN Lila's thoughts, not just told about them.

I read them in order but no, you don't need to read in order of publication. In fact, you might want to go back and read the others again after you finish all three. I never re-read books, or haven't so far, but I think I will with these, and with Housekeeping.

The books, according to the sequence of their publication, have as their protagonists a father (Gilead), a son (Home), and a wild - and would be holy - spirit (Lila): an arrangement which is almost certainly intentional. So, you can't have one without the other. :)

Though you can certainly read them "out of sequence"; I might try it just to see what happens. One thing I wouldn't recommend is leaving them too long on that TBR list. Robinson in Gilead, Iowa is writing as rich and authentic as Faulkner about Yoknapatawpha, Kennedy about Albany, Bellow about Chicago, or McCarthy about the Southwest - it is now timeless. Individually, the books are wonderful, but taken together, a masterpiece. So, you are forced to read 'out of sequence'? I don't think it matters that much. You will get to know these people, and you'll go back again and again to visit. See if you don't.

LK wrote: "Lila is actually written in third person close with stream of consciousness elements, not limited. Most novels are third limited. This makes Robinson stand out because we are IN Lila's thoughts, no..."

Yes, I agree that the reader does know the inner thoughts of Lila. I mentioned the third person limited perspective based on the following definition:

A method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented only externally.

Iľja wrote: "The books, according to the sequence of their publication, have as their protagonists a father (Gilead), a son (Home), and a wild - and would be holy - spirit (Lila): an arrangement which is almost..."

I love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit references! I did not realize this as I read the three novels, even though I read all three consecutively in about a six week time span.

Thank you for sharing this powerful insight.

Karen, understood, and literary definitions tend to vary with who defines them. ;-) In this case, we do get plenty of thoughts of other characters even though Lila is POV character since Lila defines their thoughts for us, so it's not true limited. It could be called limited omniscient, I suppose. Either way, it's brilliant storytelling.

LK wrote: "Karen, understood, and literary definitions tend to vary with who defines them. ;-) In this case, we do get plenty of thoughts of other characters even though Lila is POV character since Lila defi..."

I agree. :)