The Recommended Reading Order for Forrest Gump
Reading Winston Groom's Forrest Gump books is straightforward, as the series consists of just two primary novels that follow a direct chronological timeline. However, because the books differ wildly in tone and plot from the famous 1994 film adaptation, understanding where to start and what companion material exists will help you get the most out of your reading experience.
Here is the recommended reading order for the core novels:
- Forrest Gump (1986): Introduces Forrest, a savant from Alabama who narrates his own life story in a thick, phonetic Southern dialect. The novel details his journey from the 1960s through the 1970s.
- Gump & Co. (1995): The direct sequel set during the 1980s and early 1990s. Forrest deals with the real-world aftermath of his story becoming a massive Hollywood movie while navigating new historical events.
The Forrest Gump Novels in Detail
Forrest Gump (1986)
Winston Groom published the original novel in 1986. Written in just six weeks, the book introduces readers to a version of Forrest Gump who is quite different from the sweet, simple character played by Tom Hanks. In the novel, Forrest is a towering, 6-foot-6-inch, 240-pound man with savant-like abilities in mathematics, chess, and physics. While he has an IQ of 70, his unique talents lead him into bizarre, satirical situations. He becomes a college football star under Bear Bryant, fights in the Vietnam War, goes on a diplomatic ping-pong tour in China, becomes a professional wrestler named "The Dunce," and even travels into space on a NASA mission alongside an orangutan named Sue.
Gump & Co. (1995)
Following the massive success of the 1994 film adaptation, Winston Groom penned this sequel. The book famously begins with the line, "Don't ever let nobody make a movie of your life's story." In this installment, Forrest is older, poorer, and trying to raise his son, Forrest Jr., in a rapidly changing world. The plot is heavily meta, featuring Forrest running into Tom Hanks, meeting Bill and Hillary Clinton, and accidentally participating in major historical milestones of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the capture of Saddam Hussein (during Desert Storm) and the destruction of the Berlin Wall.
The Official Companion Books
During the height of "Gumpmania" in 1994, two official tie-in books were published. While not narrative novels, they are fun additions for collectors and completists:
- Gumpisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Forrest Gump (1994): A small pocket book containing humorous and philosophical quotes from the character, reflecting his unique outlook on life.
- The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook (1994): A southern cooking recipe book published by Oxmoor House. It features a foreword written by Winston Groom in the voice of Forrest Gump, along with recipes inspired by the fictional shrimp business.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the books, it is crucial to prepare for a few stylistic and thematic elements that catch many modern readers off guard:
Phonetic spelling and grammar: The entire narrative is written from Forrest's first-person perspective, mimicking his regional accent and limited spelling. Words like "idiot" are spelled "idiot," but sentences are filled with deliberate grammatical errors, lack of punctuation, and phonetic spellings (such as "shurley" for "surely"). This stylistic choice takes a few chapters to get used to, but it builds a strong sense of voice.
A darker, more cynical tone: While the film is a warm, sentimental look at American history, Groom's novels are sharp political and social satires. The humor is much more absurd, and Forrest is not a saintly figure; he swears, uses substances, and experiences a more gritty reality than his cinematic counterpart.
Jenny's fate is different: One of the most significant differences between the mediums lies in the character of Jenny Curran. Without spoiling the details of the books, her path diverges significantly from the movie, which directly impacts Forrest's motivations and the setup for the sequel, Gump & Co.