Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Gail Godwin Reading Order

7 series · 40 books · Born 1937

Literary FictionNon-Fiction

Gail Godwin is an American literary novelist whose career spans five decades and encompasses novels, short story collections, non-fiction works, and libretti. Her fiction explores the complexities of contemporary life and spiritual questions through psychologically nuanced characters and intricate narratives. With five bestselling novels and three National Book Award finalist titles to her name, Godwin has established herself as a significant voice in American letters, particularly known for her Margaret Bonner series and her examinations of faith and personal transformation.

Anthologies Series

Complete

11 books (1980–2012)

Start with The Writer on Her Work, the first of 11 books in the Anthologies series.

Start this series with The Writer on Her Work

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#Title
1
Cover of The Writer on Her Work
The Writer on Her Work
1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Real Life: Writers from Nine Countries Illuminate the Life of the Modern Woman
Real Life: Writers from Nine Countries Illuminate the Life of the Modern Woman
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Best American Short Stories 1985
The Best American Short Stories 1985
1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Growing Up in the South
Growing Up in the South
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Listening for God, Vol. 2
Listening for God, Vol. 2
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of First Words: Earliest Writing from Favorite Contemporary Authors
First Words: Earliest Writing from Favorite Contemporary Authors
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Writers on Writing
Writers on Writing
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
12 Short Stories and Their Making
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
First Words: Earliest Writing from Favorite Contemporary Authors
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
27 Views of Asheville: A Southern Mountain Town in Prose & Poetry
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Biographies & Memoirs Series

Likely Complete

4 books (2007–2021)

Start with The Making of a Writer: Journals, 1961-1963, the first of 4 books in the Biographies & Memoirs series.

Start this series with The Making of a Writer: Journals, 1961-1963

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Making of a Writer: Journals, 1961-1963
The Making of a Writer: Journals, 1961-1963
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Making of a Writer, Volume 2: Journals, 1963-1969
The Making of a Writer, Volume 2: Journals, 1963-1969
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Publishing: A Writer’s Memoir
Publishing: A Writer’s Memoir
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Gabrielle: My Life As I Remember It
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith Series

Complete

4 books (1994–2002)

Start with Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins), the first of 4 books in the Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith series.

Start this series with Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins)
Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins)
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Listening for God, Vol. 2(With: Anne Tyler,John Updike,Tobias Wolff,Henry Louis Gates Jr.,Kathleen Norris,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins,Carol Bly,Andrew Dubus)
Listening for God, Vol. 2(With: Anne Tyler,John Updike,Tobias Wolff,Henry Louis Gates Jr.,Kathleen Norris,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins,Carol Bly,Andrew Dubus)
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Listening for God, Vol. 3(By: Tillie Olsen,Wendell Berry,John Cheever,Louise Erdrich,Mary Gordon,Tess Gallagher,Reynolds Price,Oscar Hijuelos,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins)
Listening for God, Vol. 3(By: Tillie Olsen,Wendell Berry,John Cheever,Louise Erdrich,Mary Gordon,Tess Gallagher,Reynolds Price,Oscar Hijuelos,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins)
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Listening For God, Vol. 4(By: Robert Olen Butler,Allegra Goodman,James Baldwin,Kent Haruf,SueMiller,Doris Betts,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins,MichaelMalone,Alice Elliot Dark)
Listening For God, Vol. 4(By: Robert Olen Butler,Allegra Goodman,James Baldwin,Kent Haruf,SueMiller,Doris Betts,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins,MichaelMalone,Alice Elliot Dark)
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Margaret Bonner Series

Complete

2 books (1991–1999)

Start with Father Melancholy's Daughter and read in order.

Start this series with Father Melancholy's Daughter

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Father Melancholy's Daughter
Father Melancholy's Daughter
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Evensong

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

3 books (2001–2026)

Start with Heart and read in order.

Start this series with Heart

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Heart
2
Cover of Getting to Know Death: A Meditation
Getting to Know Death: A Meditation
2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
The Art of Becoming a Citizen
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

2 books (1976–1983)

Start with Dream Children and read in order.

Start this series with Dream Children

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Dream Children
Dream Children
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Mr. Bedford and the Muses
Mr. Bedford and the Muses
1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

14 books (1970–2020)

Start with The Perfectionists, the first of 14 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with The Perfectionists

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
The Perfectionists
1970Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Glass People
Glass People
1972Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Odd Woman
The Odd Woman
1974Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
5
Cover of A Mother and Two Daughters
A Mother and Two Daughters
1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
The Finishing School
1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of A Southern Family
A Southern Family
1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of The Good Husband
The Good Husband
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Evenings at Five
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Queen of the Underworld
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of Unfinished Desires
Unfinished Desires
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of Flora
13
Cover of Grief Cottage
Grief Cottage
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of Old Lovegood Girls
Old Lovegood Girls
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Gail Godwin written?
Gail Godwin has written 40 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1970 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Gail Godwin series?
Here are the first books in Gail Godwin's series: Anthologies: The Writer on Her Work; Biographies & Memoirs: The Making of a Writer: Journals, 1961-1963; Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith: Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins); Margaret Bonner: Father Melancholy's Daughter; Non-Fiction: Heart.
What order should I read Gail Godwin's books?
We recommend reading Gail Godwin's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Gail Godwin still writing new books?
Yes, Gail Godwin has 1 ongoing series: Non-Fiction.

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